Motor oil is one of the most important parts of your car. Without fresh, fully functioning oil, the moving parts inside your engine will rapidly wear down and generate harmful friction and heat. It’s essential to have motor oil refreshed at least twice a year; more frequently if you experience the severe driving conditions outlined below. For the sake of your car’s health, it’s best to schedule routine oil changes at Priority Toyota Chesapeake and never miss an appointment.
How Long Has It Been Since Your Toyota’s Last Oil Change?
For most drivers, it’s unwise to let more than six months pass between changing your oil. These days, modern synthetic motor oil can last in great shape for 7,500 to 10,000 miles. For most car owners, this is usually a little more than six months of driving.
If you rarely use your car, you might be safe having your motor oil refreshed once per year. No matter how infrequently you drive, you still need to have the oil refreshed to keep it fresh.
Adhere to the Interval in Your Powertrain Warranty
If you have a valid powertrain warranty, there will be a recommended schedule for changing the oil in the warranty’s conditions. It’s best to stick to this required schedule in order to keep the warranty valid. And if you use your car under more severe driving conditions than most drivers, you may decide to have it changed even more frequently than the warranty stipulates.
Severe Conditions Necessitate More Frequent Changes
There are various driving conditions and habits that put a car’s engine under increased strain, wear, and tear. One such condition is driving along particularly dusty, salty, sandy, or muddy roads. Another is driving long distances while towing a trailer or carrying especially heavy loads.
Urban driving habits can also take a toll on a car’s engine and motor oil. If you commute regularly in heavy stop-and-go traffic, your engine oil may be wearing down faster. Also, regular short trips of under five miles can be tough on engine oil, as these short journeys don’t give the engine and oil enough time to properly warm up. During cold weather, any journey under ten miles might be considered a short trip that’s tougher on the engine.
Set Up a Routine Schedule at Priority Toyota Chesapeake
In the hectic hustle and bustle of modern life, it can be easy to forget when it’s time to have your oil refreshed. The surest way to never miss another oil checkup is to set up a regular schedule at your local dealership. Your dealer can then remind you whenever your next scheduled visit is coming up.
Have your motor oil refreshed today at Priority Toyota of Chesapeake. We’re the region’s number-one Toyota dealership, providing an extensive range of excellent vehicles and top-notch maintenance services.
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