How often to change the engine oil. How often and how to change the engine oil. How often is the engine oil change required?

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

The engine oil change interval is always negotiated by the manufacturer of your car. in the manual or in the Service bulletin. As a rule, the manufacturer indicates the engine oil change interval in kilometers (or in 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 - that is why the manufacturers have introduced a time limit. It is impossible to conclude "I roll very little on the mileage, so I will change the oil every 2 years."

It is not right to decide for yourself how often you need to change the oil, not based on the manufacturer's recommendations! Only the manufacturer of your car, who designed and built your car, knows better at what change interval do you need to change the oil! 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 created by thousands of engineers and specialists, they have already calculated and tested everything for us - 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 do not make a mistake yourself ...

But you also need to be able to interpret the manufacturer correctly! Recently, manufacturers have begun to increase the engine oil change intervals. For the sake of economy, ecology, limiting legislative acts in some countries, oil change intervals have noticeably increased 30,000 km, 50,000 km, etc.

There are special "long-life" oils for extended oil drain intervals "LongLife". But such oils can only be poured at extended drain intervals into engines that are suitable for this! It is impossible to conclude "If I fill in Longlife oil in VAZ Kalina, then it is possible not to change the oil of 30,000 km." Kalina's engine will kill such oil much faster!

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

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

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

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

Link to white paper: BMW Longlife-04 approved oils. That is, these oils are not suitable for Russian conditions, taking into account the extended change intervals!

What is Severe Service Conditions?

Severe operating conditions include:

Poor fuel quality. The fuel never burns out completely. When fuel is burned in the engine, combustion products are formed - ash, soot, tar, sulfur, etc. Deposits form on the inner walls of the engine - carbon deposits, sludge, varnish, etc. The worse the quality of the fuel, the more deposits and unwanted combustion products. Engine oil depletes faster! Russian oil from the very beginning considered to be of inferior quality due to the high content of sulfur, as well as heavy and cyclic hydrocarbons. To this must be added the peculiarities of the "Russian business" and the absence of strict control over the production and sale of fuel. Fuel quality is constantly leaping from filling to filling. Production of gasoline from 76th to 92nd by adding additives. Water condensation, sand, dirt in storage and transport tanks, etc. All this affects the life of the engine oil! Therefore, at least somehow to save yourself from these negative factors, you can only by refueling at proven gas stations and frequent oil change intervals! It is the frequent oil changes that help remove unwanted products from the engine, neutralize sulfur from burnt fuel, slow down oxidation processes, etc. No LongLife or PAO synthetic oils with long drain intervals can miraculously remove all this from the engine.
Traveling 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 reach operating temperature. Additives that neutralize fuel combustion products work slower due to the slowdown of chemical processes in an unheated engine. Low-temperature deposits form, clogging filter elements and impairing oil circulation in the lubrication system. The operation of the engine in the mode "started - drove 5 km - turned off" leads to the transformation of condensate formed on the inner walls into water. Water in oil leads to oil flooding - premature aging of the engine oil.
Dusty roads, or roads that are treated with anti-icing agents. The air filter does not catch all of the dust particles - a small amount still gets into the engine. It is also not uncommon for unfiltered air to enter the engine, through a filter of poor quality, abnormal air intake (cracked air hose, gasket stiffened), etc. When the engine is operating in dusty conditions, dust particles that accumulate during engine operation cause abrasive wear of parts and reduce the antiwear properties of the oil. In simple terms, dust and sand fall into the cylinder-piston group and, of course, this does not bring anything good.
Traffic jams, long trips at low speeds, long idle idle. Constant acceleration and deceleration in traffic jams load the engine the most, the oil is used up faster. At idle speed (XX), the oil pressure in the system is several times lower than at full speed - the oil flows to the engine components, not as well as it happens at full speed along the highway. This also happens on long low-speed journeys. For example, on a dirt road "where you can't really accelerate." The engine is under heavy load and the engine oil is not supplied abundantly. The engine at idle speed (XX) is poorly washed with oil, as a result of which rings can again become embedded, deposits can accumulate on the walls of the engine. The car owner at this time calmly looks at the odometer, where the cherished 15,000 km has not yet come and convinces himself that "everything is fine!"
Operation in extremely high or extremely low ambient temperatures. When operating a car in 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 on the highway, it turns out to be a very tough mode. Remember yourself, on a trip to the South, during the holidays - we will load up with the whole family, pick up a trailer and "spar" at high speeds along the highway - it would be faster to get to the sea / or back home. This is exactly the case! High air temperature also accelerates 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 lead to the fact that the engine is not started, and fuel was supplied at that time. Fuel settling in the crankcase enters the engine oil and dilutes it. Subsequently, the fuel, of course, burns out and evaporates, but the oil is already spoiled and miraculously, to a fresh state, cannot be restored. In winter, we often warm up the engine before starting to move, but long idle (XX) downtime is again not good for the engine oil. The engine is running - and the car does not "reel" the mileage, meanwhile we change the oil according to the mileage!
Towing a trailer, transporting heavy loads in the trunk, operating a car in mountainous areas. It is no secret that in a heavily loaded technique, oil develops its resource much faster. If you use your car to uproot stumps in the country, you will wear out the engine ten times faster than during normal operation. The more the engine is loaded, the faster the oil wears out in it. Car operation in mountainous areas, where ups and downs are frequent, also seriously affects the reduction of the engine oil resource.

