We’ve all tried to peel off a sticker and found the residue will just not come off. This is no different for a car.

This article will guide you through the process of removing a car window sticker without damaging your vehicle’s glass. We will provide you with the tools you need, the steps to follow, and tips and tricks to make the process as simple as possible.

Tools Required to Remove a Car Sticker

There are three basic tools you need to remove a car sticker:

• Ammonia free glass cleaner
• Razor blade
• microfiber cloth

Ammonia Free Glass Cleaner

Glass cleaner is critical for cleaning a sticker off a car. The purpose of the cleaner is to:

1. clean the surrounding area of the sticker prior to removal
2. softening the adhesive
3. cleaning the area after removal

It is critical to use an ammonia free cleaner because ammonia can dry out the rubber outer trim of the glass and cause damage.

Below is the recommended glass cleaner we use.

Invisible Glass Cleaner (Ammonia Free)

Amazon Affiliate Link

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Recommended Window Cleaner for removing car stickers

Razor Blade

A sharp, individual razor blade will cleanly scrape off the sticker from the window. It is important to use brand new, rust-free blades to prevent scratches to your window.

You can also use plastic window scrapers, which are less sharp, but have a lower chance of damaging your window.

Bates Razor Blades

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Plastic Razor Blade Scraper

Amazon Affiliate Link

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Microfiber Cloth

I microfiber cloth is a lint free cloth that will prevent any additional particulates to get on your windshield. They will be used to dry the area and clean the razor blade.

The cloths listed below are what I use. They are also great for hand washing your car!

Chemical Guys Microfiber Cloths

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Recommended microfiber cloths to remove car window sticker

How to Remove a Car Window Sticker

The next section will step by step show you how to remove a window sticker from your car once you have the materials listed below.

Step 1: Clean the Area

The first thing you want to do is clean the area surrounding the sticker.

Spray the window cleaner on the mircofiber cloth and clean the area around the sticker to remove any dust, dirt and debris that may be on the window.

Inspect the surrounding area of the sticker to make sure it is fully clean. Any remnants of dirt could cause scratching on your window.

In addition, you want to inspect your razor blade to make sure it is sharp, clean, and damage free.

Step 2: Soften the Sticker

Next you will spray the sticker with the glass cleaner directly. Make sure the entire sticker is covered with the glass cleaner.

The purpose of this step is to allow the razor to glide across the window and soften the sticker for removal.

Step 3: Peel the Sticker

To peel the sticker, you will then scrape the sticker off by gliding the razor blade under the sticker. This will involve some quick and slow movements to extract the sticker from the surface.

Make sure you are in control of the razor blade with these movements.

As you peel the sticker away, you can use your other hand to peel back the sticker.

Step 4: Remove the Adhesive Residue

Once you’ve removed the bulk of the sticker, you will likely find that there is residue still left on the glass, this is normal.

You will then spray the area with the glass cleaner again and continue to scrape off the residue. This step will likely require faster movements to remove it.

Repeat this step as necessary to clean the entire glass.

Step 5: Clean the Glass

After the sticker has fully been removed, wipe down the surface with window cleaner and inspect that all adhesive residue has been removed.

Tips and Tricks

Be Mindful of the Sticker Location

The sticker location is definitely important to consider when you are removing it. The biggest concern you will need to keep in mind is whether or not the sticker is located near the edge of the window.

Around every window on a car is some type of rubber seal. When you are using the razor, it is very important that you be very careful around this edging. If you get too close to the edge, you could damage the seal.

Complete Sticker Removal in One “Sitting”

Keep in mind that you should always finish the project of removing the entire sticker at once. You want to make sure that all residue is removed so that it does not accumulate extra dirt which will be more challenging to remove and might lead to scratches on the window.

Other Liquid Options

Though window cleaner is the ideal and recommended fluid for removing stickers, you could also use the following substances to assist in the process:

• soapy water
• rubbing alcohol
• goo-gone

Make Sure the Area is Dry at the Start

When you remove the sticker, you want to make sure your car is dry and in a dry environment. Though we will be wetting the sticker, it will be more challenging if it is currently raining or was recently wet.

If your car is wet, just be sure to give it a nice rub with the microfiber cloth to dry the area before cleaning it.

Conclusion

To remove a sticker on a car window, you will need:

• window cleaner
• razor
• microfiber cloths

And you will need to follow these steps:

1. clean the area with a window cleaner
2. soak the sticker with the cleaner
3. scrape the sticker with a razor
4. then clean the area once more

I was intrigued to understand this better when this guy posted this question on Reddit.

After some research I have found that this is offered to those who have already placed orders and signed some type of contract for delivery and purchase.

There may be another form of price protection which you could receive which would be a private offer by the dealership through an “extend my reservation” invitation, but until an official order is made, no guarantee can be made.

This applies to all Ford vehicles, not just trucks.

If you have received an order sheet, you will be given the price on that order which your dealer has to respect.

What is the Ford Price Protection program?

Ford Price Protection provides a guarantee that you will only pay for the car or truck at the price in which the order was placed.

Because over time, demand and supply changes, when you receive a Ford vehicle, the price may change at the dealership.

This can be a surprise when you go to pick up your order and you get a new quote from the dealership for extra thousands of dollars above what you expect to pay.

The original price protection only comes from orders in which an order sheet is created. Simply being on a reservation list does not allow you to get price protection.

How to enforce Ford Price Protection?

Some dealers don’t understand that Ford guarantees the price protection and will tell you that the truck now costs more.

This guy walks through what exactly you need to tell your dealer if they say you are not qualified for price protection and need to pay the higher price.

You just have to make sure you have your order sheet on hand.

When you place an order from the dealer, you will get a summary sheet with the price and features for which you ordered.

This is what documents the timing and price for which you ordered the vehicle.

If you receive exactly what is on the order sheet, you should be paying the price that was offered.

If you make any changes to the vehicle, the price will change with it.

According to this dealer above, when a dealer runs the vehicle and sets an invoice, they will need to manually go in to change the price and/or any incentives that were locked in at purchase.

Don’t fall for dealers that say you don’t get the protection and show them this video of how they can go an manually change the price.

According to this guy, Ford will cover the loss to the dealership to guarantee the price to the customer. Dealers will think they are losing out by not charging the higher price, and without knowing this information you could either pay higher or be forced out of a deal you were planning to take.

COnclusion

Ford offers price protection on all of their vehicles ordered in advanced. If you have gotten to the point in which you received an order sheet with a listed price, you will be locked into that price upon paying for and receiving your Ford.

Some dealerships will not understand this guarantee and will tell you that you need to pay the higher price.

Most dealers think they will lose out on the deal if they don’t sell for the higher price, but Ford pays the difference to the dealership.

Don’t fall for the trap! You deserve the price you expected to pay! Just make sure to read the fine print before you purchase to see if there is anything that deviates from what is said in this article.

In this article, we will share all of the numbers released by all the pickup truck manufacturers that sell in the U.S.

