How long can I go without an oil change?

So I have a 2001 aurora and it keeps telling me to change my oil soon and my oil life is at 4%. I had someone check my oil and they said that I need about 2quarts which I'm gonna do as soon as possible. I'm a poor college student so I don't have enough to get an oil change. I'm also driving 5hrs from carbondale to chicago friday so idk.|||As everyone has already said, add the 2 qts ASAP. Being that low is like you existing with only half your blood. Very bad things can happen.





As for the oil change, keep your eye on the paper. Although I'm not a fan of quicky lubes, they often have coupons for $10 off. Some dealerships have killer deals: a neighboring city has a dealership advertising oil changes every Saturday for $5. If you find one like this, I'm certain they'll try to get more out of you (rotate tires, flush cooling system, whatever), you just have to say "no thanks." Probably repeatedly. Get anything they suggest in writing, then, when you have the money, go to an independent mechanic and have them check the same items and recommend what really needs to be worked on.





Always find out what oil they use, and go buy a couple quarts of the same oil to keep handy.|||*If your engine is down two quarts of oil, "don't drive it" till you or someone else adds enough 5W-30 oil till it's up to the full mark on the dip-stick. If at all possible, use Valvoline, Havoline, Kendall or Brad Penn. I'll give you credit for asking someone to at least check the oil.



Don't take "Murzy's" answer to heart. Your car has a oil life monitor that tells you when the oil should be changed according to your personal driving conditions. If your driving is mainly slow in-town the oil live monitor could be telling you to change the oil from 4 - 5,000 miles. If all of your driving is on the open highway, The monitor will tell you to change it up to 7,500 miles.



Get the oil and filter changed as soon as humanly possible.|||Just try to not use it because using the car more is gonna cause the car to burn up more oil and eventually seize I am having this same problem but I'm not running low on oil however it needs an oil change but my parents don't have the money right now so I am trying to not use my car if you don't change the oil the car is eventually also gonna seize since the oil just gets dirtier and dirtier like mud which will get hard so my full opinion is just try to not use the car and change the oil as soon as possible because every car is not gonna last forever unless your a car freak like me LOL Hope this helped :)|||Oil that remains unchanged in an engine eventually turns into a thick sludge and coats the inside of the engine. This makes the engine work harder (increasing your fuel consumption) and makes lubrication more difficult as the oil passages become clogged (increasing wear on the engine and shortening its life-span).


It is in the best interest of your car, and your wallet, to change the oil as per the manufacturer's recommendation.|||Should be every 3.000 miles or 3 months.





Can get away with up to 5,000 miles





An oil change isn't something to put off, you can't afford an oil change...so why risk and say you can't afford a new car because you effed this one up?





Wanna save money? Do it yourself|||you should get the oil change done soon, when the oil life indicator says close to 0%, id find a way to have it done, even if you do it yourself. they are not that hard to do. add the 2 qts though.|||"4% Means the Additives in the oil have 4% of their life left, YES Additives in oil do have a life span. Standard for a Good Oil %26amp; Filter is "5 Months or 6,000 Miles, Which ever comes first."|||till it blows up then you get to replace it--BAD!!---put in the oil NOW!!--please change soon or no more motor--should check your oil level at least weekly|||How long can I go without an oil change?





Until the engine stops running. At that time, you'll have to replace the whole engine.|||look at it this way. oil is cheaper then another engine. if it,s low then get some oil at those dollar stores. cheap oil is better then no oil.|||put in the oil. don't allow it to run low. oil changes should be done every 3000-5000 miles or 3 months