It is generally accepted that operating conditions are harsh in Russia! On our resource site, we have 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 cut the change intervals in half! Then what are the operating conditions in Russia?

On-board computer as a guideline for the timing of oil change.

In modern cars, the on-board computer, based on the data received, itself signals when to change the oil. The service interval (mileage until the next service) is calculated based on the distance traveled over a certain period of time, the fuel consumed and the temperature change over the same period. Data is collected from various sensors in the car, the crankshaft speed sensor, the oil temperature sensor, the distance traveled from the tachometer, fuel consumption, etc. Based on this data, the control unit calculates the remaining mileage before 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 data received, the on-board computer can give various options:

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

So, what engine oil change interval should you choose?

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

We look at the manufacturer's manual... It is the manual, and not the translations of third-party Russian publications taken from where it is not clear! In the manual, we find a plate with the change intervals, and the lines "under severe operating conditions, we recommend reducing the change interval by half." Sometimes there is nothing about the mileage in the manual. We are looking for official white papers, usually in English. Be sure to follow the official recommendations of the manufacturer of your car!
We define our operating conditions. In most cases, if you live in Russia, you have just harsh operating conditions! But there are exceptions! For example: You live in a quiet, provincial town with no traffic jams. Moderate climate, the temperature in summer is not more than + 30C, there is no frost in winter. The car is operated daily and travels at least 20-30 km after starting. The car does not idle for 20-30 minutes (you do not use the autostart function of your alarm - yes, this is also harmful!). You fill up the fuel at one filling station, you know for sure that it is of good purification, 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 asphalted (because the president recently came to your city 🙂). In these cases, you do not have to shorten the change interval and consider that you have normal operating conditions! In all other cases, consider your operating conditions as difficult!
What kind of oil do you use? If you pour mineral oil, it lives less - you need to make discounts on this. Also applies to "synthetic" hydrocracked oils (VHVI, Group III). If you pour real synthetics of PAO / Esters - they live longer than mineral oils and hydrocracking oils - but don't flatter yourself! In motor oil, in addition to the base oil, there is a package of additives that work, 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 the engine oil. On oils with a low base number (for example TBN = 5-6), as well as on poor high-sulfur fuel - it is not advisable to drive with long change intervals!
What is your engine? If the engine of your car is equipped with a turbine, the oil develops 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 change interval for the 2008 toyota camry.
We find Toyota official document:, below in small text it is written "Under severe operating conditions, reduce the shift interval by half." We divide 14000/2 = 7000 km. Final choice: Change interval 7000 km.

What do motor oil manufacturers say?

Engine oil manufacturers almost always maintain solidarity with car manufacturers about oil change intervals. Almost everywhere it says "Check your vehicle's manual." But there are expert answers in the form of advice. In their answers, engine oil manufacturers almost always rely on the recommendations of the automakers!

In conclusion of the article, I would like to cite the 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 5000 km)?
Answer: Valvoline recommends changing the oil every 3000 miles (about 5000 km). Most car enthusiasts (more than 80% of drivers, according to a study in the state of California) operate a car in difficult operating conditions (start-stop mode, driving short distances, towing, very high or very low temperatures, etc.) operating conditions, in most recommendations 3750 miles or less, and 3000 miles (about 5000 km) is the most common recommendation. Engine oil and oil filters have a shorter life under severe operating conditions due to increased contamination. Thus, changing the oil and filter every 3000 miles (about 5000 km) is the best way to ensure a healthy engine.

You can subscribe to every word! It is the frequent intervals of changing the engine oil - 5000 km, that will protect you from the accumulation of deposits in the engine, from the negative effects of poor quality fuel, from the harsh operating conditions of the car, etc. Shortened engine oil change intervals are one of the most effective ways to keep your engine in top condition! With 5000 km change intervals, the car engine will serve faithfully for many years!

Engine oil protects the engine from overheating and corrosion, slows down wear of rubbing parts and neutralizes the effect of harmful products of incomplete combustion of fuel - carbon deposits and soot. During the operation of the car, the oil loses its useful properties and requires periodic replacement.

How do the characteristics of an engine oil change as we age?

1. Loss of initial viscosity.

The increase in viscosity occurs due to the accumulation of soot and carbon deposits in it, and as the light hydrocarbon fractions contained in the fresh oil evaporate.
If the viscosity is less than normal, then fuel or water has got into the oil.

2. Violation of the thermal stability of the oil. Old oil can easily overheat, which leads to intense formation of solid deposits (coke) and accelerates wear and tear of engine parts, causing them to break.

3.Reduction of flash point. The penetration of volatile fuel fractions into the oil leads to a decrease in the flash point.

4. Deterioration of the protective and detergent properties of the oil, preventing wear and corrosion of engine parts. The reason may be the ingress of antifreeze from the engine cooling system into the oil, excessive amounts of decomposition products of additives, particles of dust and dirt.

