Your car is an amazing collection of working parts. From the simple Model T to the computer controlled modern car, there have always been two enemies of engines. They are heat and friction.

If you own a car, you know that the key to fighting these two devils is oil. It lubricates the parts of an engine which minimizes the friction. Without excessive friction, heat is kept to a minimum as well.

Oil is an amazing substance. It can take an absolute thrashing in the harsh environment of an engine and yet still keep friction and heat at bay. After a bit, however, even oil will fail and thus must be changed out.

Everyone knows about changing out motor oil, right? What did you immediately think? It needs to be changed every three months? How about every 3,000 miles? If either of these came to mind, you are thinking of a marketing campaign, not the facts.

The three month marketing slogan is simply not correct. It may never have been. Cars perform differently, which means the stress placed on the engine and oil will differ. Oils have also improved dramatically and now last longer.

Why is there no one guideline? Well, consider a construction worker with a big truck who hauls tons of materials. Now consider a school teacher who drives to school and back. Which engine is going to be more stressed and need the oil changed more frequently?

Okay, we need some idea of when to do the oil change. Luckily, the manufacturer has helped us out. Find your owners manual. In the oil section, the manufacturer will lay out the specifics for this vehicle. It will not be three months or 3,000 miles.

You can expect to find a recommendation regarding the miles and time period for the oil change in the manual. There should also be a recommendation on the weight of oil and specific oil brand that should be used.

Now pay attention. The miles and brand of oil are important, but the information on the weight of oil to be used is absolutely critical. You can get the miles and brand wrong, but do not get the weight wrong under any circumstances.

If you can, try to go with synthetic oil for your car. They last much longer. A Mini Cooper, for instance, will go up to 17,000 miles between oil changes running on Castrol Synthetic. Not bad, eh?

I personally use Mobil 1 oil for my vehicles. I have minimal engine problems. We recently broke down the motor of a friend who used Mobil 1 for 125,000 miles in a BMW and found the engine to be in great shape.

Do not be a chump. Avoid obeying the marketing slogans of various oil change businesses. Pull out that owners manual and get the truth on oil changes for your car. You will undoubtedly save some money on less frequent changes.

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