How Often Should You Change Your Synthetic Oil in Months?

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Last updated on August 2nd, 2023 at 06:26 pm

How often should you get an oil change and how often should you change your synthetic oil in months?  Well, oil changes generally have a different timeline for various vehicle make, model, year and usage, and types of oil used. For instance, an advanced synthetic oil will typically last longer than regular oil.  This form of traditional engine lubricant provides extra mileage with each tankful poured – helping your car go the distance and reduce visits to its mechanic.

However, when it comes to changing synthetic oil, timing can be tricky and that is why we are addressing the question of how often should you change your synthetic oil in months right here in this article, alongside how many miles between synthetic oil changes would be ideal for your vehicle. So let’s dive into it, and we are starting off with a general rule on how often you should get an oil change for your vehicle.

How often should you get an oil change?

Back in the good old days, changing oil was relatively straightforward.  Most prevalently from around the 1970s through the early 2000s, vehicle owners always had it at the back of their mind every three thousand miles (3,000 miles) or every three months (whichever came first), they were to visit their mechanic to service their car. These days, however, advancements in engine design and oil technology allow cars to go much longer without an oil change being needed.

But exactly how long should an oil change interval last? Well, that depends on a number of variables or things such as your vehicle make, model, year, driving habits, and geographical area where the vehicle is most driven. On a general note, most mechanics will advise you to change out engine oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles (or every six months,) for best performance and engine health.

With modern advancements in-car technology and synthetic oils; it means that many car models and make now extended the time between oil changes. Newer cars with good synthetic oil could go as long as 10,000 to 15,000 miles before needing one; however, I will still say that for you to find out exactly when is best to change your specific car oil, you have to refer to your car owner’s manual.

And finally, your car is regularly subject to extreme driving conditions or circumstances. For instance, if your car is always used in hauling heavy loads, driving in extremely high or low temperatures, or being stuck in stop-start traffic very frequently, then probably you will need more frequent oil changes scheduled. Our recommendation in this kind of situation is perhaps every 3,000 -5,000 miles.

Now let’s look at the question, “How often should you change your synthetic oil in months?’ and a  more in-depth view of it.

How often should you change your synthetic oil in months?

How often you change synthetic oil in your car isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer and will depend a lot on your specific car and how you use it. That said, a good rule of thumb is to get your synthetic oil changed every 6 to 12 months, or once you’ve driven the recommended number of miles.  For most cars, this is somewhere between 7,500 and 15,000 miles, though some high-quality synthetic oils can even last up to 20,000 miles. Remember, these are rough guidelines and the specifics can vary.

So, the best advice is to take a look at your car’s owner’s manual or get in touch with the manufacturer for the most precise info for your car. Also, bear in mind that if you’re often driving in tough conditions – like hauling heavy stuff, driving in really hot or cold weather, or sitting in lots of stop-and-go traffic – you might need to change your oil more frequently. Refer to the bolded section above on the heading “How often should you get an oil change?”

Looking at Mileage-Based Synthetic Oil Change, let’s understand the Numbers in miles

How many miles between synthetic oil changes?

This is a question as old as the hills. On a general note, good synthetic oils will have your back for about 7,500 to 15,000 miles before you need to think about an oil change or serving. That’s a lot more ground to cover compared to traditional oil.

But it’s not just about the numbers on your dashboard. The way you drive, what kind of car you drive, and even the specific type of synthetic oil you’re using all play a part the entire time when it comes to miles synthetic oil.

Compared to conventional oil, which usually needs to be swapped every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, synthetic oil is the long-distance s way to go anytime.  

Now what are the brands of best synthetic oil for high mileage? Well, let’s look at our top 5 recommendations.

