Are you driving a vehicle with over 75k miles on it? Good for you! Many Americans are driving their vehicles longer these days, which can be a HUGE cost savings. That being said however, older vehicles do require regular preventative maintenance in order to stay in good working condition.
Consistent oil changes is one of the easiest – and frankly, best ways to baby your baby. While there are manufacture recommended guidelines for your oil, there are different caveats in each weight. One of those is oil specifically designed for high mileage.
Some industry experts say that you should be using a more expensive oil because your engine is putting on the miles. A few major oil brands claim that the more expensive oil has additives that help with the wear and tear on car engines with higher mileage. But is that really necessary?
The answer to that is … maybe. Our engines have seals and gaskets that can start to shrink and become brittle as they age. This is one of the main culprits of oil leaks. A couple indications that you are leaking some oil is if you see a puddle on the drive way or see blue smoke from the exhaust.
The seal conditioners found in those more expensive high mileage oils most often will reduce or altogether stop small leaks. If your engine isn’t burning or leaking oil, it probably isn’t worth the extra cost. But if so, you might do well to invest in some higher mileage oil.
Vehicles that edge over 100,000 miles are exceptionally prone to oil leaks. The next time you are in to the repair shop for an oil change, have a discussion with your auto mechanic to see what they think. They can assess the condition of your seals and gaskets and help you decide if it is worth the extra money to invest in some premium grade oil.
