Change engine oil at the mileage or time limit specified for your exact engine, or when its oil-life system requires it. There is no single interval suitable for every car.
Find the right schedule
Use model year, engine and market to locate the maintenance schedule. Check the required oil approval as well as viscosity. Frequent short trips, towing or other severe use may have a separate schedule. An oil-life reminder and an oil-pressure warning are different signals.
Apply time and mileage together
If a hypothetical schedule says 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first, a car driven 4,000 miles in a year is still due by time. This example is not a recommendation for your engine. Record the service date, odometer, oil specification and filter replacement.
Do not confuse topping up with servicing
Maintain the level using the manual’s checking method, but adding oil does not reset the service interval. A red oil-pressure warning while running calls for stopping safely and switching off; do not keep driving to an oil-change appointment.
