Oil change intervals. How often to change the engine oil? The procedure for changing the oil in a car engine How long does it take to change the oil in a car

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Every car owner knows that in order for the car to work fully, its systems need periodic maintenance.

First of all, the old, used oil is replaced. This procedure requires adherence to a certain frequency. Every driver should know how often to change the oil in a car engine. Careful attention to the motor significantly prolongs the operation of the entire system.

It is better to change the oil periodically than to repair or purchase new engine. This is one of the most expensive car systems. When and how to change engine oil? The advice of experienced auto mechanics will help you find the answer.

Why change the oil?

To understand how much to change the oil in the engine, you need to delve into the question of why this is needed at all. Lubricants for the motor perform a number of important functions. First of all, they protect moving parts from mechanical damage and abrasion.

During the operation of the engine, carbon deposits form on its parts, dirt accumulates. High-quality motor oil collects soot particles and keeps them suspended. This allows you to facilitate the work of the motor mechanisms.

If you do not change the oil in the engine for a long time, contaminants accumulate in the lubricant and begin to settle on the working surfaces of the mechanisms. This complicates the functioning of the system, causes the destruction of parts.

Another important purpose of consumables is to protect all mechanical elements of the system from corrosion. Without high-quality lubrication, the engine will not be able to work for a long time and fully.

Oil types

Exists different kinds lubricants for the motor. For each car, they must be selected correctly. Each manufacturer tests the operation of the motor mechanism. As a result of the research, conclusions are drawn about the most suitable type of consumables.

Changing the oil in a car engine can be done using products based on mineral, synthetic and semi-synthetic substances. Also, the composition of consumables includes special additives. Mineral oil is cheaper. It is used by car drivers whose engine has high mileage.

For new motors, manufacturers allow the use of synthetic or semi-synthetic agents. They are more fluid and have pronounced detergent properties. Such funds do not require replacement as often as mineral varieties. Synthetic-based substances are able to protect the mechanism much better.

Replacement frequency

To understand how much to change the oil in the engine, you must first look at the instruction manual. It states that it is necessary to change consumables for the motor every 10-14 thousand km.

However, this figure is an average. It is affected by the loads that the engine is subjected to during operation. For example, standing in traffic jams, the motor is poorly cooled. Consumables in these conditions are aging much faster. The difference is really huge. In this case, the oil will have to be changed much earlier.

If the car drives mainly on the highway at a speed of 100-130 km / h, the system is fully cooled. This reduces the thermal load on the motor and, accordingly, the oil. This allows you to replace the consumable later.

Ideal for engine operation is driving at medium speed, as well as a small amount of time on Idling(after the engine has warmed up).

Severe operating conditions

To figure out how many kilometers to change the oil in the engine, you need to find out what is considered severe engine operating conditions. If they occur, the consumable will need to be changed earlier than after 10-14 thousand km.

Unfavorable factors that increase the load on the engine and the oil in it include extreme ambient temperatures. Severe frost or, conversely, heat, as well as fluctuations in the level of air heating are considered unfavorable factors. Also, a humid climate or high dustiness can cause an urgent need for an oil change.

If the vehicle is carrying heavy loads (in the trunk or on a trailer), the consumable will degrade faster. Road conditions big city, frequent traffic jams are also equated to adverse factors. If they are available, the indicator of the frequency of changing the motor lubrication indicated in the instructions is reduced by 25-30%.

Effect of oil type on change frequency

Having figured out why to change the oil in the engine, you need to take into account one more point. Due to the fact that a variety of products are presented on the consumables market today, the duration of their operation also differs.

Mineral varieties require replacement much more often. Otherwise, they greatly clog the engine with combustion products.

Semi-synthetics differ from them in greater stability of the base. To improve it, such tools are supplied with quite a few additives. Despite this, the funds presented degrade quickly. Good quality semi-synthetics can meet standard replacement intervals - 10-12 thousand km. But the engine should work without heavy loads.

Synthetics are also different. Hydrocracking types are not far from semi-synthetics. More commonly, polyalphaolefin-based oils are used, as well as ester materials. The most progressive and expensive are synthetic polyglycol lubricants. Their service life is much longer than that of other means.

Self oil change

To perform maintenance yourself, you need to know the procedure for changing the engine oil. If you do all the actions yourself, you can save financial resources.

For this, it is necessary to allocate a sufficient amount of time, especially if this procedure has to be done for the first time. It is necessary to choose a good place where no one will interfere, and where the car will not become an obstacle to anyone.

If there is no specially equipped place nearby (with a pit or a lift), you can find a special type of landscape. It can be a bump or a hill. A hole will work too.

All actions are best performed in dry weather. The car must be put on the handbrake. It is very important that it does not roll off during engine maintenance. You can even support the wheels with wooden blocks or bricks.

Waste drain

Next, you need to consider how to properly change the oil in the engine. Depending on the location of the drain tank cover, the machine must be properly jacked up. From right choice wheels for lifting depends on the comfort when working.

Next, you should climb under the car, unscrew the tank cap. A container is placed under it. Working off will be hot, so the procedure is carried out carefully and with gloves. If the liquid gets on your hand, it should be wiped with a pre-prepared rag.

For containers, a basin is best suited. It is also worth preparing a plastic bottle with a capacity of 5 liters. It will be possible to merge mining into it. It must be handed over for disposal to the collection point of the manufacturer. Garage cooperatives also accept working off.

Before draining the old oil, the engine must be warmed up well. You can just drive about 5 km by car. The lubricant will become more fluid, and the suspension of dirt particles will mix and be removed from the engine parts. When heated, more mining can be drained from the motor.

Filter replacement

Considering the procedure for how to properly change the oil in the engine, you should study the technology for replacing the oil filter. While the mixture flows into the prepared container, you can proceed to the next stage of work.

