Staying on top of routine automobile maintenance is essential for keeping a vehicle in good working order. Regular oil changes are the key to helping you get the greatest mileage out of your engine. The problem on this, however, is it can be a little tricky to determine exactly when an oil change is needed.

While it is true the standard recommendation for oil changes is every 3,000 miles or three months, when you read the fine print in most newer car handbooks, this is no longer the case. Some vehicles can go up to 6,000 miles without needing a change. Other vehicles have oil change recommendations that vary based on driving conditions.

So, how can you really tell when you need to change your oil and when you can skip it for a while?

There are some things to pay attention to that can help you decide:

•The manufacturer recommendations – Read the owner’s manual for your vehicle it will spell out the average times when oil must be changed in your particular make and model car. If your car is under warranty, be sure to follow this as close to the letter as possible.

•The type of driving you do – If you operate your car in a lot of stop-and-start traffic, you might actually require oil changes more frequently than others. Keep this in mind when scheduling appointments. Chances are strong that 3,000 miles or three months will apply to you no matter what. Highway drivers can sometimes get away with much greater spacing between changes.

•The condition of the oil – When you check your fluids, pay attention to the condition of the oil. If it is really dark and grimy, a change is probably in order no matter what the odometer reads.

Changing your oil is important for maintaining your car. How often to get this done will depend on how the car is used.