Most of us can remember our parents drilling into our heads the importance of changing your oil every 3,000 miles.

It has been pre-programmed into our brains that we need to go in for a Las Cruces oil change like clockwork.  But times change and so do cars … so you have to ask yourself, is every 3K for an oil change really needed?

If your car was made in the last 7 – 8 years then you may not have to change the oil that often but it is always best to ask your auto mechanic what they think.

Older model cars needed to have their oil changed often but oil chemistry and engine technology has improved to the point that many cars can go 7,500 to even 10,000 miles without an oil change.  If you do mostly highway driving then your oil will not be changed as often as a person who does a lot of stop and go driving.

Oil is meant to be used when it is warm and many times aren’t given a chance to warm up properly.  When you drive less than 10 miles the oil and engine are still cool and don’t absorb the containment as well as they should.

If you drive from work to the gym, to your child’s piano lessons that would be considered severe driving conditions.  If you just go from work to home daily that can be considered a mild commute.

When you don’t change your oil it’s just like mopping a floor with dirty water. It’s not doing anything but making it dirtier and dirtier if you don’t change the water, same goes for the oil.

The next time you get a Tucson timing belt replacement ask the mechanic how often they usually change their oil.  If they say the traditional every 3,000 miles have a conversation about oil changes.