How often to change my oil?

[wilko1984]

I drive a ford escort and i'm currently driving about 20000 miles per year. How often should I change my oil? Can I do this myself?

I check the oil once a month and haven't had to top it up.

Many thanks.

[Clanad]

That's quite a few more miles than is average here in the U.S. Our average is probably about 12,000 to 15,000 miles. If you are using the standard lubricating oil (not synthetic) it should be changed, in my opinion, every 3,000 miles or so. This should equate to once every 3 months, on average. The changing of the oil is simple, once you loacte the drain plug. However, there are two additonal problems to deal with. First, locating and removing/replacing the filter. Sometime easy, sometimes not... depends on the make of car. Secondly, what to do with the drained oil. You can't, at least here in the U.S., just let it drain on the ground in a distant corner of your neighbor's yard, for example. You have to catch the oil and then find an appropriate (read fee for service) place to dipose of it. We've changed oil on vehicles and machinery for years, but the environmental concerns are increasingly making that difficult. Don't even ask about disposing of a used battery!

[tubeway]

The service interval on a Ford Escort is 10000 miles (6000 for older models) that would include an oil and filter change. If you are doing it yourself it is as Clanad describes.

1. Remove oil cap and filter (not too hard on an Escort.


2. remove sump plug and drain oil into suitable container


3. replace sump plug


4. put in new oil filter


5. put in new oil


6. replace oil cap

It is important not to overfill the oil as it can damage your catalytic converter. Most council refuse centres have places for disposing of waste oil - it must not be dumped or put down a drain.

Most fastfit centres do some kind of cheap oil and filter change - but check that they do not overfill it. Also whatch out for the "can I show you this sir?" and finding things "wrong" with your car.

[Electrochem]

Many new cars have long service intervals, but I woul never let my car go more than 6000 miles without an oil and filter change. If I was doing less than 10000 miles a year I would change it more often, particularly if the car was only doing short journeys.

For more information on this and othere related matters, have a look at www.honestjohn.co.uk