Should I change the oil in my car before a road trip?

Have the car checked out first. For any leaks or low levels of fluids. Depends on the age of the car. Is it time for a tune up? Might as well do the oil change. 1,200 miles put on the car on this trip.

verify your vendors instruction manual to be certain if the sunshine is on because of the fact the motor vehicle reached a mileage or time shrink set by way of the final person to alter the oil, or if it actual is composed of detection of contaminants in the oil. If it exams the oil an infection, then you definately ought to take the motor vehicle to a provider tech and have them verify the right function of the sunshine and sensor. 1400 miles shouldn't holiday a contaminant sensor. If the sunshine merely marks mileage and time, you are able to turn it off and wait till you hit the mileage or time you sense is actual for a metamorphosis. As an aside, 3,000 miles is merely too in many situations to alter oil except you force in dusty or mountain circumstances. Your automobile can bypass 5,000 miles accurately on cutting-component oil. additionally, do no longer pay for guy made oil except you have a severe overall performance engine. a typical automobile engine can no longer earnings from the version between guy made and regularly occurring oil adequate to warrant the extra cost.

its a matter of opinion on that idea. the 300o miles or 4000 in your situation is based on severe driving conditions, like stop and go, frequent trips, etc. since you will be on the road for a long period of time, that is a great deal easier on the engine and oil. my self, i would wait till i got back and then change it.

Couldn't hurt. A long trip adds extra stress to the engine and fresh oil is the best thing you can do.

yes you should...its a very good idea..unless you just recently did an oil change and only put say 500 - 100 miles on it.

1200 hundred miles is not very much so dont worry about it,

what harm could it do? it takes 10mins to change the oil