Desert Living – How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

At Reliable Auto Sales, we want to help your car survive the desert’s summer heat. Living in hot areas, like the desert climate of Las Vegas, can affect how often you should change your car’s oil.

Extreme Temperatures

The extreme high temperatures in the desert can really take a toll on your vehicle, making automobile maintenance a high priority if you want your car to last. With proper maintenance, both the performance and reliability of your auto can be improved.

Vehicle manufacturers note that the desert falls into what they consider an “extreme climate.” So, when owners look at the “scheduled maintenance” guidelines that come in their owner’s manuals, they should note that these schedules do not account for extreme weather conditions (unless otherwise noted).

Oil Changes

Routine maintenance is preventative by nature. First, be sure to choose the right oil for your vehicle. This is vital for proper operation in the desert (or anywhere, really). While most manufacturers say that a car’s oil should be changed every 3,000 miles, this is not necessarily true with every type of oil, or in every climate.

Typically, if you use a synthetic oil, you can go a little longer between oil changes – but in the desert, you can’t go much longer between oil changes no matter the oil.

The higher the oil viscosity, the better it lubricates your engine. If you are not sure how to choose the right viscosity for your vehicle, ask a Reliable Auto Sales service technician. We are always happy to help and we can perform the oil change for you, as well.

Frequency

Given an extreme climate like the desert, more dust gets ingested into the intake, and deposited into the oil. Dirt breaks down oil’s viscosity and this will eventually erode the seals and piston rings if unaddressed.

In the desert, you need to change your oil more frequently than the manufacturer suggests. Even with synthetic oil, most auto technicians advise that you change your oil every 3,000 miles, or three months, whichever comes first.

You also need to change your oil filter a bit more frequently in the desert.

Reliable Auto Sales

Get your oil changed at Reliable Auto Sales. We are experienced and knowledgeable about routine vehicle maintenance in desert conditions and would welcome the opportunity to help you maintain your car in peak condition.