5 Best Synthetic oil for high mileage brands

Number 1. Amsoil Signature Series 5W-30: 

Amsoil brand is an industry leader when it comes to synthetic lubrication, having pioneered this space since 1972, and they are known for producing excellent car oil products that last you for at least years.  Using Amsoil Signature Series 5W-30 oil, your vehicle can go up to 25,000 miles or 1 year, depending on how often or far you travel. In extreme driving conditions, however, an oil change could be needed more regularly or every 15,000 miles just for safety’s sake. You  can see more detail here

Number 2. Mobil 1 0W-40 Synthetic: 

Mobil 1 is an outstanding brand of synthetic oil for vehicles, and should typically, the mobil 1 synthetic oil change interval requires refreshing every 10,000 to 20,000 miles; depending on driving patterns and terrain. In any event, however, this could vary considerably between users. more details here

Number 3. Castrol GTX Magnatec: 

Castrol understands protection as paramount; they don’t specify an exact mileage when to change out their oil; generally speaking; however, synthetic oils like this one should last between 7,500 to 10,000 miles, depending on your driving style and vehicle model. See more oil details here.

Number 4. Valvoline Full Synthetic High Mileage 5W-30:

If your car has over 75,000 miles on its odometer, Valvoline’s Full Synthetic High Mileage oil will be best for you! In general, their High Mileage product should be changed every 6,000 to 10,000 miles depending on road conditions, while the low-end oil can go up to 4,000 to 6,000 miles.  See more details here.

Number 5. Royal Purple API-Licensed 0W-20:

Although Royal Purple doesn’t specify mileage specifications for their synthetic oil such as this 0-W-20 product, you should expect anywhere from 7,500-10k miles worth of coverage with proper care of both vehicle performance and driving habits to ensure you make the most of it. See more here

Synthetic oil change time vs mileage:

Should you base synthetic oil change on time or on mileage? When it comes to synthetic oil change time vs mileage, I will say you should base your car synthetic oil change on both time and mileage whichever comes first. Synthetic oil can last longer and can usually cover anywhere between 7,500 to 15,000 miles before needing a change which transfers to 6 months to 12 months. You should bear in mind other factors that influence oil change we discussed above too.

Now let’s take a look at 

FAQ on Vehicle-Specific Synthetic Oil change Recommendations

what is 0w 20 synthetic oil change interval?

So, when should you change your 0W-20 synthetic oil? Well, as a rule of thumb, your 0W-20 synthetic oil might need a change every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. 

Is it okay to change synthetic oil every 2 years?

Absolutely! If your car sees less action and doesn’t clock up many miles, changing the synthetic oil every two years is a good idea. Even when not in use, the oil can degrade over time. It’s like aging wine, but in this case, you don’t want it aged!

how often to change synthetic oil Honda

Well, if you’re a Honda owner, your ride generally will be fine with an oil change around every 7,500 miles. But remember, your Honda’s manual knows best. Different models might have different needs so refer to your car specific model manual.

Should you change oil every 2 years

If your car spends more time in the garage than on the road, then an oil change every 2 years might work wonders for your engine’s health. However, if you’re frequently on the move or driving under harsh conditions, you might need to change the oil more often. Your car’s manual or a trusted mechanic can give you the lowdown on what’s best for your situation.

Wrapping it up. 

I will say we’ve covered quite a bit; we started by addressing the big question which is how often should you get an oil change? Well, as we said earlier, no one answer fits it all, and so it depends on your driving habits, your car model, and the type of oil you’re using.

Now, talking about how often should you change your synthetic oil in months, we said typically, it should be every 6 to 12 months if you’re more of a homebody with your vehicle. 

And the miles between synthetic oil changes can take around 7,500 to 10,000 miles, but the kind of miles synthetic oil sees could affect this.

We also discussed what is the Mobil 1 synthetic oil change interval. And how often to change synthetic oil in a Toyota in the FQA part of this article and we said that for specifics brand like these, your car’s manual will be your ultimate guide. 

And for those who prefer the 0W-20, the question of what is the 0W-20 synthetic oil change interval also comes up. Where we highlighted the golden rule to be around every 7,500 to 10,000 miles or every 6 to 12 months, depending on your driving routine.

As for the idea that you should change oil every 2 years, that can totally work if your car isn’t on the road very often, and lastly, a good rule of thumb for how often to change synthetic oil in a Honda is about 7,500 miles.  So,  whether you’re planning to change synthetic oil every 2 years or watching the miles, the bottom line is that regular oil changes are crucial for your engine’s performance. 

See this: Why Is Car Leaking Oil After an Oil Change?

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