Top 10 Selling Trucks in the U.S. (2022)

The top selling trucks in the U.S. in 2022 were:

1. Ford F-Series
2. Chevrolet Silverado
3. RAM Pickups
4. GMC Sierra
5. Toyota Tacoma
6. Toyota Tundra
7. Chevrolet Colorado
8. Jeep Gladiator
9. Nissan Frontier
10. Ford Maverick

Unfortunately the distribution of the different Ford F-Series trucks seemed to be unavailable, but the entire group was shown. The F-150 is the most popular truck of the series, so it is likely it holds the highest percentage in this.

List of All Trucks Sold in the U.S. Ranked (2022)

There was a total of 2,746,561 pickup trucks sold throughout the U.S. from 11 different brands in 2022.

Ford continues to dominate the market carrying 29% of sales, followed by Chevrolet, Toyota, RAM, and GMC.

2022 marks the year of the electric truck as three full electric trucks have been put on the market: Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and Hummer EV Pickup.

Below you will find the a complete list of all of the trucks sold in 2022 coming directly from the manufacturers page.

If a truck is unbolded, that means that the total is included in the previous listing as well and is not an addition.

In the rightmost column, there is also the Year over Year change from 2021 reported from the manufacturer.

#1. Ford F-Series (653,957 units)

In 2022 Ford sold 653,957 pickup trucks in the F-Series and 785,332 total pickup trucks.

The F-Series made up 83% of the total pickup truck sales by Ford.

The Ford F-Series is composed of the F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, F-650, and F-750. The F-150, however is the most popular.

In 2022 Ford F-Series sales fell nearly 10% compared to 2021.

#2. Chevrolet Silverado (523,249 units)

Chevrolet sold 523,249 pickup trucks in 2022 of the Chevy Silverado LD (Light Duty) and HD (Heavy Duty), and MD (Medium Duty).

The Silverado LD, which includes the 1500 takes up the majority of these sales with 324,603 trucks at 62%. Even though it is the largest category of sales, overall, the rates are lower than the previous year by over 14%.

The Silverado HD is up, however, by 35.7% with 188,751 sales.

And the Medium Duty sits in the middle at just under 2% of the sales with 9,895 trucks sold.

The Silverado series composed over 85% of the total pickup truck sales by Chevrolet.

#3. RAM Pick-Up (468,344 units)

Similar to the F-150, RAM does not seem to identify the distribution of the RAM Pickup trucks sold in 2022.

RAM sold 468,344 trucks in 2022.

This total is made up of the RAM 1500 series, 2500, 3500 and likely Chassis.

Though RAM did not participate in the electric truck market this year, on January 5th, 2023, they announced the concept of the all electric RAM Revolution.

#4. GMC Sierra (241,522 units)

The GMC Sierra was sold 241,522 times in 2022. This was only a 3% drop from the previous year.

The Light Duty Sierra took a large hit generating 20% less sales that 2021 with 142,404 sales.

The Heavy Duty Sierra, on the other hand had an incredible 40% growth from 2021 with 99,118 total sales.

#5. Toyota Tacoma (237,323 units)

Toyota sold 237,323 Tacomas in 2022. The majority of Toyota sales come from the Tacoma at 69%.

This leading truck, however, suffered a 6% loss of sales compared to 2021.

#6. Toyota Tundra (104,246 units)

The Toyota Tundra followed the Tacoma with 30% of total pickup truck sales at 104,246 units sold in 2022.

Compared to 2021, this truck had a 27.2% growth in sales.

Between the Tundra and the Tacoma, Toyota sold a total of 341,569 pickup trucks in 2022.

#7. Chevrolet Colorado (89,197 units)

The Chevrolet Colorado is a mid-sized compact pickup truck that sold 89,197 units in 2022.

This truck only made up 14.5% of the total Chevrolet pickup truck sales in 2022.

#8. Jeep Gladiator (77,855 units)

The Jeep Gladiator, which was launched in 2018 lost popularity in the year of 2022 with a drop in 13% of sales.

In 2022, 77,855 Jeep Gladiators were sold.

#9. Nissan Frontier (76,183 units)

The Nissan Frontier is the most popular pickup truck offered by Nissan.

In 2022, there were 76,183 Nissan Frontier pickup trucks sold.

This makes up 83% of the total Nissan pickup trucks sold followed by the Nissan Titan (mentioned later in this post).

#10. Ford Maverick (74,370 units)

The Ford Maverick has been in high demand in 2022. This was the first year this truck was released.

It comes in a full hybrid standard powertrain offering exceptional fuel efficiency for pickups at a low cost.

There were 74,370 Ford Maverick trucks sold in 2022 which is a 460.9% growth as it being the main year for distribution.

Compared to the F-Series there are significantly fewer trucks sold with just under 10% of sales coming from this one truck.

#11. Ford Ranger (57,005 units)

The Ford Ranger is the other pickup truck offered by Ford that isn’t in the F-Series.

There were 57,005 Ford Ranger pickup trucks sold in 2022.

This was a 40% decrease in sales from 2021.

#12. Honda Ridgeline (42,762 units)

Honda only offered one pickup truck on the market which is the Honda Ridgeline.

In 2022, 42,762 Honda Ridgeline pickup trucks were sold. This was a slight increase from the previous year at a 3.4% increase.

#13. Hyundai Santa Cruz (36,480 units)

Similar to Honda, Hyundai only offers one pickup truck on the market which is the Santa Cruz.

There were 36,480 Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup trucks sold in 2022. Compared to 2021, Hyundai nearly tripled the sales of this truck.

#14. GMC Canyon (27,819 units)

The GMC Canyon is a small pickup truck offered by GMC.

There were only 27,819 GMC Canyon pickup trucks sold in 2022. This was a solid increase from 2021 with a 15.3 % increase.

Compared to the Sierra, this truck only makes up 10% of total pickup truck sales, but is on an increasing trend.

#15. Rivian R1T (20,332 units)

With only 20,332 sales in 2022 the Rivian R1T is the leading premium, luxury pickup truck on the market.

This number actually is the total Rivian vehicles sold, but it is likely mostly the R1T, so this is slightly over estimating the total R1Ts sold.

It’s main competitors, at the moment are the F-150 Lightning and the recently announced RAM Revolution.

#16. Nissan Titan (15,063 units)

The Nissan Titan was sold 15,063 times in 2022. This was almost a 50% drop from 2021.

Nissan sold a total of 91,246 pickup trucks in 2022, and the Titan made up 16.5% of those total sales.

#17. Hummer EV Pickup (854 units)

Last on the list is the Hummer EV Pickup truck which has sold the least amount of pickup trucks with only 854 sales.

This isn’t even 1,000 units across the entire country. It is a new vehicle, but the lack of sales make it even questionable to include on this list.

Resources:

• GMC, Chevy 2022 Sales Release
• Jeep/RAM 2022 Sales Results
• Nissan 2022 Sales Release
• Rivian Delivery/Production Announcement
• Ford 2022 Sales Release
• Toyota 2022 Sales Results
• Honda 2022 Sales Release
• Hyundai 2022 Sales Report

Though similar, they are distinctly different. The curb weight is a predetermined and measured weight from the manufacturer that provides the weight of a vehicle without passengers or cargo with a full tank of gas.