5. Violation of the strength of the oil film.

6.Reduction of base number (oil oxidation).

Important! Any engine oil has an alkaline Total Base Number and a set of additives. The higher the TBN, the longer the oil will last.

7. Loss of fluidity. Engine oil curdles due to overheating. The reason is heavy loads on the engine, poor ventilation of the crankcase, insufficient blowing of the oil cooler, the oil level in the crankcase is below the minimum permissible, malfunctions in the cooling system.

Important! The longer the engine oil retains its characteristics, the longer the engine's service life.

How often is an engine oil change required?

The well-established opinion that the oil in the engine must be changed after 10-15 thousand kilometers, but at least once a year, is partly true. When determining the real time interval before changing the oil, it is necessary to take into account:

1. The brand and company of the manufacturer of the oil to be poured into the engine.

What kind of engine oil is:

Synthetic oils.

Advantages:

Heat resistance. If the temperature of the oil is exceeded by 10⁰C during poor operation of the cooling system for half an hour, it causes the formation of coke and carbon deposits, polymerization, and also destroys the additives added to the oil. When heated, synthetic oils practically do not lose their viscosity. At the same time, synthetics retain their detergent and dispersant, antioxidant and anticorrosive properties until the next oil change. The disadvantage is the high cost compared to other engine oils.

Semi-synthetic.

They are inferior to synthetic oils, as they are a mixture of high quality base oil (50 - 70%) and mineral oil (30 - 50%) with the addition of various additives. For example, if mineral oil loses fluidity in winter at a temperature of -35⁰C, then semi-synthetic oil is poured into the engine of a car operating in less severe conditions - at a temperature of no more than minus 20⁰C. Semi-synthetics are popular with motorists, since the technical characteristics are worse than those of synthetic oils, but the cost, depending on the brand, is several times less.

Synthetic oils based on PAO.

PAO is a fully synthetic oil obtained by the synthesis of polyalphaolefins. Advantages: resistance to oxidation under temperature overload and improved antifriction properties, which reduce fuel consumption, made this oil popular with racers and fans of fast and aggressive driving.

Hydrocracking oils.

While PAO synthetics is produced from gas, HC-synthetic oil is produced from heavy oil products. Oil produced using hydrocracking technology is 20–30% cheaper than PJSC, and is practically not inferior in anything in terms of technical characteristics, except for thermal stability. PAO synthetics have two times better resistance to thermal overloads, and the oil change interval is longer.

Ester oils.

They are made on the basis of ethers. The main advantage is that during a cold start of the engine dry friction of engine parts is eliminated due to the presence of a constant oil film that can withstand a load of 22 thousand kg / cm². For comparison, an oil film of PAO synthetics holds an impact load of 6500 kg / cm². Lack of esters is one of the most expensive types of oil.

Polyglycolic oils.

It is 70% a mixture of PAO and esters, to which PAG polyester (polyalkylene glycol) has been added. The "cleanest" oil with excellent performance when starting the engine in winter cold. The viscosity of this oil is 180 units. For a long time it does not lose its properties and therefore it is called "oil for the lazy", since PAG oil has the largest motor resource.

2.Conditions of operation. The rate at which the oil ages depends on the nature of the journey. Severe operating conditions are driving a car in urban conditions in a ragged rhythm, when the trip alternates with long standing in traffic jams and forced mode in free areas. But trips on intercity routes at top speeds also negatively affect the oil resource.

3.Features of your own car. Most automobile concerns do not recommend changing the brand of oil recommended for a given car. Switching to another oil can lead to unpredictable consequences. If the car owner decides to take such a step, then when choosing an oil, you need to consult with specialists.

4. The money factor. The table will help you compare engine oils by price (approximate, of course).

How do I change the engine oil?

The oil is changed at the dealer's auto centers or service stations. For those who want to do it on their own, but do not have the skill, it is recommended to watch the video.

Cars that are under warranty are filled with oil of that brand and within the terms indicated in the service book.
The usual oil change interval is 10 thousand kilometers. Taking into account the operating conditions, driving style, vehicle features, the replacement frequency can be reduced to 5-8 thousand km or increased to 15,000 km.
The use of oil with an extended service life of up to 20-30 thousand km requires agreement with the manufacturer.
Together with the oil change, the filter also changes. If the engine is after a major overhaul, then after 3 thousand kilometers, only the oil filter changes.

Outcome

It is better to entrust the oil change to a professional - a mistake can cost you the breakdown of the entire engine. If it is not possible to use the services of the service, try to choose the oil as accurately as possible and approach the replacement procedure as responsibly as possible.

The answer is no. In modern cars, you do not need to change very often. Modern engines do not require frequent engine oil changes. But despite this, every driver should know some information about the frequency of oil changes.

But in fact, all cars produced today do not need frequent, and especially, every 5000-8000 km. True, it is worth noting that there are still many old cars on our roads that require oil changes in this interval. But if your car was produced no more than 5-7 years ago, then frequent oil changes are unnecessary.

Why do old cars need more frequent oil changes than new ones? More than ten years ago, there were many cars on the market that were equipped with a carburetor injection system. It was this system that assumed an oil change every 5000-8000 kilometers.

