Many mechanical breakdowns are avoidable with preventative maintenance, and the single most important preventive maintenance routines you can perform on your Audi vehicle is to regularly change the oil. Thoroughly flushing your fluids at proper intervals can help to extend your Audi’s life for many years – and miles – beyond the average life of a car.
For many owners, however, oil changes seem to be one of the most neglected areas of maintenance, partially due to a lack of knowledge about the importance of regular oil changes or a lack of understanding of the correct intervals of which you should change the oil in your Audi. If you’re looking to keep your car running well, for years to come, read on to learn more about how often you should be changing your oil – and why it matters so much.
The Best Audi Oil Change Intervals
Determining the best oil change interval for your Audi means taking into consideration a wide variety of conditions. A few of the things you need to include in your oil change calculation are your geographic location, the car’s environment, what type of oil you’re using, as well as your typical driving style. All these things have a significant impact on how the Audi motor oil works inside of your car’s engine.
Choosing a Motor Oil for your Audi
The type of oil your car is using is one of the factors that determine how long you can go between oil changes. While you should always consult your owner’s manual for the correct type of motor oil that is to be used for your specific Audi model – your car’s motor oil recommendations, specifications, quality standards, and oil viscosity weight are specified there – there is one major difference in motor oil for newer cars. Unlike in older cars, newer Audi models use synthetic oil, which can allow the engine to run longer and more efficiently between oil changes.
In fact, thanks to global changes, vehicle manufacturers worldwide are working towards reducing emissions, minimizing their carbon footprint and improving fuel economy of every new car they make. One major benefit associated with these changes means that you’ll be able to go longer between oil changes. Modern Audis, for example, are now designed to reach 10,000 miles or more before an oil change is required, if they’re well cared for.
That doesn’t mean that you can use any oil for your car, however. If the car doesn’t call for synthetic motor oils, stick to what’s listed in the owner’s manual. Using the wrong motor oil will likely damage internal engine components, reduce fuel mileage, increase emissions, and can void applicable vehicle warranties.
How Driving Style Can Affect Audi Oil Change Intervals
The type of driving you do also affects how long you can go between oil changes. There are three different types of driving that most Audi owners do, and each one requires a different kind of maintenance.
Short Distance City Driving
We define “city driving” as a lot of regular short distance driving. Continuous city driving is one of the most stressful types of driving to subject an Audi engine to, meaning that Audi owners who drive short distances frequently should change their Audi oil more often than the recommended service intervals. That means changing your oil every 3,000-5,000 miles if you’re a short distance city driver. These shorter oil change intervals help to extend the life of your engine, making the best out of these less than ideal driving conditions.
Highway Driving
Highway driving is when you’re driving at higher speeds for longer periods of time. This type of driving gives the engine a chance to reach its optimal operating temperature, resulting in less oil contamination and longer lasting oil.
If most of your driving is done on the highway or in similar conditions, you can schedule your oil changes for every 6,000 to 15,000 miles, depending on the manufacturer’s, or your service professional’s recommendation. Note: these extended oil change intervals are only recommended when using high-quality synthetic oils.
Performance Driving
Spirited performance driving or racing is when you’re high up in the RPMs, revving or red-lining normally. You don’t need to be a race car driver to fit this category, either. Some owners of top tier Audis or of sports models enjoy testing their car’s performance as a pastime. You might be one such owner who spends weekends at racetracks or exploring more challenging roads.
Performance driving, however, can tax normal motor oil beyond its intended use, causing it to break down quickly. If you’re redlining regularly, you should treat your car to a higher weight or higher viscosity oil, which is meant to sustain higher temperatures.
You’ll also want to be sure you’re changing your car’s oil more frequently. Typically, the oil change interval is around 1,500-4,000 miles for performance drivers, or after each race, competition or weekend at the track.
Schedule an Oil Change for Your Audi in the Dallas, TX Area
When it is time for an oil change, it is beneficial to bring your Audi to a facility with Audi expertise. While you may be tempted to bring your sedan, crossover or SUV to a local quick lube place in the Dallas area for an oil change, you are missing out on the benefit of having an Audi technician on-site, who will do a full vehicle inspection during your oil change service and schedule your vehicle for any maintenance or repair that needs to be done.