The gross weight is the actual weight of a vehicle at any point in time.

The curb weight is used to calculate the max towing and payload capacity.

Curb Weight vs Gross Weight

Curb weight and gross weight, though similar, are different. The curb weight refers to the weight measured and recorded by the manufacturer of a truck or vehicle. The gross weight refers to the actual weight of a vehicle measured by a scale in any point in time.

So in simple terms, the curb weight is the stock weight of the vehicle with a full tank of gas, and the gross weight is the weight measured in real time.

What is curb weight?

Curb weight is a common metric provided by manufacturers. This weight refers to the weight that manufacturers have measured for their vehicles in stock with a full tank of gas but no cargo or passengers.

How is curb weight measured?

Curb weight is measured by manufacturers that fill the gas tanks of their cars, place them on a scale and record the weight.

This is the curb weight.

The curb weight is a way for manufacturers to provide end users with a guide as to the weight of their vehicle without any modifications or cargo. Knowing the curb weights helps to provide a basis for towing and transporting a vehicle.

What is gross weight?

Gross weight is the active weight of a vehicle at any given time.

The best way to describe it is to describe it is through a scenario.

If you drive your vehicle on to a scale with you and your kids in it with your ski equipment in the back, the weight that the scale reads is the gross weight.

Typically the gross weight is larger than the curb weight because there is often added cargo or passengers in the car.

The added weight of passengers, cargo, tongue weight, customizations, and accessories will all impact the gross weight.

Why are these weights important?

It is important to understand these weights for multiple reasons. Both of these weights are important to understand the payload capacity and towing capacity.

The following section will make more sense if you read: GCWR vs GVWR Totally Explained

How do they relate to Payload Capacity?

Payload capacity is a rating typically provided by manufacturers as the maximum amount of weight that can be added to a truck or vehicle; this includes modifications, passengers, cargo, and tongue weight.

The GVWR is a rating provided by manufacturers that gives the maximum gross weight of a vehicle at any time. For example is a car GVWR is 5,000 lbs, at no point in time can the gross weight be more than 5,000 lbs.

The gross weight must be less than or equal to the GVWR.

For more information read: What Does GVWR Mean?

Payload capacity is calculated by subtracting the curb weight from the GVWR. For example, if a car has a GVWR of 5,000 lbs but weight 3,500 lbs, the max payload capacity is 1,500 lbs.

How do they relate to Towing Capacity?

Towing capacity refers to the maximum weight that can be towed behind a vehicle. Towing capacity is related to the metric GCWR or Gross Combined Weight Rating.

Similar to the GVWR, the gross weight of a vehicle plus the weight of a trailer should never exceed the GCWR. So this means that the sum of the vehicle gross weight and the trailer gross weight will total more than the GCWR.

For more details read: How is Towing Capacity Calculated? (With Calculator)

Just like payload capacity, towing capacity is calculated by subtracting the curb weight from the GCWR.

Conclusion

Though curb weight and gross weight are closely related, they are not the same. The curb weight is a predetermined and measured weight from the manufacturer that provides the weight of a vehicle without passengers or cargo with a full tank of gas.

The gross weight is the actual weight of a vehicle at any point in time.

The curb weight is used to calculate the max towing and payload capacity.

But getting them can be challenging. One of the easiest ways to retrieve your Ford window sticker is by the VIN.

The VIN provides information about the vehicle, from the manufacturer, but also has a single identifying serial code that corresponds to other features on the particular car or truck.

There are a few ways to get the window sticker, most of them are paid, but there may be some opportunities to get the sticker free.

If you are looking to get the most information from your VIN without a window sticker, you should visit this VIN lookup tool https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/vindecoder.php

What is a window sticker?

A window sticker, also known as a monroney label, is a data sheet for a specific vehicle. Is has all the information related to that particular vehicle. This is more specific than the make, model, and trim level.

Since new vehicles have so many different options, including special features, packages, and adjustments, the need to know the specifics included for one car increase.

The window sticker is provided by sellers. This is standard from a dealership for new cars. Old cars, however, will likely not have the original sticker because they are often removed. So you may need to find or purchase one as either a seller or buyer.

Why you may need a window sticker

Since a window sticker provides all the specific information around a particular vehicle, it gives you all the necessary information needed to conduct a resell of the car.

As a seller, you may want to get the window sticker so that you can allow customers to get all necessary information about the vehicle before purchasing. This will provide greater rapport as a seller.

However, if you are a buyer and the seller has not provided this information, you may need to collect this document to make sure you are getting a reasonable deal. Without knowing the specifics of the original vehicle, it can be difficult to understand the true value of the car.

What is on a window sticker?

An example of a window sticker for a 2012 Chevrolet Volt is shown below.

The defining information that’s on a window sticker is:

• fuel economy
• MSRP
• interior details
• exterior details
• safety rating
• fuel efficiency
• engine specs

What makes a window sticker valuable is that it shows the MSRP for the vehicle. This includes the base price as well as the added features with the associated cost.

The safety rating is also something that is only offered on the window sticker. Then there are standard specs for the engine, interior, and exterior.

Window Sticker vs VIN Decoder information

Some of the information that can be pulled is the same as what can be taken from the VIN, but they are in fact different.

The distinct characteristics of what the window sticker includes is the MSRP. The VIN decoder from any online source cannot identify this information with 100% accuracy.

VIN (or vehicle identification number) provides information about the type of truck and location of manufacturing. This varies slightly be the different brands, but all are followed by a serial number which is what includes the specific information about the vehicle.

Only the manufacturer knows the information specifically coming from that serial number. This is why it is harder to get the window sticker. The window sticker is essentially identified for every car available, so it is specialized. So unfortunately, there aren’t many window stickers publicly available for free.

Where is my VIN Located?

Though there is lots of information that can be taken from the VIN by itself, you will also need the VIN to find your window sticker.

The VIN is located somewhere on the car. The most common places are on the dashboard towards the bottom of the windshield, or on the drivers’ side door sticker.

If you can’t seem to find this information somewhere on your car, there are other places where it can be found. These are:

• Title
• Registration
• Insurance documents

Once you have your VIN, you can go to the next step.

Ford Window Sticker Lookup – Free

1. Ask the Dealership

Another potential avenue is to go straight to the dealership. I’ve watched a few videos of some people that have gone directly to the dealership and have asked for a copy of the window sticker and they have printed it for them on the spot.

2. Withclutch.com

The first is withclutch.com. This resource is a website that offers a window sticker tool that allows you to look up a VIN, enter your email, and view a free window sticker (if available). Unfortunately, it seems that there are very few that are actually free.

3. Online Account

If you are a current owner of a particular vehicle, you may be able to open an account with the dealer/manufacturer. Some manufacturers may make a window sticker available to you based on the VIN.

4. Ford Direct URL

You may also be able to find the window sticker of your Ford using the link below. Copy and paste the link and add your vin to the end of the url.

https://www.windowsticker.forddirect.com/windowsticker.pdf?vin=

There aren’t many VIN’s listed through this particular link and strategy, but it is possible that you may get the necessary information.