You need to unscrew the old filter. No special tool is required to remove the cleaner. The filter is unscrewed manually. If the cleaner has become attached to its seat, a special puller is used. Exists different types this tool. If desired, it can be made independently according to the purchased template.

When the puller breaks the filter from its place, it is unscrewed by hand. If the cleaner was installed upside down, old oil may leak from it. It must be wiped off with a rag. The filter is recyclable. It cannot be washed and put back into the engine. Must be purchased new filter.

Do I need oil when installing the filter?

When studying how and how often to change the oil in the engine, several nuances should be taken into account. Filter replacement does not require additional lubrication in 99% of cases. Some drivers claim that lubrication when replacing the cleaner avoids the formation airlock. They claim that in this case, the consumable material immediately enters the system.

However, filter manufacturers do not suggest such a procedure. The seat of the cleaner is thoroughly cleaned of contaminants. Just a few drops of oil are applied to the sealing ring of the new filter.

Manually the cleaner is screwed into the mounting location. It needs to be tightened ¾ turn. The oil spreads very quickly in the system. Therefore, pouring it into the filter is a waste of time. The design of the purifier eliminates the possibility of air pockets.

Filling in new oil

Considering the question of how and how often to change the oil in the engine, attention should be paid to pouring a new product into the engine. Processing can take quite a long time. At least 30 minutes it is necessary to provide liquids to go outside.

Completely remove the old oil will not work. Therefore, it is more correct to fill the engine with the same agent that was previously used in the engine. After draining the mining, the tank cap is screwed back. It is not worth pressing it, otherwise you can break the thread.

A funnel is inserted into the neck of the tank. The oil is poured in small portions. Depending on the type of motor, about 3 liters of consumables will be required. Next, you need to wait 20 minutes for the product to be distributed throughout the system.

Then you need to check the oil level with a dipstick. It should ideally be between the min and max marks. More oil is allowed. Its level then approaches the maximum value.

Experienced auto mechanics give an answer to the question of when it is better to change the engine oil. This event is best timed to coincide with a general inspection. But at the same time, all of the above factors should be taken into account, which can reduce the time of normal operation of the consumable.

If the oil level drops significantly after the first ride, a leak may occur. In this case, it is better to contact the service center. Experienced professionals with special equipment can determine the cause of the failure.

Having studied how and how often to change the oil in the engine, each car owner will be able to properly and timely maintain the engine. At the same time, it is possible to significantly increase the working life of the system, preventing its destruction under the influence of mechanical loads and high temperatures.

Every car owner knows that in order for the car to work fully, its systems need periodic maintenance.

First of all, the old, used oil is replaced. This procedure requires adherence to a certain frequency. Every driver should know how often to change the oil in a car engine. Careful attention to the motor significantly prolongs the operation of the entire system.

It is better to change the oil periodically than to repair or purchase a new engine. This is one of the most expensive car systems. When and how to change engine oil? The advice of experienced auto mechanics will help you find the answer.

Why change the oil?

To understand how much to change the oil in the engine, you need to delve into the question of why this is needed at all. Lubricants for the motor perform a number of important functions. First of all, they protect moving parts from mechanical damage and abrasion.

During the operation of the engine, carbon deposits form on its parts, dirt accumulates. High-quality motor oil collects soot particles and keeps them suspended. This allows you to facilitate the work of the motor mechanisms.

If you do not change the oil in the engine for a long time, contaminants accumulate in the lubricant and begin to settle on the working surfaces of the mechanisms. This complicates the functioning of the system, causes the destruction of parts.

Another important purpose of consumables is to protect all mechanical elements of the system from corrosion. Without high-quality lubrication, the engine will not be able to work for a long time and fully.

Oil types

There are various types of lubricants for the motor. For each car, they must be selected correctly. Each manufacturer tests the operation of the motor mechanism. As a result of the research, conclusions are drawn about the most suitable type of consumables.

Changing the oil in a car engine can be done using products based on mineral, synthetic and semi-synthetic substances. Also, the composition of consumables includes special additives. Mineral oil is cheaper. It is used by car drivers whose engine has high mileage.

For new motors, manufacturers allow the use of synthetic or semi-synthetic agents. They are more fluid and have pronounced detergent properties. Such funds do not require replacement as often as mineral varieties. Synthetic-based substances are able to protect the mechanism much better.

Replacement frequency

To understand how much to change the oil in the engine, you must first look at the instruction manual. It states that it is necessary to change consumables for the motor every 10-14 thousand km.

However, this figure is an average. It is affected by the loads that the engine is subjected to during operation. For example, standing in traffic jams, the motor is poorly cooled. Consumables in these conditions are aging much faster. The difference is really huge. In this case, the oil will have to be changed much earlier.

If the car drives mainly on the highway at a speed of 100-130 km / h, the system is fully cooled. This reduces the thermal load on the motor and, accordingly, the oil. This allows you to replace the consumable later.

It is ideal for engine operation to be driven at medium speed, as well as a small amount of idling time (after the engine has warmed up).

Severe operating conditions

To figure out how many kilometers to change the oil in the engine, you need to find out what is considered severe engine operating conditions. If they occur, the consumable will need to be changed earlier than after 10-14 thousand km.

Unfavorable factors that increase the load on the engine and the oil in it include extreme ambient temperatures. Severe frost or, conversely, heat, as well as fluctuations in the level of air heating are considered unfavorable factors. Also, a humid climate or high dustiness can cause an urgent need for an oil change.

If the vehicle is carrying heavy loads (in the trunk or on a trailer), the consumable will degrade faster. The conditions of the roads of a big city, frequent traffic jams are also equated to unfavorable factors. If they are available, the indicator of the frequency of changing the motor lubrication indicated in the instructions is reduced by 25-30%.

