How often to change engine oil in winter: important rules

What comes to mind when a motorist thinks about preparing their car for winter? The need to change the tires, buy a new windshield washer to keep the windshield from freezing, and check the brakes. You need to do this too. However, you also need to take care of engine oil.

According to the GoWrench car blog, cold weather affects the viscosity of this important fluid. This means you need to change the oil more often in the winter months.

Type of oil

Whether you need to change your oil completely depends on the type of it you use throughout the year. For example, if you use 20W-50 oil all year round, you might consider switching to a more viscous 5W-30 between November and March. If you switch to a product that is too liquid, it may not provide your engine with the lubrication it needs, which can lead to serious damage.

Vehicle reminders

Owners of cars with automatic reminders that appear on the dashboard may notice that during the winter months, the car will remind you to change the engine oil more often. There is no need to worry about this. This does not indicate damage neither to the engine nor the corresponding sensors. They continue to adequately detect the thickness of the lubricant layer. It's just that the use of this automatic fluid really changes in winter.

How cold weather affects cars

There are basically two reasons for the change in automotive oil consumption in the winter months: condensation that appears due to the difference in external and internal temperatures and insufficient time the car is running at the proper operating temperature. That's why you need to add oil more often.

So, how often should you change oil in winter?

It's hard to give a universal advice here because a lot depends on the car brand, its model, and your driving style. It is also important whether you use conventional or synthetic oil. Nevertheless, professional car mechanics advise you to at least check the engine's lubrication every 5,000-7,000 kilometers. This will help you keep your car in optimal working condition.