Auto expert Kolodochkin: delaying an oil change by a thousand kilometers is not critical for the engine

The mileage interval for oil changes regulated by the car manufacturer can only be exceeded if the car is operated on open roads without traffic jams, and by no more than 1 thousand km. For severe operating conditions in urban traffic jams, the intervals indicated by automakers seem too high and should not be exceeded. Mikhail Kolodochkin, an expert from Za Rulem magazine, told Motor magazine about this.

“If you drive in a quiet mode, on open roads, the difference is whether the oil in the engine has passed 15 thousand km or 16 thousand km – no one will feel it, it will not affect the condition of the engine. But at the same time, you need to check that its level is sufficient and that it is not wasted,” Kolodochkin explained.

In general, the more often the engine oil is changed, the better it is for the engine, he added. The timing of replacement greatly depends on the conditions in which the car is operated. If operating conditions are difficult, with constant driving around the city, frequent cold engine starts and short runs, in this case the interval recommended by the automaker should be divided by two, Kolodochkin pointed out.

“In my opinion, the service intervals recommended by automakers are greatly overestimated. Auto companies are trying to present themselves in the best possible way in the eyes of customers,” the expert concluded.

Earlier, Russians were told where the boom in used car sales came from.