Effect of oil type on change frequency

Having figured out why to change the oil in the engine, you need to take into account one more point. Due to the fact that a variety of products are presented on the consumables market today, the duration of their operation also differs.

Mineral varieties require replacement much more often. Otherwise, they greatly clog the engine with combustion products.

Semi-synthetics differ from them in greater stability of the base. To improve it, such tools are supplied with quite a few additives. Despite this, the funds presented degrade quickly. Good quality semi-synthetics can meet standard replacement intervals - 10-12 thousand km. But the engine should work without heavy loads.

Synthetics are also different. Hydrocracking types are not far from semi-synthetics. More commonly, polyalphaolefin-based oils are used, as well as ester materials. The most progressive and expensive are synthetic polyglycol lubricants. Their service life is much longer than that of other means.

Self oil change

To perform maintenance yourself, you need to know the procedure for changing the engine oil. If you do all the actions yourself, you can save financial resources.

For this, it is necessary to allocate a sufficient amount of time, especially if this procedure has to be done for the first time. It is necessary to choose a good place where no one will interfere, and where the car will not become an obstacle to anyone.

If there is no specially equipped place nearby (with a pit or a lift), you can find a special type of landscape. It can be a bump or a hill. A hole will work too.

All actions are best performed in dry weather. The car must be put on the handbrake. It is very important that it does not roll off during engine maintenance. You can even support the wheels with wooden blocks or bricks.

Waste drain

Next, you need to consider how to properly change the oil in the engine. Depending on the location of the drain tank cover, the machine must be properly jacked up. Comfort at work depends on the correct choice of the wheel for lifting.

Next, you should climb under the car, unscrew the tank cap. A container is placed under it. Working off will be hot, so the procedure is carried out carefully and with gloves. If the liquid gets on your hand, it should be wiped with a pre-prepared rag.

For containers, a basin is best suited. It is also worth preparing a plastic bottle with a capacity of 5 liters. It will be possible to merge mining into it. It must be handed over for disposal to the collection point of the manufacturer. Garage cooperatives also accept working off.

Before draining the old oil, the engine must be warmed up well. You can just drive about 5 km by car. The lubricant will become more fluid, and the suspension of dirt particles will mix and be removed from the engine parts. When heated, more mining can be drained from the motor.

Filter replacement

Considering the procedure for how to properly change the oil in the engine, you should study the technology for replacing the oil filter. While the mixture flows into the prepared container, you can proceed to the next stage of work.

You need to unscrew the old filter. No special tool is required to remove the cleaner. The filter is unscrewed manually. If the cleaner has become attached to its seat, a special puller is used. There are different types of this tool. If desired, it can be made independently according to the purchased template.

When the puller breaks the filter from its place, it is unscrewed by hand. If the cleaner was installed upside down, old oil may leak from it. It must be wiped off with a rag. The filter is recyclable. It cannot be washed and put back into the engine. Be sure to purchase a new filter.

Do I need oil when installing the filter?

When studying how and how often to change the oil in the engine, several nuances should be taken into account. Filter replacement does not require additional lubrication in 99% of cases. Some drivers claim that lubrication when replacing the cleaner avoids the formation of an airlock. They claim that in this case, the consumable material immediately enters the system.

However, filter manufacturers do not suggest such a procedure. The seat of the cleaner is thoroughly cleaned of contaminants. Just a few drops of oil are applied to the sealing ring of the new filter.

Manually the cleaner is screwed into the mounting location. It needs to be tightened ¾ turn. The oil spreads very quickly in the system. Therefore, pouring it into the filter is a waste of time. The design of the purifier eliminates the possibility of air pockets.

Filling in new oil

Considering the question of how and how often to change the oil in the engine, attention should be paid to pouring a new product into the engine. Processing can take quite a long time. At least 30 minutes it is necessary to provide liquids to go outside.

Completely remove the old oil will not work. Therefore, it is more correct to fill the engine with the same agent that was previously used in the engine. After draining the mining, the tank cap is screwed back. It is not worth pressing it, otherwise you can break the thread.

A funnel is inserted into the neck of the tank. The oil is poured in small portions. Depending on the type of motor, about 3 liters of consumables will be required. Next, you need to wait 20 minutes for the product to be distributed throughout the system.

Then you need to check the oil level with a dipstick. It should ideally be between the min and max marks. More oil is allowed. Its level then approaches the maximum value.

Experienced auto mechanics give an answer to the question of when it is better to change the engine oil. This event is best timed to coincide with a general inspection. But at the same time, all of the above factors should be taken into account, which can reduce the time of normal operation of the consumable.

If the oil level drops significantly after the first ride, a leak may occur. In this case, it is better to contact the service center. Experienced specialists with the help of special equipment will be able to determine the cause of the breakdown.

Having studied how and how often to change the oil in the engine, each car owner will be able to properly and timely maintain the engine. At the same time, it is possible to significantly increase the working life of the system, preventing its destruction under the influence of mechanical loads and high temperatures.

As you know, motor oil is working fluid v . The main function of the material is to protect loaded mating elements from dry friction by creating an oil film. Lubrication also allows for effective cleaning of the oil system, acts as a neutralizer of oxidative processes, removes excess heat from parts and assemblies to prevent local overheating, etc.

Given the significant temperature fluctuations and high heating, as well as due to the active chemical processes to which lubricant inside, engine oil is prone to accelerated aging and rapid loss of its beneficial properties. It becomes clear that the lubricant is consumable, while for any engine the required frequency of oil changes is strictly defined. In parallel with this, a number of specific factors can additionally influence the service life of the material.

