Alice The factory recommended interval for oil on your car is 12,000Kkm. However due to Calgary’s extreme temp variations the dealer there recommends 8,000km. I double checked this with the factory technical specialist for Western Canada to make sure I had my ducks in a row. He said that Calgary probably has the greatest temp changes of anywhere in North America. He does not have a problem with the dealer there recommending an 8,000km interval.
As far as why can you go so much further now than before, the metallurgy of the engines is better, the machining tolerances are much better, pollution controls limit the contamination of the oil, and the oils have gotten way, way better than they used to be. All of this adds up to longer intervals.
As far as checking it goes, every fill up is way more often than you need to. Once a month is probably plenty often. I doubt if you will go though a liter in 8,000km. I check mine when I think about it. Maybe once a month.
As far where is everything under the hood, open your owner’s manual, there is a nice big color picture of the under hood area identifying everything you will ever access as a driver. The oil dipstick is an orange/red ring that you can put your finger trough to pull out. Cryptically enough it says “Engine” on it.
When checking the oil either do it when the engine is cold, before starting (best way) or when it is fully warm, after at least 10 minutes of driving. If you check it warm, leave the engine off for 2 minutes, it takes time for all the oil to drip back down into the pan. Needless to say, either way the car has to be parked on a flat surface to get a correct reading.
As far as oil quality goes, any good quality oil (SAE grades SL or SM) is acceptable. Synthetic is fine, in fact the car came from the factory filled with synthetic. It isnot necessary to continue to use synthetic. If you want to fine, don’t feel like you have to.
Absolute have you got a cite for those studies? I have never heard of this.
Triskadecamus I have passed the word of mouth to Alice. I know all the technicians at Valentine, and told them to take care of her, she is my buddy. They are very good at this dealership.