You should regularly change your Chevy’s oil to keep the engine cool and lubricated. If you don’t get an oil change from your Chevy dealer, your engine’s performance will deteriorate due to premature wear and tear. Read on to find out how often you should get an oil service and how to identify degraded oil.
How Often Should You Get an Oil Change From Your Chevy Dealer?
The old standard of changing engine oil every 3,000 miles is outdated for most modern vehicles. Thanks to advancements in engine technologies and oil formulations, today’s Chevys can go between 7,500 and 10,000 miles before requiring new oil.
Specific oil service intervals for your Chevy depend on the vehicle’s model and year. So check your owner’s manual to understand the recommended mileage for your car. Note that there are factors that can shorten your oil’s life, prompting you to get fresh oil sooner than recommended by the manufacturer.
Factors That Affect Your Chevy’s Oil Life
Type of Oil Used
Full synthetic oils are highly refined and optimized for extended oil service intervals. They can last 10,000 miles or even more. Synthetic blends are less durable and require changes more often, usually between 5,000 and 7,500 miles. Always use the oil type recommended by Chevrolet in your owner’s manual.
Driving Habits
Your driving habits can impact the life of your engine oil. Towing heavy loads and off-roading can cause the oil to degrade faster, forcing you to change it frequently. Extensive idling and frequent short trips can also cause the oil to break down faster. Modern Chevys have an onboard oil monitoring system that assesses your driving habits and determines the best oil service intervals.
Age of the Car
Since engine and oil technologies have improved, newer Chevy models can tolerate longer intervals between changes. If you have an older Chevy with less advanced internal components, your oil will degrade quickly. You should stick to a service interval of 3,000 to 5,000 miles to optimize engine performance and prolong component life.
Signs It’s Time to Change Your Chevy’s Oil
You shouldn’t always wait for your oil light to come on before changing your oil. Watch out for these signs that indicate it’s time to change the oil, even if the recommended service interval hasn’t lapsed.
- Discolored or dirty oil
- Sludge buildup in the oil
- Oil leaks
- Increased exhaust smoke
- Overheating engine
- Check engine light
- Poor fuel economy
If you notice these signs, visit your dealer immediately to get the oil checked and changed. Failure to do so will expose the engine to serious damage due to overheating and inadequate lubrication.
Watch out for signs indicating your oil has degraded, and get fresh oil even if your service isn’t due. Contact Don Johnson Motors to schedule a comprehensive oil service for your Chevy.
Connect with us