Next, we will talk about why you need to change the oil in the engine and how often you need to change the oil. Issues such as the minimum oil change interval, how long it takes to change the oil in the engine by time and mileage, whether to change the oil in the engine often and on what conditions the change intervals depend on will also be considered.

Read in this article

Why you need to change the engine oil

As already mentioned, the lubricant, even in an absolutely serviceable engine, is subject to the process of natural aging. This means that its properties, one way or another, deteriorate as a result of oxidation, as well as due to the gradual cessation of the work (activation) of active additives and detergents in the composition of the lubricant.

Ultimately, the oil accumulates a large amount of soot, wear products and other contaminants, the viscosity-temperature characteristics are violated (the lubricant thickens, blackens), the shear stability under loads changes, the strength of the oil film, etc. Prolonged driving on dirty lubricant leads to clogging of filters and channels of the oil system with deposits, and the resource of the internal combustion engine is also greatly reduced.

The fact is that the engine in this case is much worse protected from mechanical wear at the interface of loaded elements. Also, as a result of a significant increase in the viscosity index, there is a general deterioration in the pumpability of the oil through the system. In combination with a decrease in throughput and / or clogging of oil channels ( power unit begins to experience) there is significant wear on the motor.

At the same time, it should be noted that various internal combustion engine malfunctions also affect the properties of the oil. For example, dust and dirt entering through the intake, oil dilution as a result of fuel leaks into the crankcase, penetration. In these cases, wear also increases significantly, and engine jamming may occur.

Determine when to change the oil in the engine

So, it is quite obvious that the lubricant in the motor must be replaced. It is important to clearly understand when you need to change the oil. Given the fact that the material in the internal combustion engine ages, it turns out that the more often it is replaced, the better. However, it must also be taken into account that too early replacements are not needed in many cases.

This approach is irrational, as it will lead to serious financial costs, and the benefits for the motor may not be so obvious. For this reason, service intervals should be calculated taking into account a number of additional factors and features. Otherwise, you need to know on the basis of what and how to choose the right replacement intervals.

At the very beginning, we note that there is simply no unambiguous and exact answer, after how many kilometers, hours or months to change the oil. There is only an oil change interval recommended by the engine manufacturer, which is indicated in the instruction manual. At the same time, in many cases, the frequency of replacements remains quite individual.

  • Most importantly, do not exceed the service life of the lubricant. For this, do not rely solely on the recommendations of the vehicle manufacturers. For example, if the manual says that replacement should be done every 15 thousand km, then this does not mean that only such an interval should always be followed.
  • Also, you do not need to rely on the statements of oil manufacturers in the fuel and lubricants markets. Even if high-quality oil from the Longlife line is used (for example, with an extended service life of up to 30 or 50 thousand km.), There is no guarantee that the lubricant normally leaves the entire declared resource or even half of such a run.

The fact is that manufacturers of both internal combustion engines and oils indicate strongly averaged indicators. In other words, many external factors that reduce oil life are simply not taken into account. Let's figure it out.

Let's start with the service interval in the manual. As a rule, you can find an indication that the oil needs to be changed, for example, every 15-20 thousand km. or at least once every 12 months (whichever comes first). However, it should be understood that such recommendations from auto manufacturers are average for a particular type of engine.

This does not take into account the general air pollution, fuel quality, individual properties of one or another engine oil, individual features of vehicle operation, etc. Only in some cases, the manufacturer can separately take into account regional characteristics, but this practice is more typical of cars that are specially designed for specific markets. This does not apply to mass models.

It is also necessary to add that the car manufacturer himself is not particularly interested in the engine running as long as possible. The main task becomes correct ICE operation during the warranty period, then the unit must pass a certain average number of hours to maintain prestige and confirm the competitiveness of the brand.

It turns out that it is more profitable for the manufacturer to extend the service interval for a new car under warranty, which makes it possible to make the product more attractive and convenient for the client, but to the detriment of the internal combustion engine resource. At the same time, there is no particular interest in the further extension of this resource either. What's more, post-warranty breakdowns are a proven way to get customers to change their car for a new one rather than repair it.

It becomes clear that for car manufacturers today the service interval is a marketing ploy, as it implies the ability to offer customers reduced costs for warranty service. If we talk about the motor and its resource in the long term, then the interval stated in the maintenance and operation manual for the vehicle can be greatly increased.

Now let's move on to oils. Many modern products are positioned as motor oils with extended service life ( service interval). As a rule, such a lubricant has an additional Longlife mark. At the same time, it is a mistake to believe that this oil can be safely poured into any engine and changed at an increased interval.

  1. First of all, the ICE manufacturer must separately indicate that in the case of using the Longlife oil group, an increase in the service interval is allowed for a specific type of engine.
  2. Longlife type oil must also be approved by the engine manufacturer for use in its engine, that is, a product of one brand or another must undergo separate certification.
  3. The engine manufacturer will only allow the use of oils under the Longlife scheme if the vehicle is operated exclusively in the prescribed modes and is in conditions suitable for the use of lubricants under the extended drain scheme.

If everything is more or less clear with the first and second points, then questions immediately arise regarding the third position. Usually, there is no detailed description of the “optimal” modes, while the declared extended oil change intervals are calculated based on these modes.

We add that, based on practical use, an increase in the interval for Longlife oil is possible if the car constantly drives along the highway in the mode of medium engine loads. At the same time, high-quality fuel is poured in, high-quality filters are installed, there is no dust on the roads, etc.

It is noteworthy that such conditions are quite real for developed countries, which cannot be said about cars that are operated in large cities or drive on highways in the territory of the CIS countries. For such machines, the so-called severe operating conditions are more relevant, while any lubricant ages very quickly. In view of the foregoing, the replacement of old used oil, (both conventional and Longlife) is desirable only with a decrease, and not with an increase in the interval.

