How many miles on average should you wait before having an oil change?

The mileage range for oil changes can be found in the owner's manual for the vehicle, as all makes and models have different requirements. Owners manuals are available for most models on the manufacturer's official webpage.

In the past, the general rule of thumb for oil changes was 3,000 to 3,500 miles for most vehicle types. This has changed, however, due to increases in oil quality as well as better mechanical parts for cars. Synthetic oil has a lifespan of 7,000 to 10,000 miles, but temperature extremes can lead to the need to change oil more frequently. By the time the oil change light comes on in a car, the oil change is usually long overdue.