Ford Window Sticker Lookup – Paid

1. Monroneylabels.com

The number 1 resource to get paid window stickers (monroney stickers) is monroneylabels.com. This seems like the go to resource to get window stickers for all car manufacturers.

This resources covers 43 different car and truck manufacturers.

2. Withclutch.com

Withclutch.com offers paid window stickers for the ones that aren’t available for free. They must order these in bulk, so they charge their visitors to view them as well.

3. Direct Manufacturer

Some manufacturers, such as Ford allow you to purchase a window sticker directly. This order, however, is much more expensive as it is designed to be decorative accent with a frame included.

Through Ford Show Parts, you can order an Official Window sticker for vehicles from 2007-2022. This can be used for all Ford and Lincoln vehicles and will be the most accurate and official monroney label you can get.

5. Beaver Dam Autos

Beaver Dam Autos provides a vin lookup for Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles. It will provide as much information as it can, but there is also the ability to purchase window stickers.

Below is an example of a 2018 F150 vin lookup with the ability to order a factory window sticker.

https://beaverdamautos.com/2018-Ford-F-150-vin-1FTEW1CBXJFC29727.html

You will see that there is basic information on the vehicle.

How much is a window sticker?

A window sticker purchased online is between $5.00 – $9.99 on withclutch.com/beaverdamautos.com and monroneylabels.com respectively.

The Official Ford Window sticker, however is much more expensive at $49.95.

Regular window stickers are relatively cheap. The information they provide is very valuable and worth the cost. They give you true value by including all the necessary information to value to car at to complete the full picture of the vehicle.

Where to do a VIN lookup

If you don’t think you need a window sticker, you can just look up the VIN and get lots of information from it.

U.S. Department of Transportation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a database for looking up the VIN of every street legal vehicle. This should provide the basic information that is included in a VIN by a manufacturer.

https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/decoder/

Vincheck.info

If you are looking for historical information about your vehicle, vincheck.info allows you to look up the history of the VIN. This includes previous accident records, sales records, recall information, and more.

https://vincheck.info/check/vin-check.php

Ford Forum VIN Decoder

The ford-truck.com forum has a vin decoder included in their basic features and provides good information. This seems to provide more detailed information than many other VIN decoders. There is additional information like original MSRP, specs, and features. This is the closest Free resource you can pull information from that is most similar to the window sticker.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/vindecoder.php

Is that ok? What happens if you do it? What really is the difference between 10W-30 and 5W-30?

This article will take you through all of the answers to your questions. It will discuss the major differences between the two, what the oil rating means, and the dangers of using these oils interchangeably.

But if you don’t want to read the entire article, here’s my best answer:

The best recommendation is to only use the oil type recommended by your owner’s manual. There are engine risks when you use 10W-30 instead of 5W-30. If you choose to use one oil over another, do so at your own risk.

To fully understand this recommendation, read on in the article to really understand the risks of using one oil instead of another.

What does SAE oil rating mean?

Before we discuss the differences between the two oil ratings of discussion: 10W-30 vs 5W-30, we should break down what these ratings mean.

You may hear that these oil ratings are also referred to as weights so if you see or hear that term, it is referring to this number. However, as you will find out soon, this rating does not actually equate to the weights of the different types of oils, so it is slightly misleading.

You will notice that each of these ratings is typically led by the letters SAE. SAE stands for the Society of Automotive Engineers.

The Society of Automotive Engineers has performed testing to classify each type of oil rating.

What they do in these tests is measure viscosity, which is essentially the thickness of a fluid, or how easily it moves. Fluids with higher viscosity are thicker than those with lower viscosity.

SAE performs a test in which they test the oil at various temperatures and then measure the viscosity. Then use these measurements to classify each group. Without getting too technical, there are two main sections of the oil rating.

Engine oils with these two sections are what are referred to as multigrade viscosity motor oils.

The first group is a single or double-digit number (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25) that rates the viscosity at lower temperatures. The higher the rating, the more viscous (or thick) the oil is at lower temperatures. This means that for engines starting at cold temperatures, lower numbers tend to perform better than higher numbers.

The second part is the W which stands for “winter”. This is universal between all oils that have this SAE rating. It is meant to separate the two ratings by indicating the number which designates the cold operating performance.

The third group is the number following the W or the “-“. This number is a double-digit rating (20, 30, 40, 50, 60) that rates the viscosity at operating temperatures (or once the engine is warm).

This means that higher numbers here run thicker when an engine has been heated up.

For a good explanation of both viscosity and SAE oil ratings, Engineering Explained does a great job in the video below!

Why do cars use different oil types?

Something that can be difficult to understand is why some oils require certain types of oil. Though the main design of motor engines is similar, there are nuances that may affect efficiency.

Each car and engine manufacturer goes through extensive testing to determine based on the engine design which oil type will be best suited for the engine.

This is based on factors such as:

• efficiency
• engine longevity
• oil longevity
• levels of component protection

What about additives?

Another part of engine oil differences is the additives that may exist in the oil.

Additives are other components that help to minimize the oxidation in the oil, prevent wear, rust and corrosion, and prohibit foam. They are all components that improve the efficiency and longevity of both your engine and the oil that goes in it.

For a full list of oil additives check out this article from Firestone.

Each oil is composed of 5-30% oil additives. This means that the base oil is anywhere between 70-95% of the total volume.

Additives, as mentioned before are already included in the oil. There are additional additives that can be used with oils, but most manufacturers recommend against that.

These additives have varying levels in the type of motor oils. These differences are mainly based on the oil type rather than the oil grade.

This means that full synthetic, synthetic blend, conventional, and high mileage motor oil are likely to have varying levels of these additives regardless of the SAE oil rating.

10W-30 vs 5W-30

So know that we know a bit more about what these ratings mean, let’s talk about the differences and similarities between 10W-30 and 5W-30 engine oils.

The differences between these two ratings are quite minimal. Because both have the same viscosity rating of 30, they are comparable at regular operating conditions.

However, the main difference here is that the 5W-30 is better for cold starts than the 10W-30 has because it is thinner at cold temperatures which means it is thinner and provides less resistance in the engine when its cold outside.

An engine that uses an SAE 10W-30 oil grade must, for some reason require thinner fluid in the mechanics and an engine needing SAE 5W-30 requires the thicker oil for better performance.

As mentioned before there are many factors and extensive research and testing that goes into determining the appropriate engine oil for your truck or car.

Technical Specifications

As an engineer myself, I take some interest in describing the technical differences between these types of engine oils.

The information taken from this section compares the metrics provided by the Mobil 1 Datasheet for the 5W-30 and 10W-30 full synthetic oils for reference.

For those not science nerds, the important point to notice here is that at both temperatures, the 5W-30 has a higher viscosity.

There is no data here on extremely cold temperatures, but we would likely see similar measurements.

What this information confirms is that the 5W-30 is in fact thicker than the 10W-30 at warmer temperatures.

