Why do cars have different oil change intervals?

Automotive oil change intervals depend on the make, model, and year of your vehicle. The right type of oil and how the car is used also matters.

Changing the oil is one of the most important car maintenance tasks, and there are several reasons why cars have different oil change intervals, including:

• Type of oil used in the crankcase
• Type of service in which the car is used
• engine's type

Synthetic oil, such as Mobil 1 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil, is designed to operate over a wide temperature range. It is also formulated to resist breakdown for longer than conventional premium oils. Because it is designed to last longer, it also has a different oil change interval than regular premium oil, even though they share the same SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) specification.

Where you work affects

The way you drive your vehicle and the conditions in which you operate it will have some effect on drain intervals. For example, if your car is operated in a hot, dry and dusty climate, the oil can wear out fairly quickly. It is not uncommon for even premium conventional oils to fail in less than three months under these conditions. This is why some automotive authorities recommend changing your oil at least once a month if you work in a desert environment and drive a lot.

Similarly, if you drive in too cold conditions, the oil in your car can also degrade faster. Because the engine may not reach normal operating temperature due to extreme cold, contaminants can accumulate in the oil. For example, in some climates, it is not uncommon for temperatures to remain below 0°F for extended periods of time. At these continued low temperatures, the paraffin molecular chains that are naturally present in the oil begin to solidify, creating a sludge mass in the crankcase that wants to stay solidified. You need a block heater to keep the oil viscous under these conditions. Left unheated, you risk damaging the engine until the engine warms up enough on its own that the oil becomes viscous again.

Interestingly, synthetic oil, as it is produced, can remain more viscous at ultra-low temperatures. However, even synthetic oil needs some help when temperatures in gas engines approach -40°F for extended periods of time.

Diesel engines have their own needs

While both diesel and gasoline engines operate on the same basic principles, they differ in how they achieve their results. Diesel engines operate at a much higher pressure than gas engines. Diesels also rely on high temperatures and pressures in each cylinder to ignite the air/fuel mixture that is injected to provide power. Diesels operate at pressures up to a compression ratio of 25:1.

Since diesel engines operate in what is known as a closed cycle (they have no external source of ignition), they also tend to push contaminants into the engine oil at a much higher rate. In addition, the harsh conditions in diesel engines create additional problems for the oil. To address this problem, oil companies are developing diesel engine lubricants to be more resistant to heat, pollution, and other ignition-related products. In general, this makes diesel oil more resistant than gas engine oil. The recommended oil change interval in most diesel engines is between 10,000 and 15,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer, while automotive engines require oil changes between 3,000 and 7,000 miles depending on the type of oil. Conventional premium oils need to be changed after about 3,000 miles, while high quality synthetic oil can last up to 7,000 miles.

Turbocharging is a special case.

One special case is turbocharging. In turbocharging, exhaust gases are diverted from normal flow to the catalyst and out of the exhaust pipe into a device called a compressor. The compressor, in turn, increases the pressure on the intake side of the engine so that the air/fuel mixture entering each cylinder is pressurized. In turn, the pressurized air-fuel charge increases the efficiency of the engine and hence its power output. Turbocharging significantly increases the specific power of the engine. While there is no general rule for the amount of power output, since each system is unique, it is fair to say that a turbocharger can make a four-cylinder engine work like a six-cylinder and a six-cylinder engine work like an eight-cylinder.

Improved engine efficiency and power output are two of the main benefits of turbocharging. On the other side of the equation, turbocharging increases the temperature inside the engine. The elevated temperature exposes regular premium motor oil to the point where it needs to be changed regularly within 5,000 miles to maintain power and avoid damage.

Yes, oil change intervals vary

Thus, different cars have different oil change intervals. If the oil is fully synthetic, its change interval is longer than that of mixtures or conventional ones. If the vehicle is operated in a hot, dry climate with sandy conditions, the oil in a loaded engine should be changed sooner than in a more temperate location. The same is true if the vehicle is operated in a cold climate. Each of these types of work is known as a service in which the engine is running. Finally, if the engine is diesel or turbocharged, the oil change intervals are different.

If you need an oil change, AvtoTachki can do it at your home or office using high quality Mobil 1 regular or synthetic engine oil.