The Harm In Skipping An Oil Change For Gig Harbor Drivers

People in Gig Harbor have been hearing a lot about higher oil change intervals these days. Maybe you're wondering: What are the key issues?

Some new vehicle manufacturers in Gig Harbor are now recommending much higher oil change intervals than they have in the past. As much as 5,000 to 8,000 miles or more. This practice came under scrutiny when four of the largest new car manufacturers announced that owners like those in Gig Harbor were experiencing engine damage resulting from these higher oil change intervals.



Visit Mackert Automotive LLC in Gig Harbor, Washington 98335.

Severe driving around Gig Harbor includes short trips under four miles or trips under ten miles in freezing conditions. The engine just doesn't get warm enough for the water in the oil to evaporate.

Severe conditions are at the heart of the problem. Stop-and-go driving, towing, dusty conditions, heavy loads, very hot or very cold temperatures, a car top carrier - these are all conditions that would suggest that the severe service schedule should be considered.

The severe service schedule has much shorter oil change intervals. People in Gig Harbor just need to honestly evaluate how they drive to determine if they should change their oil closer to the severe service schedule, or to the standard schedule.


For the rest of us, better safe than sorry should be the guiding principle. Talk with your Gig Harbor service adviser at Mackert Automotive LLC and work it out together. Find out what kind of oil the factory sends out in your vehicle. Sometimes it's a premium grade that costs more than standard oil - but it may be what's needed to meet a higher factory recommended interval.


So, what happened with those manufacturers with the problems from higher oil change intervals? They ended up extending the engine warranty for parts that were affected by oil sludge. But they had a stipulation - they lowered the oil change interval and the vehicle owner had to provide proof of oil changes at the new lower interval to keep the extended warranty.

