why is my car telling me to change oil after oil change reddit

The oil life indicator lets a driver know when it's time for a change, based not only on mileage, but on actual conditions that affect the quality of the oil.ĭepending on the vehicle manufacturer and the specific equipment used, oil indicators come in two basic varieties: algorithm-based and direct measurement.Īlgorithm-based oil indicators measure lots of factors and then plug the resulting numbers into a formula. And what if your oil is actually fine and doesn't necessarily need to be changed at a 3,000-mile (4,828-kilometer) interval? In that case, you may be placing an unnecessary burden on the environment by contributing to the pumping, transport, packaging and disposal of those extra quarts of oil.īut on some cars and trucks, there's a device that removes the guesswork from knowing when your oil has outlived its usefulness. It's only slightly less inconvenient to bring your car or truck into a quick-lube establishment, having to take time out of your busy schedule.

If you're disciplined, you might even go to the trouble of writing down the date and odometer reading of your last oil change, as well as when your vehicle is due for another service.

But let's face it, changing your vehicle's oil is messy and inconvenient when you do it yourself.

Why is my car telling me to change oil after oil change reddit