Oil life percentage is one of those readouts on a modern automobile that isn’t always so easy to understand. From a big picture perspective, it represents the amount of time left before the oil in your engine no longer offers optimal protection of its internal components. The way this is calculated is fascinating. It’s based on a balance of simple time and mileage, but also more complex considerations involving your driving habits, the environment surrounding the vehicle and the oil itself.
Not Just Mileage Based
Once upon a time, engine oil was formulated in a very simple manner, and automobile engines were built to looser tolerances. This meant that it was possible to get away with general rules of thumb for maintenance schedules, with shorter periods between fluid replacements, offering better protection against breakdowns. The “3,000 mile oil change” hails from this particular era, and it’s a number that’s become ingrained in the folk wisdom that surrounds automotive maintenance.
Today, engine oil contains additives, chemicals, and in some cases, lubricants created almost entirely in a lab. As a result, calculating oil life percentage is no longer as simple as measuring how many miles have been driven since the last oil change.
Heat, Dirt, Miles Traveled and Time
Helping the odometer (because miles traveled is still a consideration for oil life percentage) are sensors in your engine that keep track of how hot a motor has been running, as well as how hard it has been driven. More extreme driving scenarios, such as bringing your car to a race track or motoring through desert temperatures or cold winter nights, will have a greater impact on your oil life percentage because additives are depleted more quickly in these conditions.
Something your system can’t really take into account, but you should be aware of, is the effect of dirt and dust. Your engine’s air filter can’t snag it all, so some will invariably end up inside the crankcase where it will further reduce the life of your oil. Time also plays a role, oil changes every six months to a year are a good idea even if the vehicle has just been sitting.
Check Your Manual
Engine oil change intervals are all over the place these days. Your car’s manual is the most specific reference you will find regarding how often you should swap in fresh oil and a new oil filter, but typically mileage will range between 5,000 miles at the very low end for the hottest and dirtiest of driving environments all the way to 15,000 miles for high-end synthetic oil blends.
Make no mistake, despite recent advances, this still is a critical issue for your car. Remain vigilant and follow your manual and you’ll be sure to keep that engine humming for years to come.
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