How long can you go without an oil change? Let’s use the analogy of the human body to answer that question.
Engine oil plays the same role in your car that blood plays in your body. The same way your blood moves all around your body is the same way that engine oil moves through your car’s engine, lubricating and protecting the components(both big and small).
However, unlike with human blood though, where you can go without a blood transfusion, your car’s performance and reliability are largely linked to the engine’s quality of oil running.
Many car owners understand this; that is why “how long can you go without an oil change Reddit” is a very popular internet search. If you have made such a search before, this article provides answers.
Why Oil Changes Are a Big Deal?
The oil keeps engine parts running smoothly and efficiently by:
- Lubricating the moving part
- Cooling down the engine
- Cleaning away dirt and grime
- Protecting the engine from wear
As time goes on, that oil breaks down, gets dirty, and stops doing its job. If you keep driving on old, worn-out oil, your engine has to work harder, which causes negative consequences.
Signs It’s Time To Replace The Oil
Aside from the mileage recommendations, how else would you know when to change the oil? Thankfully, there are signs that indicate the oil should be changed.
You may need to change it more frequently because of how you drive your vehicle, so it’s important to pay attention to these signs.
#1. Dark and Dirty Oil.
When oil is fresh, it has an amber color and is transparent. You can see through it. As the oil breaks down, the color and texture begin to change.
As dust, dirt and contaminants start to build up, the oil is going to appear dirty. After it completely breaks down, it turns black. If it’s left go longer than this, the engine oil will become sludge, which is very dangerous.
That’s why we recommend checking the oil often. You want to pull out the dipstick to check the consistency and the color. If it’s thick and dark, it’s time to change it and the oil filter.
#2. Engine Noises or Knocking.
You should be used to the normal sounds of your car engine. The regular purr it makes should be music to your ears. If this normal sound turns into something odd, it’s time to take notice.
As the oil breaks down, the metal parts inside of the engine don’t get the lubrication needed.
Without the right viscosity of oil flowing through, the engine can start making unusual sounds, including knocking. Before the problem gets any worse, you should change the oil.
#3. Oil Change or Check Engine Light.
On your car’s dashboard, there is a multitude of lights letting you know when something is wrong. You could see an Oil Change or Maintenance Required Light reminding you that it’s time for service, or the Check Engine Light could come on in extreme situations.
Either way, your dashboard lights should never be ignored. Provide the maintenance that’s needed and read any trouble codes with your OBDII scanner to see what’s wrong.
#4. Oil Warning Light.
The oil warning light is another indicator that is found on the dash. This light doesn’t typically come on just because it’s time for an oil change.
However, if neglecting the oil change causes it to become thick, it may not circulate through the system properly.
Without the right amount of circulation, oil pressure can drop, which would lead to the indicator light. If you see this warning, it’s important that you stop driving right away. Any lack of oil pressure could lead to engine damage.
How Long Can You Go Without An Oil Change?
So how long can you go past your oil change? Well, that largely depends on several factors. Here’s where we take a closer look at the oil change intervals.
Changing Oil For Older Cars
If you have an older car, you might need to change the oil based on how you drive the car in regular operation and how you drive it when you task it a lot more.
Your car can be considered “tasked” when you use it for short trips that include stop-and-go driving for sustained periods. Other instances include when you drive in extreme weather conditions or use it for heavy haulage.
Naturally, you’d need to change your oil a lot more frequently if you task it a lot. We suggest that you should not let an older car used for heavy-duty stay for more than 3,000 miles.
Changing Oil for Newer Cars
As we already mentioned, newer cars come with oil-life monitoring systems that know when you should change your oil. Some systems use time and mileage, while others use the driving conditions to detect when the oil starts to degrade.
Regardless of the oil monitoring system, you get a prompt on the dashboard when it is time to change the oil. So it is a lot more straightforward as to how long your car should stay without an oil change with newer cars.
Once you get an alert for an oil change, delaying an oil means you are risking damage to your engine and increasing the possibility of costly repairs.
That said, the time intervals are also affected by the oil technology. How long can I go without an oil change synthetic? Engines that use synthetic oil are known to go for as long as 15,000 miles between oil changes depending on the age of the car and driving habits.
What Happens If You Wait Too Long?
Here’s where things get serious. Delaying your oil change can lead to:
#1. Engine Wear and Tear.
Old oil loses its slickness. Without the right amount of lubrication, metal parts grind against each other. That’s not just noisy but deadly for your engine.
#2. Sludge Buildup.
Dirty oil thickens into sludge, clogging your engine like cholesterol clogs arteries. This reduces performance and increases heat.
#3. Overheating.
Oil also helps cool your engine. Without clean oil, things heat up fast, which can warp or even melt parts.
#4. Poor Fuel Efficiency.
Your engine has to work harder, which means it uses more gas. That’s money out of your pocket every time you fill up.
#5. Complete Engine Failure.
Worst case? Your engine seizes up completely. That could mean a repair bill of several thousand dollars or the end of your car altogether.
How Often Should You Change The Oil?