Also, the design of the old powertrains was not as perfect as it is now. Old motors could accumulate moisture, which, once it got into the oil, changed its properties. Plus, 15 years ago, motor oils weren't as perfect as they are today. At the moment, there are mainly high-class synthetic oils on the market. Thanks to the development of technologies in the chemical industry, these oils have become much more reliable, better quality and more efficient in their composition. This allowed them to be used in the engine for much longer, even with poor fuel quality.

New technologies that make it possible to rarely change oil in cars

Several car manufacturers have developed various systems that allow for extended engine oil drain intervals. For example, Chrysler has developed a system that not only automatically monitors the engine oil level, but also monitors various vehicle operating parameters to determine when a scheduled engine oil change is necessary.

So, the system monitors the temperature of the engine, monitors the load on the motor, downtime, the number of cold starts of the power unit and many other parameters. It is these characteristics that directly affect the oil change interval.

Obviously, if you often transport a loaded trailer with a heavy load in hot weather and your path constantly lies over a long hill, then the engine in the car is subjected to increased load, which naturally contributes to the rapid loss of oil properties.

Or, if you often use the car at high speeds, then the oil also loses its chemical properties faster. Therefore, if you most often use the car at low speeds and do not often carry heavy loads on the car, then the oil can be changed every 15,000 kilometers. Otherwise, the oil must be changed every 10,000 kilometers. True, it should be noted that these values are applicable only for those car brands with an oil change interval of 15,000 kilometers. If the manufacturer recommends changing the oil in your car every 10,000 km, then in case of an increased load on the engine due to the peculiarities of operation, the oil must be changed every 6000-8000 kilometers.

Other technologies that have helped manufacturers increase vehicle mileage between oil changes. This developments that have made it possible to increase the reliability and resistance of engines to destruction through the use of more modern materials, as well as through electronics that regulate optimal fuel injection.

You may ask what to do for drivers who do not drive the required mileage for a whole year for a scheduled technical inspection, during which the engine oil is changed. In this case, despite the low mileage of the car, it is recommended to change the engine oil once a year.

It's all about synthetic additives that are added to the oil and change its properties. One year after operating the machine with one oil, these chemical additives may lose their characteristics. For example, if you do not change the oil once a year, the chemicals in the oil such as anti-foaming agents, detergents, corrosion inhibitors and friction modifiers can degrade. Modern oil is not only a direct oil product, but also a set of various chemical additives.

Oil change every 40,000 km reality or fantasy?

There is another way to increase the oil change interval between scheduled maintenance. For example, you can use a variety of innovative engine oils that are currently presented on the world car market. There are high-tech and high-quality synthetic oils in the world that do not lose their properties with high vehicle mileage. It is worth noting here that many manufacturers of such oils claim that some brands of oils are capable of withstanding a mileage of 40,000 km.

It is noteworthy that such oils are often used on heavy vehicles, which cover huge kilometers in a short time. And I must admit, judging by the reviews of truckers, such oils do not damage the engine even at high mileage and load. So, we advise you to try using high-tech oils. This will not only save you money, but will improve the performance of your engine.

When choosing which oil to buy, take into account the viscosity and brand of oil that the manufacturer recommends to use. Whenever possible, always use only synthetic oils, which are much better than mineral oils. Remember that more expensive brands of oils are more efficient, they have a lower pour point and increase engine life, and at the same time, they also reduce fuel consumption.

The only condition is, be careful when buying oil. There is a huge percentage of counterfeit oil products on our market. If you are offered to buy branded expensive oil for a small amount, then think about whether such oil can be worth the money. For example, in recent years, a myth has been spread on the Russian market that the oil sold by official dealers of brands is very expensive due to a large margin, and that is why many of us have no doubt that many branded oils are sold for a penny. "Gray" sellers, as a rule, declare that oil is delivered from Europe bypassing customs and, unlike the dealer, the margin is minimal. But don't believe it. Most likely this oil is fake.

Try to buy oils only from an authorized dealer. Even if you overpay, you will receive a guarantee that the oil is original.

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

Types of engine oils

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

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

If the first problem was solved by making seasonal oils(summer and winter), then the second is 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 motors.

The price to pay for the low price of mineral oil is the remaining weak point - low resource, after all, in addition to useful work, additive packages also counteract the negative qualities of the base oil itself.

The synthesis of the base oil makes it possible to obtain a significantly higher quality product, but at a significantly higher price.

Synthetic motor oils, depending on the production technology, can 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 lower, and their viscosity is more stable.

Manufacturers often use polyolester oil as an additive to the polyalphaolefin base to improve oil quality at a lower cost compared to all-polyolester oils.

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

Why change the engine oil?

