Are There Any Benefits (Or Disadvantages) To Changing Your Engine Oil Frequently?

Oil changes are an essential part of car ownership that even the most novice driver is aware of. Oil is needed to lubricate and sustain the various components of your vehicle, so making sure that the oil moving throughout your car is clean and free of debris will go a long way in maintaining the health of your car. But while the necessity of this practice is without question, wondering how often your oil needs to be changed is a query that can elicit a diverse array of responses. 

As a general rule of thumb, the standard recommendation is changing your oil every 3,000 miles or roughly every three months. However, this guideline has seen its fair share of opposition over the years as more sophisticated engine technology has become available along with a greater understanding that many manufacturers and repair shops use his rule to encourage more business. With this in mind, many have rather chosen to rely on both the specifics laid out in their owner's manual and their individual driving habits to judge how often they need to get their oil changed. 

Depending on your needs and who you heed advice from, you may choose to change your oil more often than the typically recommended amount. But while doing so may have its fair share of benefits, it's natural to wonder if any consequences can come from overdoing it with the oil changes. With that, let's bring some clarity to this debate and go over what are true advantages and disadvantages to frequent oil changes. 

To some, you can never be too cautious. Changing out your oil more often than is recommended can give you peace of mind that your car is always well-lubricated and taken care of, while likely making you good friends with your local mechanic. But beyond that, frequent oil changes can be of genuine benefit in more ways than one.

There are some instances when continuous oil changes may be necessary. Those who drive their cars with great frequency over long distances on a consistent basis or regularly expose it to extreme conditions are among those who will need to do this, as cars under such conditions will go through oil at a rapid rate. Likewise, older cars will also need changes more often, as their engines are typically less efficient and are more prone to carrying debris-filled oil. 

Changing your oil out more often keeps your engine clean and well-lubricated, while preventing harmful effects like corrosion from taking place. This in turn means that your vehicle will perform better and experience less issues. If you think your car needs more frequent oil changes, then it may be worth taking the time to learn how to perform oil changes on your own for greater convenience and control.

Constant oil changes won't harm your vehicle and can even be of benefit depending on how you drive it. However, just because you can change your oil out a bunch of times, doesn't always mean you have to. For most people, there's not enough benefit involved to justify such a practice. 

The biggest downside to changing your oil out regularly is that, while your car gains more oil, you'll be losing more money in the process. Getting your oil changed by a professional mechanic can cost a lot when it comes to labor and materials, which will naturally add up overtime the more you get your oil changed. Even doing oil changes on your own may not be as cost-effective as you might think, depending on the specifics of your vehicle, the oil used, and the supplies you have at hand. Ultimately, you may find yourself spending way more than is necessary. Additionally, using more oil creates more waste, which is a big negative for the environment.

At the end of the day, the best way to judge when an oil change is needed is to examine your situation. If you're only primarily using your car to drive to work and run errands through average road conditions and the vehicle itself isn't experiencing any significant issues, then you can adhere more or less to the guidelines outlined in your owner's manual as more oil changes won't make any significant difference.