What affects engine oil life

  • seasonality;
  • modes of operation;
  • fuel quality;
  • oil base;
  • efficiency of filters;
  • general condition of the internal combustion engine;

Some of these factors can be influenced by the driver himself (choose high-quality oils and filters, monitor the operation of the engine and troubleshoot in a timely manner), while other features cannot be changed, that is, it remains to take them into account additionally. Subsequent analysis allows you to more accurately determine the conditions under which the car is operated.

The fact is that the frequency of changing engine oil is highly dependent on operating conditions. If the machine is subjected to so-called severe conditions, the oil change interval is bound to be shortened.

  • Severe conditions should be understood as certain regimes. These include long downtime of the car, after which trips are made, but then the car stops again. Especially strongly this mode reduces the lubricant resource in winter. The fact is that condensate accumulates inside the engine, chemical processes are activated, oil is oxidized.

On motors that are operated daily and warmed up to operating temperatures, condensation is less intense. At the same time, even constant, but short trips, during which the internal combustion engine does not reach operating temperatures, still do not prevent the formation of condensate.

  • Driving in the city at low speeds, traffic jams, frequent accelerations and stops. This mode is difficult for the motor, since large loads on the internal combustion engine occur precisely during the start of movement from a place. At the same time, on low revs oil pressure is not high, its heating increases, engine coking occurs, etc.

As for traffic jams and downtime at traffic lights, the engine in this case is idling. The idle mode is also considered difficult for the engine, since the power unit cools worse, runs on a lean mixture, and the oil pressure is not high.

  • Poor quality fuel also greatly affects the properties of the oil. The fact is that combustion products accumulate in the lubricant, worsening beneficial features material. It is important to understand that the change interval recommendations in the service book are often indicated for fuel that meets European standards. There is simply no such fuel on the territory of the CIS.
  • Frequent loads on car engine, riding with maximum speed at high speeds, trailer towing, constant transportation of a large number of passengers and cargo.

In these cases, the engine must be "turned" in order to get from it more power. It is quite obvious that the oil in this case will oxidize faster and lose its properties. By the way, riding in mountainous or hilly terrain with alternating long ascents and descents also refers to difficult conditions. On climbs, the driver loads the engine, and on descents, the engine braking mode is often activated.

  • Driving on dirt roads, operating the vehicle in conditions of high air pollution. In this case, the oil actively accumulates pollution from the environment, the lubrication life is noticeably reduced.

As you can see, the domestic operating conditions are far from the "calculated" ideal and can be fully considered severe. For this reason, it is necessary to separately adjust the relubrication intervals, taking into account the above factors.

Oil operation in practice

To determine which replacement interval is best to adhere to, one should proceed from:

  • features of operation;
  • operating modes;
  • quality (base) oil;

If the car is operated in the CIS, and mineral or is used, then it is recommended to reduce the replacement interval by 50-70% from that stated in the manual. In other words, if the instructions provide for a planned replacement after 10 or 15 thousand km. by mileage, and also at least once a year by time, then the lubricant must be changed every 5 thousand km. or every 6 months (whichever comes first).

Checking the oil level in the engine, determining the exact indicator. When is the best time to check the lubrication level, on a cold or hot engine. Useful tips.



The need for regular replacement of engine oil for motorists has become so familiar that many take it for granted. Few people think about why this is necessary and what affects the life of the oil. Meanwhile, many important nuances are not taken into account by someone, and unknown to someone.

Types of motor oils

Historically, the first to appear mineral based oils obtained from the distillation of oil. Sometimes it was mixed with castor oil (for example, this technology was used by Castrol, from which its name is taken).

Such oils were sufficient for use in low-boost engines, although they had tangible drawbacks: their viscosity significantly depended on temperature, mineral oils quickly oxidized and polluted the engine.

If the first problem was solved by creating seasonal oils(summer and winter), the second - only a frequent replacement.

The development of the chemical industry made it possible to stabilize and improve the properties of motor oils: thanks to viscosity modifiers, it was possible to create all-season mineral oils, a large number of antifriction and detergent additives allow mineral oils to work successfully in highly loaded engines.

The payoff for the low price of mineral oil is the weaknesslow resource, because, apart from useful work, additive packages also counteract negative qualities most base oil.

Synthesis of the base oil allows you to get a much better product, but at a much higher price.

Synthetic motor oils, depending on the production technology, may have different composition.

Most common polyalphaolefin oils- the technology for their production is the cheapest. However, in a number of qualities they are superior to polyester oils - for example, their volatility and flammability are much less, and the viscosity is more stable.

Often, manufacturers use polyester oil as an additive to a polyalphaolefin base to improve the quality of the oil at a lower cost compared to full polyester oil.

Mixing a synthetic base oil with a mineral base oil gives the so-called semi-synthetic. In fact, in such oils, synthetic base oil is usually no more than 20%. Such measures make it possible to obtain a more stable engine oil, increasing its resource compared to mineral oil, and also stabilize its viscosity.

Why do you need to change the engine oil?

Few people can immediately describe all the functions performed by engine oil.

