Why are oil change intervals longer in Europe?

Most people change car oil around every 5,000 miles (8,000km). Longer drain intervals common with European cars require a car engine oil capable of protecting against wear, deposits and sludge for the duration, which requires a more robust car engine oil.

How often do Europeans change their oil?

While the long-standing recommendation for oil change mileage points is 3,000 to 5,000 miles, many newer European vehicles can go up to 10,000 miles before oil needs to be changed.

Why are oil changes so expensive now?

Manufacturers are requiring a different type of higher-grade oil, a synthetic, as well as a higher capacity of that oil to be used in the newer vehicles. Not only is the high-grade synthetic oil more expensive, but more of it has to be used to properly keep the vehicle maintained.

How often do Germans change their oil?

Germans average about 10,000 miles a year. TOM: Synthetic oil is also more popular there. And synthetic motor oil only needs to be changed every 10,000 miles, which works out to about once a year for the average German driver.

What kind of oil does BMW use?

The brands that BMW uses are the Mobil Full Synthetic 5W-30 High Mileage, Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40, Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30 or Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30. BMW is recommending Shell/Pennzoil PurePlus Oils as their aftermarket oil since 2015.

When should a brand new car get its first oil change?

Make sure you change your new car’s oil and filter for the first time at 1500 miles unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer. The reason? Metal has worn off while mating surfaces were established, and those metal scraps need to be removed from the engine before they cause long-term damage.

How often do you need an oil change with full synthetic?

It’s recommended that you change synthetic oil every 7,500 – 15,000 miles, depending on the vehicle and the brand of synthetic oil used. To ensure you’re changing your oil at the proper intervals, always check your owners manual for more information.

Why do full synthetic oil changes cost so much?

The reason is that synthetic oil is refined to be thinner than conventional motor oil which causes less wear on the engine as well as less wear on the oil. For these reasons, you may pay double for an oil change with synthetic oil, but you’ll also only have to perform half as many (or less) oil changes on your vehicle.

How long does European synthetic oil last?

So, how long does synthetic oil last? On average, synthetic oil lasts about 6 months to 1 year or 7,500-10,000 miles before needing replacement.