Glossary / General

oil change interval

16 Episode Mentions

Too Afraid to Ask

An oil change interval is how often you should change the oil in your car. Nowadays, many cars can go about 6,000 miles before needing an oil change, while older cars often needed it much sooner, like every 3,000 miles.

Technical Definition

The oil change interval is the recommended distance or time period between oil changes for a vehicle. Modern vehicles often have longer intervals, typically around 6,000 miles, compared to older vehicles that commonly required changes every 3,000 miles or even 1,500 miles for some owners.

Hear It Discussed

"doesn't need many oil changes. If you think you don't need as many oil changes and they're becoming more expensive... You want to care for it. And a lot of times you can judge by the condition of..."
Save Money On Car Repairs With Our Car Talk Show Under The Hood show 16:33

"The sticker when I purchased it said it pasted inspection and the next oil change was due one hundred and fifty thousand. Well, the next part of the saga."
Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Classic Car Doctor - September 26, 2015 - Hour 2 - Why Are So Many Cars Being Recalled? Ron Ananian The Car Doctor 14:05

"And the only way you're going to know what's consistent or normal for you is in testing, finding out what's normal from one oil change interval to the next."
The “Bore Scoring” Scare: Something Doesn’t Add Up, Blackstone Interview Eleven After Nine | A Porsche Culture Podcast 12:02