In fact, there are only three of them:

  1. Grease. Most important work engine oil. In modern automotive motors the loads on the parts are very significant, hence the high requirements for engine oil. That is why modern motor oils contain a high amount of antifriction, extreme pressure and viscosity stabilizing additives ( up to 20-30 percent). However, operation at high temperatures, pollution by gases rushing through piston rings, lead to aging of the oil - the effectiveness of the additive package drops. The drop in the viscosity of engine oil is best seen: the used one is much thinner than at the time of filling. A significant reduction in the strength of the oil film, combined with the aging of the anti-friction additive package, increases engine wear.
  2. Cleaning. Even the most best oil will not be able to completely defeat engine wear. It is important that the wear products of the friction pairs are retained by the oil in order to trap them in the oil filter. This is provided by a package of detergent additives, which are also not eternal. Since the days when only low quality mineral oils were available, there has been a misconception that darkening an oil means it has oxidized and needs to be replaced. In fact, the darkening of the oil is precisely the result of the work of the detergent additive package, which allows the oil to hold all the contaminants in its mass, preventing them from precipitating.
  3. Cooling. It is engine oil that cools the most heat-loaded engine components, for example, by spraying it on the bottoms of the pistons. Thus, the oil is constantly in contact with parts heated above two hundred degrees, which accelerates its oxidation.

How often should engine oil be changed?

The main problem is that it is impossible to accurately estimate when exactly specific oil much will lose its properties in a particular engine.

Even if you take two identical cars, they can be operated in different ways:

  • frequent and short trips accelerate the aging of the composition compared to long ones, city driving is harder on the engine oil than highway driving.

For instance, the amount of deposits formed in the engine in urban operation higher by 10-30% depending on the quality of the oil.

The quality of the fuel also significantly affects the change in the composition of the oil: the use of high-sulphur fuel increases oil pollution, especially when warmed up, increasing acidity disrupts the operation of additives.

Oils of different composition have different service life.

So, minerals and semi-synthetic oils forcing manufacturers to introduce a sufficiently high amount of additives to compensate for the suboptimal properties of the mineral base. At the same time, when creating synthetic oil, the necessary properties can already be laid in the base itself.

That is why the aging of synthetic oil takes longer - aging and destruction of additives have less effect on its properties.

How to determine the optimal oil change interval in a car?

The simplest method is refer to the manufacturer's recommendations.

For example, Peugeot sets engine oil change intervals for Russia at 10,000 kilometers.

This rate is lower than, say, for Western Europe: the manufacturer takes into account the more difficult operating conditions of the engine, and consequently, the faster aging of the oil.

Another French manufacturer, Renault, sets oil change intervals for gasoline engines at 15,000 kilometers, and for diesel engines - 10,000. At the same time, it is indicated that the service interval should be reduced by a factor of two in difficult conditions operation (long idling, short trips).

Indeed, standing in a traffic jam with the engine on, you do not increase the mileage, while the oil ages faster than usual.

It is worth noting that the oil change intervals are specified by the car manufacturer with the condition that the recommended oils are used. By pouring cheap semi-synthetic and, especially, mineral oil into the engine, you cannot expect it to last as long as synthetics. Thus, using lower quality oils, it is necessary to reduce the change intervals.

For most modern mineral oils mileage replacement would be reasonable 5000 kilometers average life of semi-synthetics - no more than 7000.

Synthetic oils, no matter how their manufacturer insists on increasing the resource of their product at times, it would be reasonable to change at a run of 10-12 thousand kilometers.

How long does it take to change synthetic oil in a VAZ 2110 and VAZ 2114 engine?

Indeed, the manufacturer, according to notice No. 41635, normalizes oil change intervals for motor oils of API SG and SJ quality groups, which have long been obsolete. So after how many miles should the oil be changed? At the same time, an oil change interval of 10,000 kilometers is set, which can be reduced in difficult conditions. up to 5-7 thousand.

It would seem that higher quality oils should have a longer resource in these engines. But if you compare these figures with the recommendations of other manufacturers, you can see that the oil change intervals for all car brands are almost the same.

Therefore, service intervals should not be increased when using modern synthetic oil - no one can guarantee the consequences of such savings.

How to change the oil in a Renault Logan engine?

Do-it-yourself oil change procedure may differ in labor intensity depending on the configuration and generation of the car. So, on modern Renault Logan On the 2nd generation, access to the oil filter is much more difficult due to the modified layout of the engine compartment and attachments.

On cars of the previous generation, especially in poor trim levels, the filter is much more convenient to remove.

The most convenient way to work on the lift by removing the crankcase protection. However, here it must be borne in mind that it is fastened with M6 bolts, which often break off even on cars with low mileage. In this case, you need to be prepared for the need to drill out the wreckage.

Protection may not be removed. but it should be noted that when unscrewing the oil filter, a noticeable amount of used engine oil will fall on it.

Further, with a square key 8 mm is unscrewed drain plug pallet. While the oil drains, the oil filter located at the front of the cylinder block is unscrewed. Its landing plane is cleaned and a new filter is installed, before that the sealing gum is lubricated with oil.

It is widely believed that the oil filter must be filled with oil before installation. In fact, it does not make sense - to expel air from the lubrication system to the oil pump faster just through a dry filter.

When the engine oil is drained, the drain plug returns to its place. It should be noted that its o-ring is disposable and must be replaced.

Filler neck on the Renault engines Logan conveniently located, and filling oil will not be a problem. After filling the crankcase to the top mark on the dipstick, it is necessary to start the engine, let it run a little and turn it off.

Next, you need to add oil so that its level is again slightly below the top mark on the dipstick or reaches it. It should also be taken into account that the eight-valve engine and the sixteen-valve engine have different filling volumes.

When determining the intervals for changing engine oil, we are guided by the manual.

The interval for changing engine oil is always specified by the manufacturer of your car. in the manual (manual) or in the service bulletin (Service bulletin). As a rule, the manufacturer indicates the engine oil change interval in kilometers (or miles). There are also restrictions in the time period - 3 months -6 months - 1 year. The car can stand in the garage all winter and not go out on the road, and the oil in the engine will still lose its original properties - which is why the manufacturers have also introduced a temporary restriction. You can’t conclude “I roll on the mileage very little, so I will change the oil every 2 years.”

