Due to their durability and longevity, Volkswagens have been an iconic sight on roads for decades, making them a popular import vehicle choice. Keep your car on the road for decades with regular Volkswagen service.
Oil changes are essential to the operation of all vehicles. Santa Fe’s most trusted European import specialists at Executive Automotive can help if you need a Volkswagen oil change. Be sure to keep up on services and repairs at Executive Automotive.
When Should You Change Your Oil
How often to change your oil is a hot topic! You may still receive recommendations from service departments at car dealerships, quick-lube franchises, and repair shops to change your oil every 3,000 miles. However, these are the types of businesses that profit most from frequent oil changes.
Today, auto manufacturers all state there’s no need to change your oil so often.
In the past, having your oil and oil filter changed often was a good idea, but advancements in technology have upended that requirement. Improved engine parts, sharper tolerances, and higher oil quality have all combined to push out the recommended oil change intervals to every 7,500 miles or more.
Companies like Volkswagen advise their customers to change their engine oil every 10,000 miles. BMW claims that its customers can change their oil every 15,000 miles with synthetic oil if they choose.
The only times that frequent oil changes are recommended are after a sufficient amount of “severe” driving situations.
These include:
- Driving in high- or low-temperature environments.
- Chronic stop-go driving conditions
- An abundance of trailer towing
- After a lot of short-distance driving
Check your owner’s manual or the maintenance schedule to determine the frequency of your vehicle’s necessary oil changes, along with what kind of oil your vehicle’s engine takes.
Extending Time Between Changes
Some car manufacturers install oil-life monitors on their vehicles. These sensors inform drivers when to change the engine oil based on factors like engine temperature, cold start amounts, vehicle speeds, and other conditions. There have been several cases when the owners reported that their oil-life monitors suggested that they could keep driving past the recommended change frequency without an oil change.
In many cases, you can safely drive your vehicle up to about 10,000 miles before needing an oil change. We recommend if you wait this long, be sure to have your tires rotated at the same time. If you choose to push out your oil change beyond the recommended time frame, check your oil level each month to ensure that you don’t run low.
Schedule Your Next Oil Change
Modern car manufacturers are recommending longer intervals between oil changes because that’s what their vehicles are now designed to handle.
Changing your engine oil every 3,000 miles could be wasting your money. Check with your vehicle’s manual and the Volkswagen service specialists at Executive Automotive to find out what works best for your European import vehicle. Call to schedule an appointment today!
Find out when an oil leak is serious here.