The pour point is also an interesting metric because what this information shows is that the thinner oil (10W-30) requires colder temperatures to exhibit the same characteristics of the thicker oil (5W-30).

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Can you use 10W-30 instead of 5W-30?

So the answer you’ve all been waiting for. It is not recommended to use SAE 10W-30 instead of 5W-30. If your truck or car recommends 5W-30, that is the oil you should use.

But what will happen if you use 10W-30 instead of 5W-30?

This change in thickness will not prevent the engine from running, but it will likely decrease the engine efficiency due to the increased resistance in the oil.

Again, long periods of time using a thicker engine oil could cause long-term damage, but in the short term, there will be no extra internal engine friction.

However, if you anticipate driving in frequently cold conditions, this will have a more negative effect if you use 10W-30 instead of 5W-30.

Can you use 5W-30 instead of 10W-30?

So what if you have a car that recommends 10W-30 and you use 5W-30?

Of course, this depends on many factors. Some people are tempted to use thinner oil in their engines to improve efficiency. Engineering Explained states in the video above that a single grade thinner oil *such as this case) can improve fuel and engine efficiency by 0.3-0.5%.

However, what this does to an engine is place thinner oil between the moving parts.

This means that using 5W-30 instead of 10W-30 will increase the friction between engine parts leading to engine damage and decreased oil life.

10W-30 is typically meant for more powerful and larger engines than those with 5W-30 as the recommended oil type. So there could be greater risk for damage switching between the two.

Many manufacturers will recommend that for operation at cold temperatures, most recommendations, especially for Ford tell the user to use a 0W rated oil.

Conclusion

The recommendations provided in your owner’s manual are there for a reason.

Your engine was verified and designed with the specific oil type in mind. There were many factors that went into this decision and shouldn’t be ignored.

The only reasons for which you could ask this question are if you are due for an oil change and your local store is out of stock or you already have some oil in your garage but it doesn’t match the recommendations.

If either of these are true, first ask yourself if changing your oil needs to be replaced right now.

Need help determining how long you can go without an oil change? I walk through everything you need to know in my article: How long to go without an oil change before it’s too late?

Hopefully, you can find the answers you need there to convince you that you likely don’t need to change your oil right now if you are due for regular maintenance. However, if you experience any severe problems, that may not be the case.

I recommend that you take the time to get the oil you need instead of replacing it with a different oil type.

So it is recommended not to use 10W-30 instead of 5W-30.

How to choose the right type of oil?

The first place to start is by looking at your owner’s manual. You will find information here on which type of oil is recommended for your engine.

The manual should also state or mention some type of warranty if a different oil type is used.

In addition, newer cars will have more information on various engine oil types that are recommended for use in various temperatures and may even provide recommendations based on driving conditions.

And the last place where you might find the oil recommended for your engine is on the engine oil cap.

Looking for an oil change?

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But getting them can be challenging. One of the easiest ways to retrieve your window sticker is by the VIN.

The VIN provides information about the vehicle, from the manufacturer, but also has a single identifying serial code that corresponds to other features on the particular car or truck.

There are a few ways to get the window sticker, most of them are paid, but there may be some opportunities to get the sticker free.

What is a window sticker?

A window sticker, also known as a monroney label, is a data sheet for a specific vehicle. Is has all the information related to that particular vehicle. This is more specific than the make, model, and trim level.

Since new vehicles have so many different options, including special features, packages, and adjustments, the need to know the specifics included for one car increase.

The window sticker is provided by sellers. This is standard from a dealership for new cars. Old cars, however, will likely not have the original sticker because they are often removed. So you may need to find or purchase one as either a seller or buyer.

Why you may need a window sticker

Since a window sticker provides all the specific information around a particular vehicle, it gives you all the necessary information needed to conduct a resell of the car.

As a seller, you may want to get the window sticker so that you can allow customers to get all necessary information about the vehicle before purchasing. This will provide greater rapport as a seller.

However, if you are a buyer and the seller has not provided this information, you may need to collect this document to make sure you are getting a reasonable deal. Without knowing the specifics of the original vehicle, it can be difficult to understand the true value of the car.

What is on a window sticker?

An example of a window sticker for a 2012 Chevrolet Volt is shown below.

The defining information that’s on a window sticker is:

• fuel economy
• MSRP
• interior details
• exterior details
• safety rating
• fuel efficiency
• engine specs

What makes a window sticker valuable is that it shows the MSRP for the vehicle. This includes the base price as well as the added features with the associated cost.

The safety rating is also something that is only offered on the window sticker. Then there are standard specs for the engine, interior, and exterior.

Window Sticker vs VIN Decoder information

Some of the information that can be pulled is the same as what can be taken from the VIN, but they are in fact different.

The distinct characteristics of what the window sticker includes is the MSRP. The VIN decoder from any online source cannot identify this information with 100% accuracy.

VIN (or vehicle identification number) provides information about the type of truck and location of manufacturing. This varies slightly be the different brands, but all are followed by a serial number which is what includes the specific information about the vehicle.

Only the manufacturer knows the information specifically coming from that serial number. This is why it is harder to get the window sticker. The window sticker is essentially identified for every car available, so it is specialized. So unfortunately, there aren’t many window stickers publicly available for free.

Where is my VIN Located?

Though there is lots of information that can be taken from the VIN by itself, you will also need the VIN to find your window sticker.

The VIN is located somewhere on the car. The most common places are on the dashboard towards the bottom of the windshield, or on the drivers’ side door sticker.

If you can’t seem to find this information somewhere on your car, there are other places where it can be found. These are:

• Title
• Registration
• Insurance documents

Once you have your VIN, you can go to the next step.

Window sticker by VIN – FREE

There are only two resources which I can find for which free window stickers can be claimed. Even then, there is no guarantee that these will work. Paid versions are the only way to ensure you can claim the original window sticker.

1. Ask the Dealership

Another potential avenue is to go straight to the dealership. I’ve watched a few videos of some people that have gone directly to the dealership and have asked for a copy of the window sticker and they have printed it for them on the spot.

2. Withclutch.com

The first is withclutch.com. This resource is a website that offers a window sticker tool that allows you to look up a VIN, enter your email, and view a free window sticker (if available). Unfortunately, it seems that there are very few that are actually free.

3. Online Account

If you are a current owner of a particular vehicle, you may be able to open an account with the dealer/manufacturer. Some manufacturers may make a window sticker available to you based on the VIN.

Window sticker by VIN – Paid

1. Monroneylabels.com

The number 1 resource to get paid window stickers (monroney stickers) is monroneylabels.com. This seems like the go to resource to get window stickers for all car manufacturers.

This resources covers 43 different car and truck manufacturers.

2. Withclutch.com

Withclutch.com offers paid window stickers for the ones that aren’t available for free. They must order these in bulk, so they charge their visitors to view them as well.

3. Direct Manufacturer

Some manufacturers, such as Ford allow you to purchase a window sticker directly. This order, however, is much more expensive as it is designed to be decorative accent with a frame included.

How much is a window sticker?

A window sticker purchased online is between $5.00 – $9.99 on withclutch.com and monroneylabels.com respectively.

