#OilChange

You already know that an oil change is a key part of making sure your engine performs. Even the best engine oils break down over time. Additives are used up, particulates and soot enter the mix, and heat and friction begin to affect viscosity. It’s why changing your vehicle’s engine oil on schedule is so important. And why your manufacturer’s warranty requires it.

Changing your own oil is the cheapest way to perform the most important piece of maintenance on your car, truck, or SUV. It’s also a great way to keep a close eye on the state of the rest of your vehicle, giving you the chance to check your brakes and other fluids as well as look for rust and other damage, every time you get under for an oil change. What if you’re not handy with a wrench and aren’t sure what to do? No problem, here’s how to change your own oil.

Interested in doing your own oil change and confused by all the different oil filters available? Given their cost, oil filters may not seem all that important to your engine’s performance but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Although they’re small and affordable, oil filters play an extremely important role in how your engine performs and its life. A poor quality oil filter could potentially cause damage to your engine and that’s definitely not something you want to experience.

To quickly answer the inquiry posed in this article’s title, NO! Modern vehicles do not need to have their crankcase lubricant exchanged every 3,000 miles. However, there are caveats and you need to be aware of them. We’ll explore these in greater detail after the jump so go ahead and click the link. We’ll wait for you.

With summer now on the way, there’s a good chance you and your family are planning a road trip. This year, AAA estimates it’ll aid over eight-million motorists between Memorial Day and Labor Day; so avoid being a statistic by planning ahead.

Every week Ask AutoGuide provides iron-clad vehicle-shopping advice to distressed, confused or otherwise bewildered consumers. Whether they’re in the market for a family-friendly crossover or something that’s good in winter weather, the Oracles of all things automotive have been there to lend some helping hands. But this week they’re taking a slightly different approach.

Things aren’t looking so hot for the Chevrolet Cruze, or maybe just the opposite depending on your perspective.

How often do you change the oil in your car? Every 3,000 miles? 5,000? 7,000? You may be changing your oil more than you need to, and California is setting out to change that.