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

In fact, there are only three of them:

Lubrication. The most important job of engine oil. In modern automobile engines, the loads on the parts are very significant, hence the requirements for engine oil are high. That is why modern engine oils contain a high amount of antifriction, extreme pressure and viscosity-stabilizing additives ( up to 20-30 percent). However, operation at high temperatures, contamination from gases breaking through the piston rings lead to oil aging - the effectiveness of the additive package decreases. The drop in the viscosity of the engine oil is best seen: the used oil is much thinner than at the time of filling. A significant decrease in the strength of the oil film, combined with aging of the anti-friction additive package, increases engine wear.
Cleaning. Even the best oil cannot completely defeat engine wear. It is important that the wear products of the friction couples are retained by the oil in order to retain them in the oil filter. This is provided by a package of detergents, which also do not last forever. Since the days when only low quality mineral oils were available, it has been a misconception that a dark oil means it is oxidizing and needs to be replaced. In fact, the darkening of the oil is precisely the result of the work of the package of detergents, which allows the oil to retain all contaminants in its mass, preventing them from precipitating.
Cooling. It is engine oil that cools the most heat-loaded engine components, for example, by spraying it onto the piston bottoms. Thus, the oil is constantly in contact with parts heating above two hundred degrees, which accelerates its oxidation.

How often should the engine oil be changed?

The main problem is that it is impossible to accurately estimate when exactly concrete oil much will lose its properties in a specific 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 trips, urban operation is harder for 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 noticeably affects the change in the composition of the oil: the use of high-sulfur fuel increases the contamination of the oil, especially during heating, the increasing acidity disrupts the work of the additives.

Oils of different compositions have different service lives.

Thus, mineral and semi-synthetic oils force 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 a synthetic oil, the necessary properties can be laid down in the very base.

That is why aging of synthetic oil takes longer - aging and deterioration of additives has 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 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 the oil change frequency for gasoline engines at 15,000 kilometers, and for diesel engines - 10,000 kilometers. At the same time, it is indicated that the service interval should be halved in severe operating conditions (long idling, short trips).

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

It should be noted that the oil change intervals are negotiated by the car manufacturer with the condition that the recommended oils are used. Filling the engine with cheap semi-synthetic and, moreover, mineral oil, one cannot expect that it will last as long as synthetics. Thus, using lower quality oils, it is necessary to shorten the drain intervals.

For most modern mineral oils, a mileage replacement is reasonable. 5000 kilometers, average lifespan of semisynthetics - no more than 7000.

Synthetic oils, no matter how their manufacturer insists on increasing the resource of their product at times, would be reasonable to change with 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, standardizes oil change intervals for engine oils of API SG and SJ quality groups, which have long been outdated. So after how many kilometers should you change the oil? At the same time, the frequency of oil change is set at 10,000 kilometers, which in difficult conditions is reduced up to 5-7 thousand.

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

Therefore, you should not increase the service mileage when using modern synthetic oil - no one can guarantee the consequences of such savings.

How to change the oil in a Renault Logan engine?

The do-it-yourself oil change procedure may differ in labor intensity. depending on the configuration and vehicle generation. So, on modern Renault Logans of the 2nd generation, access to the oil filter is much more difficult due to the changed 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 work is most convenient to carry out on the lift by removing the crankcase guard. However, here you need to take into account 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 debris.

You don't have to remove the protection, but it should be borne in mind that when the oil filter is unscrewed, a noticeable amount of used engine oil will get on it.

Further, with a square key 8 mm, the drain plug of the pallet is unscrewed. While the oil is draining, the oil filter located at the front of the cylinder block is unscrewed. Its seating 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 prior to installation. In fact, it does not make sense - to expel air from the lubrication system to the oil pump faster just through the dry filter.

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

Filler neck on Renault Logan engines conveniently located and oil filling is not a problem... After filling the crankcase to the upper mark on the dipstick, you need 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 just below the upper mark of 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.

Many car owners do not know how long to change the oil in the engine of their car or doubt the data provided by the manufacturer on the frequency of replacement of consumables. And for good reason. across every 10-15 thousand kilometers is often not entirely true.

Better at the same time be guided by the number of hours worked and the average speed... There are many components in the answer to the question of how often to change the oil in the engine. Among them are the recommendations of the car manufacturer, the operating conditions of the car (heavy / light, in the city / on the highway, often / rarely used), the mileage before oil change and the total mileage, the technical condition of the car and the oil used.

Also, additional factors affect the frequency of changing the oil in the engine - the number of operating hours, the power and volume of the engine, the time since the last oil change (even without taking into account the operation of the machine). Next, we will tell you in detail about how often to change the oil in the engine, how it happens, and other things that will surely be useful to you.

For those who do not want to go into details and understand everything in detail, we will immediately give an answer on the change interval: in urban conditions, the oil "works" 8-12 thousand, on the highway / light traffic mode without traffic jams it works out up to 15 thousand km. The most accurate way to find out when to change can only be provided by a laboratory analysis of oil consumption.

What affects the frequency of replacement

Each automaker in the manual for the car indicates detailed information about when to change the oil in the engine. However, the fact is that this information is not always correct. As a rule, the documentation contains a value of 10 ... 15 thousand kilometers (in each case, the number may differ). But in fact, several factors affect the mileage between replacements.

10 indicators affecting the timing of engine oil replacement

Fuel type (gas, petrol, diesel) and its quality
Engine capacity
Brand of previously filled oil (synthetic, Semy-Synt, mineral oil)
Classification and type of oils used (API and longlife system)
Engine oil condition
Replacement method
Total engine mileage
Technical condition of the car
Operating conditions and modes
Consumable quality

The manufacturer's instructions are not included in this list, since for him the service interval is a marketing concept.

