How to determine the oil change interval?

It's all individual and depends on the operating conditions of your specific car, as well as on the quality of the oil you buy. In any case, if at least five of the seven factors listed above that shorten engine oil's lifespan apply to your conditions, feel free to cut the recommended interval in half.

The age of the car matters too, as does its service history. If you bought the car from a stranger and only know about its maintenance from what they told you, that alone is reason enough to change the oil noticeably more often, at least for the first year. That way you'll gradually and painlessly, for the engine's sake, "wash out" the deposits that built up inside the engine from improper servicing in the past.

Additionally:

• Do you need to flush the engine when changing the oil?
• Oil consumption — causes and how to fix it