The way you maintain your car should take into account the conditions in which you drive. According to AAA, too many drivers underestimate the severity of their driving habits. As a result, they follow the wrong maintenance schedule. When polled recently by AAA, only 6% of motorists felt they did most of their driving under severe driving conditions.
But when asked about the actual driving behaviors that create severe operating conditions, 62% of motorists admitted they drive their vehicle that way all or most of the time. According to a recent study by the state of California, 80% of US drivers fit the definition of a “severe” driver, though many don’t realize it. Auto manufacturers’ oil change interval recommendations are dramatically shorter for severe driving conditions, with the majority recommending 3,750 miles or less. To protect the investment you have in your car, be sure to change your petroleum oil every 3,000-4,000 miles. Some of the conditions and behaviors that are considered severe include: 1
Driving on short trips of less than five miles in normal temperatures or less than 10 miles in freezing temperatures. Driving in hot-weather stop-and-go traffic. Driving at low speeds of less than 50 miles per hour for long distances. Driving on roads that are dusty or muddy or have salt, sand or gravel spread on the surface. Towing a trailer, carrying a camper (if a pickup truck) or transporting items on a roof rack or in a car top carrier.

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