Why should I adhere to my car’s oil drain interval?

Most of the vehicle manufactures usually set their vehicle’s oil drain intervals in kilometers or in hours. When a vehicle is not in use, the manufacturer will indicate at what interval the oil should still be changed (example: once a year).  Depending on the type of the vehicle you are using, it can be estimated how long your oil drain interval will be. 
Generally, there are two classifications of vehicles, on-road and off-road vehicles.

On-road vehicles:
These are manufactured to be driven on public highways and roadways and include passenger cars, delivery trucks, buses, and motorcycles. On-road vehicles drive at higher speeds than off-road vehicles, therefore they are exposed to a reasonable amount of air in the front of the vehicle. This air assists in cooling down the engine which is operating and reduces the rate of oxidation in the engine oil.
However, if you are sitting in a traffic jam your car’s engine can possibly generate a huge amount of heat that can potentially increase the rate of oxidation in the engine oil. Typical oil drain intervals for these types of vehicles are in kilometers (please refer to vehicle’s manual booklet). Example: 10 000 km to 15 000 km

Off-road vehicles:
Unlike on-road vehicles, off-road vehicles do not travel on public highways or roadways These vehicles generally include tractors, cranes, bulldozers, forklift etc. which usually travel short distances. Their engines are therefore exposed to less air compared to on-road vehicles which consequently results in an increase in the rate of the engine’s heat, oxidation in the engine oil and corrosion on engine parts.
Since these type of vehicles could have higher rates of oxidation their general oil drain interval is in hours (please refer to the vehicle’s manual booklet). Example: 500 to 1000 hours

Where can I find information on my vehicle’s oil drain interval?
•    Vehicle’s owner manual booklet which comes with the vehicle when you buy it.
•    Vehicle’s oil monitor: Some vehicles log digitally when the next service is due and will display it on the dashboard.


How can I check on my vehicle’s oil condition?
•    Oil level dipstick which is found in the vehicle. For on-road vehicles, this can be checked when filling up with fuel at a TotalEnergies Service Station.
 

How can you record the info of the drain interval?
Keep a logbook of every time you service your vehicle. For each entry write down:
•    The date 
•    Your vehicle’s current mileage
•    When is the next service due = current mileage + drain interval
•    What oil was put in the engine

What can happen if the drain interval is ignored?
It is recommended that you change the oil at the recommended intervals. Failure to do so can result in a decrease in the oil’s performance and ability to protect the engine. This occurs due to oxidation as a result of temperatures and contamination from the wear debris. When oil oxidation increases, the oil gets thicker.