The first thing most people learn about car maintenance is that you should change you oil when the sticker tells you too. Smart sticker. There’s a reason that it’s so important to stay on top of your oil changes, and it’s because that changing your oil every 3 months or 3,000 miles is the easiest and most reliable way to increase the life of your engine and car in general.
The oil lubricates many of the moving mechanical parts under the hood of your car, and it’s vital that they are able to move freely and without friction. Dismissing oil changes or failing to do them in a timely manner will lead to undue wear and tear on those parts and necessitate that they are replaced before they otherwise should have been. Getting you oil changed is playing the long game; ensuring that you’ll save money on repairs later in the life of your car.
So, make sure to always stay on top of when your oil needs to be changed. 3 months or 3,000 miles is the rule of thumb, but if you use synthetic or have a newer model car, you may be able to go a bit longer – just make sure to check the user manual for your recommended oil change schedule!