Deciding for yourself how often you change the oil, not based on the manufacturer's recommendations, is not right! Only the manufacturer of your vehicle, who designed and built your vehicle, knows better How often should the oil be changed? The car manual is a kind of bible, when making decisions, you should always look back at this document. Remember, your car was designed and built by thousands of engineers and specialists, they have already calculated and tested everything for us - there is no need to consider yourself smarter than VW or Toyota and reinvent the wheel. It is necessary to adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations as much as possible!

Rely on the manufacturer, but don't make a mistake yourself ...

But the manufacturer must also be able to interpret correctly! Recently, manufacturers have begun to increase the service intervals for changing engine oil. For the sake of economy, ecology, restrictive legislative acts of some countries, oil change intervals have increased markedly 30,000 km, 50,000 km, etc.

There are special "long-lived" oils for extended oil change intervals "LongLife". But such oils can only be poured with extended drain intervals into engines that are suitable for this! You can’t conclude “If I fill the VAZ Kalina with Longlife oil, then you can not change the oil for 30,000 km.” Kalina's engine will kill such oil much faster!

Extended oil change intervals are relevant for countries with a "mild" climate, with good quality fuel, with clean roads, high-quality oils, timely service. In severe vehicle operating conditions - such extended change intervals can lead to premature aging of engine oil and engine wear!

For example, when you try to start the engine in -30C, fill the crankcase with gasoline and eventually do not start, the oil liquefies, loses its properties under the influence of gasoline, and the manufacturer does not take this into account. You can drive 30,000 km on such spoiled oil and then guess where the wear comes from.

Example: In the list of approved Longlife-04 oils, BMW writes:

Use of Longlife-04 oils in gasoline engines only allowed in European countries (EU plus Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein). Outside this region, their use is prohibited due to the often questionable quality of the fuel.

Link to official document: BMW Longlife-04 approved oils. That is, for Russian conditions These oils are not suitable for extended change intervals!

What is severe operating conditions?

Severe operating conditions include:

  1. Poor fuel quality. Fuel never burns out completely. During the combustion of fuel in the engine, combustion products are formed - ash, soot, tar, sulfur, etc. Deposits form on the inner walls of the engine - soot, sludge, varnish, etc. The worse the quality of the fuel, the more deposits and unwanted combustion products. Engine oil wears out faster! Russian oil already initially considered to be of lower quality due to the high sulfur content, as well as heavy and cyclic hydrocarbons. To this we must add the peculiarities of the "Russian business" and the lack of strict control over the production and sale of fuel. The quality of fuel constantly jumps from refueling to refueling. Production of gasoline from 76th to 92nd by adding additives. Water condensate, sand, dirt in storage and transportation tanks, etc. All this affects the resource of engine oil! Therefore, at least somehow to protect yourself from these negative factors, it is possible only by gas stations at trusted gas stations and frequent oil change intervals! It is frequent oil changes that help to remove unwanted products from the engine, neutralize sulfur from burnt fuel, slow down oxidative processes, etc. No "super-long life" LongLife oil or PAO-synthetic with long drain intervals can miraculously remove all this from the engine.
  2. Trips over short distances. On short trips over short distances, the engine does not have time to warm up. The engine oil does not have time to warm up to operating temperature. Additives that neutralize the products of combustion of fuel work more slowly due to the slowdown of chemical processes in a cold engine. Low-temperature deposits are formed that clog the filter elements and impair the circulation of oil through the lubrication system. Operation of the engine in the "started - drove 5 km - turned off" mode leads to the transformation of the condensate formed on the inner walls into water. Water in the oil leads to oil flooding - premature "aging" of engine oil.
  3. Dusty roads, or roads that are treated with anti-icing agents. Air filter does not capture all dust particles - a small amount still enters the engine. It is also not uncommon for unfiltered air to enter the engine through a poor quality filter, an abnormal air leak (the air hose cracked, the gasket numb), etc. When operating the engine in dusty conditions, dust particles that accumulate during engine operation cause abrasive wear of parts and reduce the anti-wear properties of the oil. In simple terms, dust and sand enter the cylinder-piston group and, of course, this does not bring anything good.
  4. Traffic jams, long trips at low speeds, long “downtime” at idle. Constant acceleration and deceleration in traffic jams load the engine the most, the oil is used up faster. At idle (XX), the oil pressure in the system is several times lower than at at full speed- oil flows to the engine components, not as well as it happens at full speed along the highway. The same happens with long trips at low speed. For example, by dirt road“Where you can’t really accelerate.” The load on the engine is large, and the engine oil does not flow abundantly. The engine at idle (XX) is poorly washed with oil, as a result of which, again, rings can lie down, deposits can accumulate on the walls of the engine. The owner of the car at this time calmly looks at the odometer, where the cherished 15,000 km have not yet arrived and convinces himself that "everything is fine!".
  5. Operation in conditions of extremely high or extremely low ambient temperatures. When operating a car in the summer heat, the engine is exposed to high temperatures, the oil heats up, and therefore the oil film becomes thinner, the coefficient of friction increases, and the oil film on the surface of the friction pairs may break. If we add to this the towing of a trailer, and even high speeds along the highway, we get a very tough regime. Remember yourself, on a trip to the South, during the holidays - we will load the whole family, pick up a trailer and "spear" at high speeds along the highway - it would be faster to get to the sea / or back home. This is just the case! Heat air also accelerates the oxidative processes in the engine and affects the development of the engine oil resource. Operating the engine at low temperatures also affects the life of the engine oil! Attempts to start the engine in cold weather often result in the engine not starting while fuel was being supplied. Settling in the crankcase, the fuel enters the engine oil and dilutes it. Subsequently, the fuel, of course, burns out and evaporates, but the oil has already been spoiled and, in a miraculous way, cannot be restored to a fresh state. In winter, we often warm up the engine before we start driving, but long periods of idling (XX) are again not good for engine oil. The engine is running - but the car does not “wind up” the mileage, meanwhile we change the oil according to the mileage!
  6. Towing a trailer, transporting heavy loads in the trunk, operating a car in mountainous areas. It's not a secret, in heavy-loaded equipment, oil depletes its resource much faster. If you uproot stumps in the country with your car, you will wear out the motor ten times faster than during normal operation. The more the engine is loaded, the faster the oil wears out in it. The operation of a car in mountainous areas, where there are frequent ups and downs, also seriously affects the reduction of engine oil life.