Operating modes

First of all, the timing of the oil change in the engine is affected by vehicle operation... Without going into the essence of various transient processes, it is worth mentioning two main modes - on the highway and in the city. The fact is that when the car is driving on the highway, firstly, the mileage accumulates much faster, and secondly, the engine is cooled normally. Accordingly, the load on the engine and on the oil used in it is not so high. On the contrary, if a car is used in a city, then its mileage will be much lower, and the load on the engine will be higher due to the fact that it often stands at traffic lights and traffic jams with the engine running. In this case, the cooling will be insufficient.

In this regard, it would be more competent to calculate how long it takes to change the oil in the engine, relying on engine hours as it is done in cargo, agricultural and water technology. Let's give an example. 10 thousand kilometers in urban conditions (with an average speed of 20 ... 25 km / h), the car will travel in 400 ... 500 hours. And the same 10 thousand on the highway at a speed of 100 km / h - in only 100 hours. Moreover, the operating conditions of the engine and oil on the track are much milder.

Driving in a metropolis is rightly equated with driving on rough terrain in terms of how it ruins oil. This is especially true when its level in the crankcase is below average, and even worse when it is below the minimum level. Also remember that in hot summer weather the oil is subjected to a much greater stress due to the high temperature, including from the hot surfaces of roads in metropolitan areas.

Engine volume and type

What affects the frequency of oil changes

The more powerful the engine, the easier it is for it to cope with load changes as well as difficult operating conditions. Accordingly, the oil will not have such a strong effect. For a powerful motor, driving along the highway at a speed of 100 ... 130 km / h does not have a significant load, it will be below average. As the speed increases, the load on the engine, and therefore on the oil, will change smoothly.

A small car is another matter. As a rule, they are equipped with a “short” transmission, that is, the gears are designed for a small speed range and a range of working revolutions. Accordingly, subcompact engines experience greater loads in critical modes than powerful ones. When the load on the engine increases, the temperature of its pistons also increases, and the amount of crankcase gases also increases. This leads to an overall rise in temperature, including the temperature of the oil.

It is especially hard for subcompact high-powered engines (for example, 1.2 TSI and others). In this case, the load is also supplemented by the turbine.

Additional factors

This should include a high temperature control temperature (operating temperature), poor ventilation of the engine crankcase (especially when driving in urban conditions), the use of low-quality or unsuitable oil for this engine, the presence of dirt in the oil channels, a clogged oil filter, the operating temperature range of the oil.

It is believed that the optimal engine oil change interval is from 200 to 400 hours under various operating conditions, with the exception of maximum load, including driving at maximum speed and maximum revs.

Also of great importance is the type of oil used - or completely. You can read about each of the mentioned types separately on the links provided.

Why do you need regular oil changes?

Instrument panel display

What can happen to the car if the engine oil is not changed for a long time? To answer this question, you need to understand what functions it performs. Any oil consists of the so-called "base" and a certain amount of additives. They are the ones who protect engine parts.

During the operation of the machine, and even when it is parked, there is a continuous chemical destruction of the additives. Naturally, when driving, this process is faster. At the same time, natural deposits are formed on the engine crankcase, oxidative processes occur with individual components of the oil, its viscosity and even the pH level of acidity change. These facts are the answers to the question - why change the oil once a year at least.

Some automakers and manufacturers of motor oils indicate how long it is necessary to change the oil in the engine not by mileage, but by frequency, usually by months.

And under significant load, the described processes in the oil occur at an even higher rate. Especially at high temperatures. However, modern manufacturers are constantly improving the technologies and chemical compositions of their oils. Therefore, they are able to withstand pollution and high temperatures for a long time.

In many modern cars, the ECU constantly monitors how long it takes to change the engine oil. Naturally, this decision is made on the basis of an empirical methodology. It is based on actual data - the average number of engine revolutions, the temperature of the oil and engine, the number of cold starts, the speed limit, and so on. In addition, the program takes into account errors and technical tolerances. Therefore, the computer only reports the approximate time when the engine oil needs to be changed.

Unfortunately, on the shelves of stores not only in the Russian Federation, but also in other CIS countries, a large number of low-quality or simply fake engine oils are currently being sold. And given that our fuel is often of poor quality, the frequency of oil change still needs to be adjusted. In particular, if we talk about how many kilometers to change the oil in the engine, then the recommended amount should be reduced by about a third. That is, instead of the often recommended 10 thousand, change after 7 ... 7.5 thousand.

Change the oil AT LEAST once a year, regardless of whether you are using the machine or not.