Regular window stickers are relatively cheap. The information they provide is very valuable and worth the cost. They give you true value by including all the necessary information to value to car at to complete the full picture of the vehicle.

Where to do a VIN lookup

If you don’t think you need a window sticker, you can just look up the VIN and get lots of information from it.

U.S. Department of Transportation

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a database for looking up the VIN of every street legal vehicle. This should provide the basic information that is included in a VIN by a manufacturer.

https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/decoder/

Vincheck.info

If you are looking for historical information about your vehicle, vincheck.info allows you to look up the history of the VIN. This includes previous accident records, sales records, recall information, and more.

https://vincheck.info/check/vin-check.php

Conclusion

A monroney label, or window sticker may be found for free on/at:

1. The Dealership
2. WithClutch.com
3. Manufacturer’s Online Account

It will be found for a fee at a paid service from:

1. MonroneyLabels.com
2. WithClutch.com
3. Direct from the Manufacturer

It is much harder to find a window sticker for free, but for $9.99 at the most, paying to get this information be me really valuable to you if you want to know everything about a specific vehicle.

Safety data sheets are specifications released by the manufacturer that provides information about the specific product. The information listed on these documents are specs that must be met for every lot.

Resources:

• Chevron/Texaco Unleaded Gasoline SDS
• Citgo Unleaded Gasoline SDS
• ExxonMobil Unleaded Gasoline SDS
• Marathon Unleaded Gasoline SDS
• Shell Unleaded Gasoline SDS

Gasoline Weight Calculator

Use the calculator below to determine the high and low range of the weight of gasoline for any volume.

Simply input the number of gallons you want to measure and the calculator will give you the estimated weight of the gasoline based on the numbers above.

Why does it matter?

For the average vehicle, weight doesn’t matter much to the operation of a car or truck. In other applications, such as boating, or car racing, the desire for lighter gas may be more important.

You may think that lighter gas will yield better gas mileage because the weight is lower, but the minor difference in weight will have very little impact compared to the entire vehicle.

Other factors have more of an impact on efficiency, such as additives and quality.

However, when larger volumes come into play, such as carrying large loads of gasoline, a difference of 40 lbs may be important. When transporting gasoline in large loads, you have to make sure that your truck can support the weight of the cargo. This includes the weight of the passengers, other cargo, and anything else inside the truck.

This is what is referred to as the payload capacity (the amount a truck can carry). In most instances, the payload capacity reported for a truck includes a full tank of gas, so there will only be a couple of pound difference between the actual weight and the recorded weight by the manufacturer. These few pounds shouldn’t have a long-lasting impact.

To learn more about payload capacity, read the following article: What Does GVWR Mean? GVWR Explained for Trucks and Trailers

Why are the weights different?

You may be wondering why the weights of these major manufacturers are different. And this can come down to multiple factors, but mostly this comes down to quality.

The quality composition of gasoline varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. And some suppliers will have a higher tolerance for their specifications. For example, as you can see above, Chevron/Texaco has a tolerance of just under one pound difference, so from lot to lot, one pound of gasoline may be 6.68 lbs and the other may be 5.84 lbs.

Is diesel heavier than gasoline?

Diesel is 16 – 27 % heavier than regular gasoline.

A gallon of diesel gas weighs between 6.68 and 7.34 lbs according to specs from three major diesel suppliers (Chevron, Citgo, Marathon).

These ranges include both No 1 and No 2. You can find the difference in weight between No 1 and No 2 in the following documents.

Can the weight of gasoline change?

The weight of gasoline can change, but under normal conditions, the changes will be so minor that it won’t make a difference.

The information taken from the SDS sheets was the specific gravity. The specific gravity compares the density of one solution to that of water. So a specific gravity of 0.7 means that the gasoline has a density 70% of that of water.

Density refers to the amount of mass/unit volume. Water is widely accepted to have a density of 1.00 kg/L at normal conditions. The density of water can fluctuate, but to give some context, the density of water at 120 degrees F is 0.989 and at 40 degrees F is 0.999 (USGS.GOV). These minor changes may have an impact on the density of the gasoline, but the difference is very minor.

• Chevron Diesel No 1 SDS
• Chevron Diesel No 2 SDS
• Citgo Diesel No 1 SDS
• Citgo Diesel No 2 SDS
• Marathon Diesel No 2 SDS

How was the weight of gas calculated?

As mentioned in the section above, this information was taken by using the specific gravity of the gasoline by the SDS.

Let’s use the example of a specific gravity of 0.7.

To convert the specific gravity to a density, we need to multiply the specific gravity by the density of reference. In this case, this is 1.00 kg/L for water.

This gives a density of 0.7 kg/L for gasoline.

Then we need to convert the kg/L to lbs/gallon. This conversion rate is 8.2454 (lbs/gal)/(kg/L).

This gives a density of 5.84 lbs/gallon of gasoline.

Then we multiply this value by the number of gallons to determine the total weight for that volume.

See the full example below.

Conclusion

A gallon of regular unleaded gasoline can range between 5.76 and 6.68 lbs per gallon. This depends on the supplier and the quality of the gasoline.

There are many factors that can affect this number, but on average, one gallon weighs about 6 lbs.

Is that ok? What happens if you do it? What really is the difference between 5w-30 and 5W-20?

This article will take you through all of the answers to your questions. It will discuss the major differences between the two, what the oil rating means, and the dangers of using these oils interchangeably.

But if you don’t want to read the entire article, here’s my best answer:

The best recommendation is to only use the oil type recommended by your owner’s manual. There are engine risks when these oils are used interchangeably, however, in my personal opinion, it is unlikely that any severe damage will occur if 5W-20 is used instead of 5W-30 or vice versa for a short amount of time. If you choose to use one oil over another, do so at your own risk.

To fully understand this recommendation, read on in the article to really understand the risks of using one oil instead of another.

What does SAE oil rating mean?

Before we discuss the differences between the two oil ratings of discussion: 5W-30 vs 5W-20, we should break down what these ratings mean.

You may hear that these oil ratings are also referred to as weights so if you see or hear that term, it is referring to this number. However, as you will find out soon, this rating does not actually equate to the weights of the different types of oils, so it is slightly misleading.

You will notice that each of these ratings is typically led by the letters SAE. SAE stands for the Society of Automotive Engineers.

The Society of Automotive Engineers has performed testing to classify each type of oil rating.

What they do in these tests is measure viscosity, which is essentially the thickness of a fluid, or how easily it moves. Fluids with higher viscosity are thicker than those with lower viscosity.

SAE performs a test in which they test the oil at various temperatures and then measure the viscosity. Then use these measurements to classify each group. Without getting too technical, there are two main sections of the oil rating.

Engine oils with these two sections are what are referred to as multigrade viscosity motor oils.

The first group is a single or double-digit number (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25) that rates the viscosity at lower temperatures. The higher the rating, the more viscous (or thick) the oil is at lower temperatures. This means that for engines starting at cold temperatures, lower numbers tend to perform better than higher numbers.