It is generally accepted that in Russia there are difficult operating conditions! On our resource, the site has repeatedly seen examples and confirmations that the Japanese in Japan, Europeans in Europe, Americans in the USA consider their “greenhouse” operating conditions to be difficult and reduce shift intervals by half! Then what are the operating conditions we have in Russia?

On-board computer as a guideline for oil change dates.

V modern cars on-board computer based on the received data, it itself signals when to change the oil. Service interval (mileage until the next Maintenance) is calculated from the distance traveled over a certain period of time, the fuel consumed and the change in temperature over the same period. Data is collected from various sensors in the car, the turnover sensor crankshaft, oil temperature gauge, distance traveled from the tachometer, fuel consumption, etc. Based on this data, the control unit calculates the remaining mileage until maintenance and signals the required service interval on the display.

Fig 2. An example of how the service interval is calculated in Skoda cars:


Fig 3. Depending on the received data, the on-board computer may issue various options:

But you need to understand that the on-board computer is just a machine, which does not take into account many factors, and was created by its manufacturer, which cannot take into account all factors either! Therefore, you will not make it worse if you change the oil more often - you will only make it better!

So after all, what engine oil change interval should I choose?

Let's highlight the main points when choosing an engine oil change interval.

  1. Look at the manufacturer's manual. It is the manual, and not translations of third-party Russian publications, taken from nowhere! In the manual we find a plate with shift intervals, and the lines "under severe operating conditions, we recommend halving the shift interval." Sometimes there is nothing in the manual about mileage. We are looking for official technical papers, usually they English language. Be sure to follow the official recommendations of the manufacturer of your car!
  2. We define our operating conditions. In most cases, if you live in Russia, you have a difficult operating conditions! But there are exceptions! For example: You live in a quiet, provincial town, where there is no traffic jams. The climate is temperate, the temperature in summer is not more than + 30C, in winter there are no frosts. The car is operated daily and travels at least 20-30 km after starting. The car does not idle XX for 20-30 minutes (you do not use the auto-start function of your alarm - yes, this is also harmful!). You fill up the fuel at one gas station, you know for sure that it is of good cleaning, with a low sulfur content. Fuel is supplied directly from the refinery, all documents are in order (and in general this is your relative's gas station 🙂). The terrain is flat, not dusty, the roads are paved (because the president recently came to your city 🙂). In these cases, you can not shorten the shift interval and consider that you have normal operating conditions! In all other cases, consider your operating conditions as severe!
  3. What oil are you using? If you pour mineral oil, it lives less - you need to make discounts for this. The same applies to "synthetic" oils based on hydrocracking (VHVI, Group III). If you are pouring real synthetics PAO / Esters - they last longer than mineral oils and hydrocracked ones - but don't flatter yourself! In engine oil, in addition to the base oil, there is a package of additives that work out, regardless of whether they are dissolved in synthetics or in mineral water. If you have severe operating conditions, you need to pay attention to the characteristics of engine oil. On oils with a low base number (for example, TBN = 5-6), as well as on poor high-sulfur fuels, it is not advisable to drive with long shift intervals!
  4. What engine do you have? If the engine of your car is equipped with a turbine, the oil wears out its resource faster than in a simple atmospheric engine. There are manufacturers who recommend in difficult conditions, for turbo engines, the change period is 2500 km!

Example 1: Let's try to determine the shift interval for toyota camry 2008 release.
We find Toyota white paper:, below in small text is written "In severe operating conditions, reduce the shift interval by two." We divide 14000/2=7000km. Final Choice: Change interval 7000 km.

What do motor oil manufacturers say?

Motor oil manufacturers almost always stand in solidarity with automakers about change intervals. Almost everywhere it says "Consult your vehicle owner's manual." But there are expert answers in the form of advice. In their responses, motor oil manufacturers almost always rely on the recommendations of automakers!

At the end of the article, I would like to quote FAQ, a very famous and popular in the West, motor oil manufacturer - Valvoline.

Question: Do I need to shorten my oil change interval to 3000 miles (about 5000km)?
Answer: Valvoline recommends changing the oil every 3000 miles (about 5000km). The majority of motorists (more than 80% of drivers, according to a study in California) operate the car in severe conditions (start-stop mode, short distance driving, towing, very high or very low temperatures air, etc.) Automakers recommend shorter shift intervals in heavy duty applications, with most recommendations being 3,750 miles or less, with 3,000 miles (about 5,000km) being the most common recommendation. engine oil and oil filters have a shorter service life in severe operating conditions, due to an increase in the amount of pollution. Thus, changing the oil and filter every 3,000 miles (about 5,000 km) is the best way to ensure a healthy engine.

You can subscribe to every word! Exactly frequent intervals engine oil changes - 5000 km, will protect you from the accumulation of deposits in the engine, from the negative effects of poor quality fuel, from harsh vehicle operation modes, etc. Shortened engine oil change intervals, one of the most effective ways keep your engine in top condition! With change intervals of 5000 km, the car's engine will serve faithfully for many years!

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