Oil Change - High Mileage Needs

While most car engines do not perform very well past the first 100,00
miles, there are a few car manufacturers who have a reputation of
building engines that can last two to three times as long. Although the
integrity of the engine has a lot to do with how long the car will last,
the vehicle owner is a big part of this equation. A vehicle that is
well taken care of, with frequent oil changes and the occasional
tune-up, will most definitely perform better once it has reached the
100k mark. However, if the car is to last longer and perform as if it
were still new, the oil must be changed more frequently. As the engine
ages and gains more mileage, the individual parts of the engine can
begin to effect how the engine performs. For instance, the pistons,
valves, and crankshaft are all vital parts of the engine that will be
difficult and expensive to replace if they have been compromised. Each
of these parts needs the lubricating and cleansing properties of clean
motor oil in order to continue to work properly. Unfortunately, because
of sludge build-up, it might become difficult to keep these parts clean
as the engine ages. Furthermore, the motor oil helps these parts move
more freely, and if the oil does not perform well, neither can the
engine.

Luckily, there are motor oils available that are specially designed for
high mileage engines. These engine lubricants have different chemical
components and additives that do a much better job of keeping the engine
clean. A good repair shop will recommend the use of these lubricants
for older vehicles that need servicing for an oil change. Likewise, a
repair shop may also recommend more frequent servicing for older
engines. For instance, newer engines may need an oil change only once
every 10,000 miles. Once the engine has reached a point of high mileage,
those oil changes might be needed every 5,000 miles.

If you have an older vehicle, or even a fairly new one with a lot of
mileage, an oil change will become more important to maintain the health
of your vehicle.