The second part is the W which stands for “winter”. This is universal between all oils that have this SAE rating. It is meant to separate the two ratings by indicating the number which designates the cold operating performance.

The third group is the number following the W or the “-“. This number is a double-digit rating (20, 30, 40, 50, 60) that rates the viscosity at operating temperatures (or once the engine is warm).

This means that higher numbers here run thicker when an engine has been heated up.

For a good explanation of both viscosity and SAE oil ratings, Engineering Explained does a great job in the video below!

Why do cars use different oil types?

Something that can be difficult to understand is why some oils require certain types of oil. Though the main design of motor engines is similar, there are nuances that may affect efficiency.

Each car and engine manufacturer goes through extensive testing to determine based on the engine design which oil type will be best suited for the engine.

This is based on factors such as:

• efficiency
• engine longevity
• oil longevity
• levels of component protection

What about additives?

Another part of engine oil differences is the additives that may exist in the oil.

Additives are other components that help to minimize the oxidation in the oil, prevent wear, rust and corrosion, and prohibit foam. They are all components that improve the efficiency and longevity of both your engine and the oil that goes in it.

For a full list of oil additives check out this article from Firestone.

Each oil is composed of 5-30% oil additives. This means that the base oil is anywhere between 70-95% of the total volume.

Additives, as mentioned before are already included in the oil. There are additional additives that can be used with oils, but most manufacturers recommend against that.

These additives have varying levels in the type of motor oils. These differences are mainly based on the oil type rather than the oil grade.

This means that full synthetic, synthetic blend, conventional, and high mileage motor oil are likely to have varying levels of these additives regardless of the SAE oil rating.

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5W-20 vs 5W-30

So know that we know a bit more about what these ratings mean, let’s talk about the differences and similarities between 5W-30 and 5W-20 engine oils.

The differences between these two ratings are quite minimal. Because both have the same cold rating of 5, they perform very similarly at cold temperatures and during cold starts.

The main difference here is that the 5W-30 has a greater viscosity at higher temperatures than the 5W-20 has. This means it is thicker and provides greater resistance once the engine is heated up.

An engine that uses an SAE 5W-20 oil grade must, for some reason require thinner fluid in the mechanics and an engine needing SAE 5W-30 requires the thicker oil for better performance.

As mentioned before there are many factors and extensive research and testing that goes into determining the appropriate engine oil for your truck or car.

Technical Specifications

As an engineer myself, I take some interest in describing the technical differences between these types of engine oils.

The information taken from this section compares the metrics provided by the Mobil 1 Datasheet for the 5W-30 and 5W-20 full synthetic oils for reference.

For those not science nerds, the important point to notice here is that at both temperatures, the 5W-30 has a higher viscosity.

There is no data here on extremely cold temperatures, but we would likely see similar measurements.

What this information confirms is that the 5W-30 is in fact thicker than the 5W-20 at warmer temperatures.

The pour point is also an interesting metric because what this information shows is that the thinner oil (5W-20) requires colder temperatures to exhibit the same characteristics of the thicker oil (5W-30).

Can you use 5W-20 instead of 5W-30?

So the answer you’ve all been waiting for. It is not recommended to use SAE 5W-20 instead of 5W-30. If your truck or car recommends 5W-30, that is the oil you should use.

But what will happen if you use 5W-20 instead of 5W-30?

Of course, this depends on many factors. Some people are tempted to use thinner oil in their engines to improve efficiency. Engineering Explained states in the video above that a single grade thinner oil *such as this case) can improve fuel and engine efficiency by 0.3-0.5%.

However, what this does to an engine is place thinner oil between the moving parts.

This means that using 5W-20 instead of 5W-30 will increase the friction between engine parts leading to engine damage and decreased oil life.

In emergency cases, 5W-20 PROBABLY can be used instead of 5W-30 but should be changed out as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage. (Again this is not recommended).

Can you use 5W-30 instead of 5W-20?

So what if you have a car that recommends 5W-20 and you use 5W-30?

This instance, though again not recommended, has less risk than the other way around. This is because you are increasing the oil thickness within the engine.

This change in thickness will not prevent the engine from running, but it will likely decrease the engine efficiency due to the increased resistance in the oil.

Again, long periods of time using a thicker engine oil could cause long-term damage, but in the short term, there will be no extra internal engine friction.

Conclusion

The recommendations provided in your owner’s manual are there for a reason.

Your engine was verified and designed with the specific oil type in mind. There were many factors that went into this decision and shouldn’t be ignored.

The only reasons for which you could ask this question are if you are due for an oil change and your local store is out of stock or you already have some oil in your garage but it doesn’t match the recommendations.

If either of these are true, first ask yourself if changing your oil needs to be replaced right now.

Need help determining how long you can go without an oil change? I walk through everything you need to know in my article: How long to go without an oil change before it’s too late?

Hopefully, you can find the answers you need there to convince you that you likely don’t need to change your oil right now if you are due for regular maintenance. However, if you experience any severe problems, that may not be the case.

I recommend that you take the time to get the oil you need instead of replacing it with a different oil type.

So it is recommended not to use 5W-20 instead of 5W-30.

How to choose the right type of oil?

The first place to start is by looking at your owner’s manual. You will find information here on which type of oil is recommended for your engine.

The manual should also state or mention some type of warranty if a different oil type is used.

In addition, newer cars will have more information on various engine oil types that are recommended for use in various temperatures and may even provide recommendations based on driving conditions.

And the last place where you might find the oil recommended for your engine is on the engine oil cap.

Buy 5W-20 Engine Oil by Brand

• Mobile 1
• Valvoline
• Penzoil
• Amazon Basics
• Castrol

Buy 5W-30 Engine Oil by Brand

• Mobile 1
• Valvoline
• Penzoil
• Amazon Basics
• Castrol

Looking for an oil change?

We have some special offers for our readers for oil changes at Valvoline!

Click each offer below to redeem

Don’t wait too long for an oil change!

We have some special offers for our readers for oil changes at Valvoline!

Click each offer below to redeem

Oil is very important for the proper and safe functionality of an engine.

It provides the necessary lubrication for the moving engine components to prevent grinding and engine damage.

Regular oil changes improve the overall engine lifespan.

Oil changes are typically recommended at around 3,000 – 5,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. At no point should engine oil be replaced further than 1 year apart. The best way to determine your appropriate oil life is by checking your owner’s manual or waiting for an oil life indicator.

There are a number of factors that determine the length of your oil engine life.

If you go over the recommended oil life that is generally ok, but should be avoided. You shouldn’t exceed 2,000 miles over the recommended limit before you seriously have engine damage.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about when it is recommended to get oil changes and when you NEED to get an oil change.

What is an oil change?

An oil change is the process of replacing the oil that is currently in your engine with new oil. This also involves replacing the oil filter.

The oil filter is what keeps the oil free from debris, so as that plugs, it becomes less efficient and needs to be replaced.

It involves first draining the oil from the engine, replacing the filter, and then refilling the engine with new oil, but will be discussed in more detail later in the post if you’re interested.

Why you need an oil change?

