Eli5 what does 10% oil life mean?

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Does it mean I should use up the last 10% and then get my oil changed otherwise I would just be throwing money out the window (the last 10% of use)? Or does it mean get the oil changed right now because my oil is gross.

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Other commenters nailed the meaning of the 10%, but just wanted to add:

Depending on whether you’re using natural or synthetic oil, the mile range is generally 3k or 6k to get an oil change. I usually start thinking about getting my oil changed at 35% life according to the car. During an oil change at a decent shop, your filters are replaced, your brakes, battery, and engine are inspected, and your tires are rotated. These are all part of regular maintenance and should extend the life of your car, ensure everything is functioning properly, and cost you less in costly repairs in the long run.

For example, my girlfriend is terrible at keeping up with her car. I took it in assuming it needed an oil change (the sticker had fallen off and I don’t think the check engine light was set to come on from the last oil change), and found the tires were bald and the brake pads were worn. I checked myself to confirm before getting everything swapped out. Bald tires means she was likely to slip in wet road conditions and low brake pads would have lead to more costly damage to the brake system itself.

TL;DR: Getting regular oil changes generally means you’re keeping up with other maintenance for your car, too.

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