When & How Often Should I Change My Oil?

This is a good question. Today’s cars are usually filled with synthetic oils. Most automotive manufacturers have varying opinions on oil change intervals. They may recommend oil changes every 10,000 to 15,000 miles. The proper synthetic oils can last that long, and often do. A problem arises when your vehicle is burning and actually consuming oil. Most of us assume that when a car uses or burns oil nothing is left behind. The reality is, when it burns off a portion of that oil remains behind. Motor oil, as with any other liquid, will evaporate. When it evaporates or burns off a portion of that oil remains behind as carbon and sludge deposits. It is like frying something in a pan. You add clear oil and begin to heat it up. The oil gets hot and will start evaporate. The oil is no longer clear, and you have black stuff stuck to your pan. That black stuff is carbon. What you see when your oil looks dark and is simply dirty carbon suspended in the oil. Those thick sticky carbon molecules attach themselves to internal engine components. Those deposits, over time, will block passages, increase wear and reduce performance & efficiency.

So back to the question “when and how often”? We recommend splitting that interval in half 5,000 to 7,500 miles. In the process, we flush that carbon, reducing the chance that it gets deposited on your car’s vital components. Carbon will still build up, because we are still are burning oil, but at a much slower rate.

What should be done about the carbon built up in our engine?

We recommend performing an engine oil flush with additives. Our Bluechem Premium Oil Service does just that. It breaks down those carbon deposits to a molecular level, encapsulates them, and suspends them in the oil. Then, when the oil is drained, it will flush out with the old oil. Other brands claim to do the same, but all they do is soften the carbon, allowing it to sluff off into the bottom of the oil pan. When the oil is drained, some of that carbon sludge comes out with the old oil. The rest remains in the bottom of your oil pan. It’s not ideal, and you can do much better with the Bluechem.

Does Bluechem Work?

I can tell you, I was a doubter. I do not believe in snake oil, and I really had a hard time believing the claims it made. We set up a trial at our shop and had Head of Operations for Bluechem U.S. demonstrate their product. We used my personal vehicle, which I drive on a daily basis. I am very familiar with how it drives & feels. We added 2 products, Bluechem Oil System Cleaner & Fuel System Cleaner. Bluechem not only believes that cleaning the sludge build up is important, but cleaning the carbon deposits in your combustion chambers is also crucial. This too is another source of carbon created by the engine and can end up in the oil. We drove my car for 15 minutes, came back, and drained the oil. Out came a stream of black oil, no clumps, in a steady flow. Even towards the end of the drain, we did not get a slow drip of thick oil. Instead, it was a slick quick drip of very liquid oil. We continued with the engine oil service, changing the filter and added the correct oil for my vehicle, Total Quartz 5/40 Full Synthetic.

Now came the proof I needed in order to sell this product. I got into my car and drove it, not believing I would not notice any difference. Instantly I noticed the engine was quieter, and seemed smoother. During the road test I even thought my engine had stalled, but instead, it was running so smooth & quiet that it almost didn’t feel like it was still running. Again, this is a car I drive on a daily basis so I know how it drove. At that point I believed. I was confident that this is a product was one I could stand behind. Bluechem doesn’t claim to increase or improve your engine’s performance and efficiency. Instead the only claim they make is it will help restore your engine back to it’s original performance and efficiency.

Final Recommendations

We recommend splitting those manufactures recommended oil change intervals in half, especially if you are having to add oil or your oil level is low between oil changes. We also recommend flushing the sludge, carbon deposits and contaminants with a product like Bluechem. Doing these things will help restore your vehicle’s efficiency, performance, and increase the lifespan of your engine.