Oil changes are very important to the proper functioning and longevity of an engine.

The purpose of oil in an engine is to create a lubricant for the engine. There are a lot of moving parts in an engine including pistons, valves, and shafts. As these parts produce power from the engine they are moving hard and fast and need some type of lubrication to prevent metal on metal grinding.

Oil also is also responsible for absorbing heat and keeping engine temperatures down.

Over time as the engine oil gets used, it starts to become thick and does not function as it should. So the oil needs to be changed for a number of reasons.

These reasons are:

1. Replace engine lubricant

2. Improve engine efficiency

3. Extend engine lifespan

4. Flush engine of dirt and grime

5. Prevent friction and overheating

Alright, so now that you know why you need an oil change, lets look into when you should perform an oil change.

How often do you need to change your oil?

Unfortunately, there is no exact number or one size fits all answer to this question.

Oil life is usually listed in terms of mileage limits and also lists a month limit. These guidelines mean that oil should be changed at the mark of whatever comes first.

However, the general recommendations for an oil change are typically between 3,000 – 5,000 miles or 6 months to a year max.

It is better for your engine to err on the side of caution and change your oil on the earlier side. If you don’t know the exact recommendations, 3,000 miles and 6 months is a safe bet to minimize the risk of damaging your engine due to the oil.

These guidelines are changing a little bit due to improved research and engine modifications.

The best way to determine how often you need an oil change is to look in your owner’s manual.

There are a number of factors that come into play to influence the frequency of an oil change.

Factors that impact oil change frequency

Car age

Older cars typically need to have oil replaced more frequently than newer cars because they have had more miles and use. The repetitive engine use means that there is more metal steering within the engine which means that the oil gets dirtier faster.

Driving Conditions

Weather conditions can affect the longevity of oil such as extreme heat and cold.

Using a vehicle for heavy loads and towing also decreases the oil life.

Oil Type

There are two main oil types: synthetic blend and synthetic. I recently had an oil change and the auto shop estimated that a full synthetic change should add about an extra 2,000 miles to your oil life.

The way this oil type is fabricated prevents it from sludging sooner.

Engine type

All engines have similar components, but there are some variations in how they are designed. By nature, some engines require more oil and need to lubricate more surfaces causing the oil life to decrease.

Hybrid engines, however, always have longer oil life than gas engines.

2021 Ford F150 Example

As mentioned before the exact recommendations for your oil change will be provided in your owner’s manual.

Here I will go through an example of the different recommendations based on various uses in the 2021 Ford F150.

Because the Ford F150 is used typically as a utility truck, the general guidelines for an oil change are 5,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.

As many cars nowadays have, the F150 has a built-in oil life monitor in the electronics of the car.

This message will pop up whenever the computer determines the necessary time for an oil change.

The table below shows the approximate mileage that the oil change message will pop up and states that you should not exceed 3,000 miles after this message pops up.

What you will notice in the chart above is that for normal driving, the engine may not need an oil change until up to 10,000 miles. But on the low end, it may need a change as little as 3,000 miles.

Since the 2021 F150 is a relatively new engine, it requires less frequent changes than a 2000 F150 may need.

The hybrid version of the F150 may even have up to 15,000 miles per oil change.

Remember, however that mileage is not the only factor to determine oil changes. After a certain amount of time, oil must be changed in a vehicle regardless of whether the car has been driven or not.

Ford states that a vehicle should never exceed 1 year without an oil change.

You may also like: Oil Type and Capacities for Ford F150

Should I follow my oil life indicator?

Yes, most modern oil life indicators can be followed. Manufacturers put lots of time and energy into making these indicators as accurate as possible.

Old oil life indicators simply worked by notifying a user when a certain mileage distance was reached.

For example, if the manufacturer recommended 3,000 miles before an oil change, the computer will set a notification for when 3,000 miles is reached from the last oil change.

Nowadays, however, oil life indicators have gotten much more advanced. They have the ability to measure conductivity, mechanical properties, soot concentration, and water presence (How Stuff Works).

So the oil life indicator may use a combination of these metrics to determine when the oil needs to be changed. The addition of these softwares makes it better for you as the driver because it typically allows for you to conduct fewer oil changes and save money in the long run.

What happens if I wait too long for an oil change?

Ultimately waiting too long for an oil change could damage your engine.

Without lubrication in an engine, the internal parts will grind and could break.

So at what point do you know it’s time for an oil change?

How to tell if you need an oil change?

If you don’t know whether or not you need an oil change, it cannot hurt your car if you decide to change your oil earlier than is needed.

However, if you ever see any of the following symptoms in your car, you should get your oil changed immediately.

You smell something burning

The first is a burning smell. I have experienced the smell of burning oil when there is any type of leak, so that should be checked first, however, if no leak is observed, your engine parts could be grinding causing a burning smell.

Your oil is dark

New engine oil should have a more transparent color. As you should regularly check your engine level, you should also check the color of the liquid. If you notice the color to be quite dark and the dipstick is not well visible, it may be time for a change. This discoloration means that the oil has lost some of its lubricating properties.

Your engine is knocking

Engine knocking is extremely scary because it sounds very dangerous. It can be caused by an incorrect balance of fuel and air in the cylinders, but it could also be due to engine parts getting stuck. Without the lubrication, the grinding could cause cylinders and pistons to stick. And when the components that are stuck slip, the excess force can cause an audible sound.

Your check engine light is on

Check engine lights are due to many possibilities. One could be an oil change.

To eliminate other reasons for the check engine light is to get a code reader. This is a simple plug-and-play reader that connects to your car to tell you the issue needing fixing.

I have the Ancel Universal Scanner and it has everything I need and more saving me a ton of time and money needing to go to a shop to get my problem diagnosed.

Ancel universal scanner

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Code reader

Next steps: How to get an oil change?

So you now know that you require an oil change. But how do you do that?

The easiest way is to go to a shop to get this done. Many auto shops will be able to do this for you. They of course will charge a bit more than if you were to do it yourself.

Some common options are:

• Valvoline – view coupons here
• jiffylube – view coupons here
• Firestone – view coupons here

How to do your own oil change

I have performed almost all of my own oil changes. It is much easier than you think.

Some cars, however, are more difficult than others due to the location of the oil drains and oil filters.

The general process of changing your own oil is to:

1. Open and remove oil fill cap
2. Place an oil drain pan below the oil drain
3. Remove oil drain plug
4. Let oil drain to a drip
5. Replace drain plug
6. Remove oil filter
7. Refill engine oil
8. Start engine and check for leaks

This process is incredibly easy to follow with the video below from O’Reilly Auto Parts.

Items you will need to perform your own oil change:

• Motor Oil (check your owner’s manual or oil cap for engine oil type)
• Oil Filter (also listed in owner’s manual)
• Oil Filter Wrench (though this isn’t needed all of the time, it can be very difficult to remove some filters, so I highly recommend adding this to your toolbox)
• Oil Drain Pan
• Funnel

Looking for an oil change?

We have some special offers for our readers for oil changes at Valvoline!

Click each offer below to redeem