The battle for the oil change cycle, should it be changed or not changed for 5000 kilometers?
For those car owners who only drive 5,000 kilometers a year, when should they change the oil, it is really a nerve-wracking problem! Some people suggest once every six months, some people say that one year is enough, and there are all kinds of arguments on the Internet, which are dazzling. Xiao Zhang is one of them, as an ordinary office worker who commutes to work, his car has a mileage of 7,000 kilometers a year, and he has always had doubts about when to change the oil.
The last time he changed the engine oil in the car repair shop, the boss advised him to "once every six months, the oil will deteriorate if it is used for too long". Xiao Zhang didn't think much about it at the time, and obediently did so. However, a while ago, he saw on the Internet that some people said that as long as they use fully synthetic engine oil, it is enough to change it once a year, which can confuse Xiao Zhang. What should I do? Let's find out today!
Oil aging is a complex process that is affected by many factors, such as temperature, humidity, impurities, and more. Generally speaking, the longer the oil is used, the worse its oxidation resistance will be, and the viscosity will also change, which will affect the lubricating properties of the oil. So no matter what oil you use, it is risky not to change it for a long time.
Compared with general mineral engine oil, fully synthetic engine oil is much better in terms of oxidation resistance and viscosity index, and the service life is naturally longer. But how long exactly? It depends on how you use it.
The oil change interval depends on these few key factors
To determine when to change your oil, you first have to look at your mileage. If you only drive 5,000 kilometers a year, the oil change interval can naturally be extended. However, it is not enough to just look at the mileage, it must be considered in combination with several other important factors.
First and foremost is the quality of the oil you use. General mineral engine oil has poor antioxidant properties, even if the mileage is not high, it is best to change it once every six months. Due to the addition of various advanced additives, the oxidation resistance, viscosity index and other indicators are better, and the service life can be extended. So if you're using a high-quality, fully synthetic oil, it's okay to change it once a year.
It also depends on your driving environment and habits. If you are traveling in the city and frequently idling and stalling, the oil will age faster. Especially in humid environments, motor oil is more susceptible to moisture contamination. In this case, even if you use a fully synthetic engine oil, it is necessary to change it once every six months.
Conversely, if you often drive long distances at high speeds, and the engine condition is relatively good, a fully synthetic engine oil change once a year is enough. If you have a violent driving habit and often turn high and the throttle is high, the life of the oil will also be shortened.
In addition, different models have different requirements for engine oil. Some high-end models have high requirements for oil quality, even if the mileage is not high, you need to change the oil on time to ensure the efficient operation of the engine.
Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all standard answer to the 5,000-kilometer oil change cycle, and it needs to be comprehensively judged in combination with the specific situation. However, from the perspective of insurance, if your car is older, the driving environment is harsh, and you use ordinary engine oil, it is still safer to change it once every six months.
There is a "golden cycle" for changing the engine oil, and if you miss it, you are abusing the car
We can conclude that for those car owners who only drive 5,000 kilometers a year, if they use high-quality fully synthetic engine oil, it is acceptable to change the engine oil once a year under the condition of normal urban transportation.
That doesn't mean you can extend your drain intervals with impunity. As the "blood" of the engine, engine oil is more than just lubrication. With the extension of the use time, the engine oil will gradually age, deteriorate, and the performance of anti-wear and anti-oxidation will gradually decline. If it is not replaced, the accumulated impurities and sediments will accelerate the wear of engine parts, affect the work efficiency of the engine, and even lead to the scrapping of the engine.
Therefore, every model has an optimal "golden oil change interval". If you miss this milestone, the engine will slowly "enter old age" and its performance will gradually deteriorate. Just like the human body, if you do not exchange blood for a long time, your metabolism will be affected, and your body's functions will deteriorate.
So how long is this "golden cycle"? It's hard to generalize. However, from the perspective of insurance, if your car is older, the driving environment is harsh, and you use ordinary engine oil, it is still safer to change it once every six months. If you use high-quality, fully synthetic motor oil and the driving environment is good, it is acceptable to change it once a year.
The most accurate way to do this is to check the quality of the oil regularly. If the oil indicators start to exceed the standard, it is time to change, whether it is half a year or a year. After all, the lifespan of engine oil is affected by many factors, and it is difficult to be completely accurate just by looking at the time and mileage.
Taking care of your car is like taking care of your own body, you need to take care of it. Only by mastering the correct maintenance interval can the "heart" of the engine remain young forever and bring us a worry-free driving experience.