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At what percentage should you change your oil?

Hi! About three months ago I had my oil changed and the mechanic told me to come back once my car hit 50,000 miles. I just checked the odometer and realized I’m at 56,000 miles, but the oil is still at 50% full. Do you think I need an oil change? Appreciate your help!

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Lindsey Hoover · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
This is a great question, especially since there’s a lot of misinformation out there about what percentage is ideal for changing your oil. You should change your oil when your vehicle’s oil life indicator is between 40% to 15%.
The percentage of your vehicle’s oil life indicator is essentially its way of telling you how much time is left before your vehicle stops performing at peak optimization.
Some auto shops suggest changing your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or every three months to six months. And while this may be a good rule of thumb, weather conditions, road conditions, and driving habits will ultimately determine how often the service should be performed.
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