Check the owner's manual to see if your driving habits are
considered to be "severe service." This type of driving requires
more frequent oil changes, warns the Car Care Council. Have the
oil changed accordingly, usually every 3-5,000 miles. For less
wear and tear on the engine, drivers in cold climates (sub-zero
driving temperatures) should drop their oil weight from
10-W30 to 5-W30.
Description: The typical oil filter consists
of a high-strength steel housing containing various types of
filtering media. An anti-drainback valve prevents oil from running
out of the filter when the engine is off. Today's oil filters have
a convenient spin-on design that makes removal and installation
easy.
Purpose: The oil filter sifts out
contaminants, allowing the oil to flow through the engine
unrestricted. Should the oil filter become restricted or clogged
with contaminants, they will flow around the filter. This
bypassing is a safety mechanism, but you never want to let oil and
filter changes go so long that bypassing takes place.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: For best
results, consult your owner's manual, but consider that your
driving probably constitutes a severe maintenance schedule.
Usually, this means oil and filter changes every 3,500 miles or 3
months. An
oil change at your local shop: Sounds
simple, but there抯 some pretty important things to know about
preventing oil sludge.
Oil eventually starts to turn into
jelly. Literally ?petroleum jelly. Sludge clogs up oil passages
and keeps oil from getting to some areas of the engine,
causing parts to wear out prematurely. And that means
expensive engine repairs.
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