Your dealer will probably tell you to change the oil every 5,000 miles or earlier. However, your vehicle might need an oil change earlier or later.
Is your car, truck, or SUV a model that rolled out before 1990? It generally needs regular oil changes every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first.
Starting in 1990, internal combustion engine technology and engine oil chemistry made significant strides. Engines became more efficient at burning fuel. Meanwhile, new formulas extended the service life of engine lubricants.
Thanks to these improvements, the typical modern vehicle needs fewer and less frequent oil changes than pre-1990 models. Newer cars, trucks, and SUVs now only require oil changes every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.
Some models can reach 15,000 miles. That’s unless the vehicle is experiencing severe service. Highway miles don’t break the engine down like city driving, so you may need to shorten your oil change mileage intervals if you mostly drive in town.
Here are the recommended oil change schedules for popular vehicle brands:
- Nissan: 5,000-7,000 miles
- Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM: 7,000-10,000 miles
- Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda: 7,500 miles
- Chevrolet, GMC, Lexus, Toyota: 7,500-10,000 miles
Please keep in mind that these numbers might not apply to every model under the brand. You might have to get the recommended oil change schedule from the dealer, manufacturer’s website, or service manual.
Other Important Notes
Here’s another warning. Always keep track of the miles since the last oil change even if your vehicle has an oil change reminder.
One GM engineer wrote an article that said he had trusted his oil change reminder and when it finally alerted him, he found out he had driven 11,000 miles since the last oil change.
Again, just think about what’s at stake: with oil changes, it’s pay a little now or pay a lot later.
Also, keep in mind that changing your oil too often is better than not changing it often enough.
Furthermore, avoid starting the engine and then shutting it off without letting it warm completely to avoid sludge formation. Also avoid frequent very short drives for the same reason, and keep the PCV system service, again, to prevent sludge buildup.
FAQs.
Q: How Many Miles Is It Safe To Go Over Your Oil Change?
Years back it was believed in the automotive space that oil changes had to be implemented every 3,000 miles.
The emergence of modern lubricants and improved engine designs have changed all that. It is common to see cars that go between 5,000 to 7,500 miles without an oil change.
It is even more interesting with car engines that use full-synthetic motor oil; Those engines can go for as long as 15,000 miles without needing an oil change.
You’d be surprised at the answer to an internet search on the question “how long can a honda go without an oil change.”
Q: What Happens If You Go Too Long Without An Oil Change?
Going too long without an oil change increases the risk of destroying your engine and incurring huge repair costs. Here is why. Engine absorbs debris and dirt, which causes it to degrade into sludge.
Once it gets to this form, the oil no longer draws heat from the engine, and this causes the engine to overheat, seize up or even blow a gasket. Overheating can also distort some of the metal parts of your engine.
So is it bad to go 2000 miles over oil change? Not necessarily. Some cars are built to go even longer with fully synthetic oil. However, why increase the risk of engine damage?
Q: How Many Months Can You Go Without An Oil Change?
That depends on the car’s age, the driving habits/conditions it is involved in, and the car’s makes. Once upon a time, it used to after three months.
The evolution of car engines and oil technology has changed all that because we now have cars staying for much longer before needing oil changes. Heck, even car manufacturers recommend a six-month interval while others suggest longer periods.
Q: Can You Go A Year Without An Oil Change?
No. Even if you didn’t get to put many miles on the car. The thing is, if you delay oil change, the engine oil can go bad after sitting idle in a car engine.
Once it has degraded, it becomes a bad idea to use this oil in your vehicle. So there is no way for your engine to function optimally without changing the engine oil.
Q: Can I Drive My Car When It Needs An Oil Change?
Yes, you can. Your car engine can perform well when it needs an oil change, even if you have exceeded the recommended interval for an oil change.
You can even go 1000 miles over oil change. The catch is that with each mile that you drive your car after it becomes clear that you need an oil change, you are increasing the risk of engine damage and reduced vehicle efficiency.
Q: Does Oil Go Bad Sitting In An Engine?
Your motor oil can go bad sitting in the engine. Like most automotive products, engine oil can only last for a stipulated period.
Once that period has lapsed, the oil goes bad by sitting in the engine. What happens is that it loses some of its viscosity and ability to provide proper lubrication to the components of your car engine.
Q: Should You Change Your Oil Every 3 Months?
It depends on several factors, top of which are the driving conditions, the type of oil used, the make of the car, and how old the car is.
It used to be that you had to change your oil after every three months. However, automotive advancements have changed all that as there are now car engines that stay longer than that.
Final Words
Engine oil is vital to the optimal operations of any car engine. It provides lubrication, reduces the engine’s temperature, improves fuel consumption, and enhances engine longevity.
If you don’t change the oil you could cause problems like engine failure, reduced engine performance, and possible loss of vehicle warranty. So how long can you go without an oil change?
Well, we recommend that you get an oil change as soon as a few thousand miles or as soon as the indicators on your dashboard alert you to that need.
Better still, we recommend that you adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations in the car owner’s manual.