It obviously won’t hurt your car to have the oil changed every few months, but it’s also not going to really help it either. Once again, you have the past to blame. Older engine oils were prone to sludge and build-up, so changing the oil every 5 000 km was a good way to ensure that engines wouldn’t get damaged. Newer detergent oils with improved viscosities, in addition to better-made engines, have made this particular recommendation obsolete.
The reality of the situation is that most cars can travel as much as 15 000 km before needing an oil change, but just to play it safe, check with your car’s owner’s manual – it should give you an accurate and unbiased recommendation.