Let's list the reasons and consequences of untimely replacement of engine oil:

Sediment formation... The reasons for this phenomenon are the destruction of additives or contamination of the oil with combustion products in the crankcase. The consequences are a significant decrease in engine power, an increase in the content of toxic substances in the exhaust gases, and their blackening.
Significant engine wear... Reasons - oils lose their properties due to changes in the composition of additives.
Increase in oil viscosity... This can happen for the same reasons. In particular, due to oxidation or violation of polymerization of additives due to improper selection of oil. Problems arising from this include difficulties with oil circulation, significant wear of the engine and its individual elements. And the resulting oil starvation of the engine can lead to, in critical cases, even engine failure is possible.
Rotation of connecting rod bearings... This is due to the clogging of the oil channel with a thickened compound. The smaller its cross-sectional area, the greater the loads the connecting rod bearings are subjected to. Because of this, they overheat and crank.
Significant turbocharger wear(if available). In particular. there is a high risk of damage to the rotor. It occurs because the used oil has a significant impact on the compressor shaft and bearings. As a result, damage and scratches are formed on them. And besides that, dirty oil leads to clogging of the lubrication channels of the compressor, which can lead to its seizure.

Do not operate the machine with burnt and thickened oil. This exposes the motor to significant wear.

The problems described above are inherent in machines operating in urban environments. After all, it is she who is considered one of the most difficult for the engine. Below are some interesting factual data that were obtained experimentally. They will help you decide how far to change the engine oil.

Experimental results with oils

Specialists of the famous automobile magazine "Za Rulem" carried out six-month studies of several types of synthetic oils under conditions of operation of cars in city traffic jams (at idle speed). For this, the engines worked for 120 hours (analogous to the run of 10 thousand kilometers on the highway) at 800 rpm without cooling. As a result, interesting facts were obtained ...

The first is the viscosity of all engine oils during continuous operation at idle up to a certain (critical) moment. significantly less than when driving “on the highway”. This is due to the fact that at idle there is a passage of exhaust gases and unburned fuel into the crankcase, where it all mixes with oil. In this case, there may be some (small) amount of oil in the fuel.

The drop in the viscosity of the engine oil is about 0.4 ... 0.6 cSt (centistokes). This value is within 5 ... 6% of the average level. That is, the viscosity is within the normal range. However, this only happens up to a certain point.

Clean and used engine oils

Approximately at 70 ... 100 hours(each oil is different, but the trend is the same for all) the viscosity begins to increase sharply. And much faster than when working in the "track" mode. The reasons for this are as follows. The oil is constantly in contact with the products of incomplete combustion (as described above), and reaches its critical saturation. These products have a certain acidity, which is transferred to the oil. The lack of ventilation and low turbulence of the air-fuel mixture due to the fact that the piston moves relatively slowly, also affects. Because of this, the fuel combustion rate is below average, and the ingress of exhaust gases into the crankcase is maximized.

The widespread opinion that a large amount of dirt is formed in the engine at idle has not been experimentally confirmed. However, the amount of high-temperature deposits was small, and the amount of low-temperature deposits was large.

As for the products of wear, their quantity is much higher in the oil used in the "plug" mode than in the one that was on the "highway". The reason for this is the low piston speed and the high operating temperature of the oil (no ventilation). With regard to waste, each oil behaves in its own way. However, it can be argued that due to high operating temperatures and an increase in density, waste will also increase.

Based on the information provided, we will try to systematize the data and answer the question of how many kilometers to change the oil in the engine.

Next, we will dwell in more detail on the question of how often to change the oil in the engine. As stated above, the recommendations of the automakers should be very skeptical. Don't completely ignore them, but make your own amendments... If you drive a car only in urban conditions (according to statistics, there are a majority of such car owners), then this means that the oil is used in heavy duty. Remember that the less oil in the crankcase, the faster it ages. Therefore, its optimal level is slightly lower on the indicator dipstick.

How many thousand will it take to change the engine oil?

Calculating engine hours for oil change

Above, we wrote that it is more competent to calculate the frequency of oil change by engine hours. However, the complexity of this technique lies in the fact that it is sometimes difficult to convert kilometers into hours, and based on this information, get an answer. Let us consider in more detail two techniques that allow empirically, however, it is quite accurate to calculate how much to change the synthetic (and not only) oil in the engine. To do this, your car must have an ECU that shows the average speed and fuel consumption for the last at least one thousand kilometers (the greater the mileage, the more accurate the calculations will be).

So, the first method (calculation by speed). To do this, you need to know the average speed of your car for the last several thousand kilometers and the recommendations of the automaker for which mileage you need to change the oil. For example, the mileage before the oil change is 15 thousand kilometers, and the average speed in the city is 29.5 km / h.

Accordingly, in order to calculate the number of engine hours, the distance must be divided by the speed. In our case, it will be 15000 / 29.5 = 508 engine hours. That is, it turns out that in order to change the oil under these conditions, it is necessary to use a composition with a resource of 508 engine hours. However, in reality, such oils simply do not exist today.

We offer you a table showing the types of engine oils and the corresponding values of engine hours according to API (American Petroleum Institute):

Suppose that the car engine is filled with SM / SN oil, which has a working life of 350 hours. To calculate the mileage, you need to multiply 350 hours by an average speed of 29.5 km / h. As a result, we get 10325 km. As you can see, this mileage is strikingly different from the one that the automaker offers us. And if the average speed is 21.5 km / h (which is more typical for large metropolitan areas, taking into account traffic jams and downtime), then with the same 350 engine hours we will get 7,525 km of run! Now it becomes clear why it is necessary to divide the mileage recommended by the car manufacturer by 1.5 ... 2 times.

Another calculation method is based on the amount of fuel consumed. As initial data, you need to know how much fuel according to the passport your car spends per 100 km of track, as well as this actual value. It can be taken from the same ECU. Suppose that according to the passport, the car “takes” 8 l / 100 km, but in fact - 10.6 l / 100 km. The replacement mileage remains the same - 15,000 km. We will derive the proportion and find out how much in theory the car must spend on overcoming 15,000 km: 15,000 km * 8 liters / 100 km = 1200 liters. Now let's make similar calculations for actual data: 15000 * 10.6 / 100 = 1590 liters.

Now we need to calculate at what distance it is necessary to draw actual oil change(that is, how much the car will travel on theoretical 1200 liters of fuel). Let's use a similar proportion: 1200 liters * 15000 km / 1590 liters = 11320 km.

We present for you an electronic calculator that will allow you to calculate the actual mileage before oil change using the following data: theoretical fuel consumption per 100 km, actual fuel consumption per 100 km, theoretical distance to oil change in kilometers:

However, the simplest and most effective method of checking is a visual inspection of the condition of the oil. To do this, do not be lazy to periodically open the hood and check whether the oil has thickened or burnt. His condition can be assessed visually. If you see the oil dripping off the dipstick like water, then this is a sure sign that the oil needs to be replaced. Another interesting test method is the spreading of the composition on a napkin. Very thin oil will form a large and liquid stain that will tell you that it is time to change the liquid. If so, immediately go to a car service or carry out the procedure yourself.

How often to change the oil in a diesel engine

With regard to diesel engines, the same calculation logic applies here as for gasoline units. It is only necessary to take into account that the working fluid in them is exposed to greater external influences. As a result, you need to change it a little more often. In addition, domestic diesel fuel has a high sulfur content, which has a detrimental effect on the car engine.

Regarding the indications given by the car manufacturer (especially for Western manufacturers), similar to gasoline engines, they must be divided by 1.5 ... 2 times. This applies to passenger cars as well as vans and small trucks.

As a rule, most domestic car owners of cars with diesel engines change the oil. every 7 ... 10 thousand kilometers depending on the machine and the oil used.

In theory, oil selection is based on total base number (TBN). It measures the amount of active corrosion inhibitors in the oil and indicates the tendency of their formulations to form deposits. The higher the number, the greater the ability of the oil to neutralize acidic and corrosive products formed during oxidation. For diesel engines, TBN is in the range of 11 ... 14 units.

The second important number that characterizes the oil is the total acid number (TAN). It characterizes the presence of products in the oil that provoke an increase in corrosion and the intensity of wear of various pairs of friction in a car engine.

However, before deciding how many hours to change the oil in an engine running on diesel fuel, it is necessary to deal with one nuance. In particular, is it possible to use engine oils with a low base number (TBN) in countries with low-quality fuel (in particular, Russian, which contains a large amount of sulfur)? During the operation of the engine, and, accordingly, the oil, the base number decreases, and the acid number increases. Therefore, it is logical to assume. that the intersection of their graphs at a certain mileage of the car tells us that the oil has completely exhausted its resource, and then its operation only ruins the engine. We present to your attention graphs of tests of four types of oils with different indicators of acid and base numbers. For the experiment, four types of oils were taken with the conventional names of the letters of the English alphabet:

oil A - 5W30 (TBN 6.5);
oil B - 5W30 (TBN 9.3);
oil C - 10W30 (TBN 12);
oil D - 5W30 (TBN 9.2).

As you can see from the graph, the test results were as follows:

oil A - 5W30 (TBN 6.5) - was completely used up after 7000 km;
oil B - 5W30 (TBN 9.3) - was completely used up after 11,500 km;
oil C - 10W30 (TBN 12) - was completely used up after 18,000 km;
oil D - 5W30 (TBN 9.2) - was completely used up after 11,500 km.

That is, the most persistent oil turned out to be for heavily loaded diesel engines. What conclusions can be drawn based on the information provided:

A high base number (TBN) is critical for regions where poor quality diesel fuel (in particular, with high S impurities) is sold. The use of such oil will provide you with a longer and safer engine operation.
If you are sure of the quality of the fuel you are using, then it will be enough for you to use oils with a TBN value in the region of 11 ... 12.
Similar reasoning holds true for gasoline engines. It is better to fill in oils with TBN = 8 ... 10. This will allow you to change the oil less often. If you use oil with TBN = 6 ... 7, then in this case, be prepared for more frequent fluid changes.

For general reasons, it should be added that in diesel engines it is necessary to change the oil a little more often than in gasoline ones. And it is worth choosing it, including by the value of the total acid and base numbers.

conclusions

Thus, each car owner must decide for himself how long to change the oil in the engine. This must be done taking into account individual circumstances. We recommend that you use the methods for calculating the hours and gasoline consumption given above (including calculators). In addition, always visually assess the condition of the oil in the crankcase. This will significantly reduce the wear on your car engine, which will save you from having to carry out expensive repairs. Also, when replacing, buy quality oils recommended by the manufacturer.