Do You Change The Oil In Your Vehicle Every 3,000 Miles Or As Recommended?
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
46 comments:
my car has oil????/
TDT
No , it is a way to get you to buy more oil.
I change mine every 10 thousand miles and have had vehicles go well over 250 thousand miles.
Oil does not wear out, it does get dirty.
I also drive a peterbilt truck which is serviced every 15 thousand miles, it has one million one hundred and forty thousand miles on it and still runs like a champ.
I know of one company who never changes the oil, they change the filter every 5 thousand miles and they also get 150 thousand miles out of each vehicle and then trade them. I bought one when they sold them and got 300 thousand before i sole it again , yes still in good running shape.
I change mine every 3000 miles: 3500 at the most.
every 3,000 miles. Old habits are hard to break
yes
used to be practice.now auto manf. reccomend 7,000 but I stick to between 3/4 thousand.
No. I use synthetic oil and don't change until 6500 or 7000 miles. My vehicle has 265,000 miles on it and runs like a champ. I also run the same oil in my cars as we run in our big trucks.
I change it every 25000 miles.
i have a beemer and they reccommend every 15,000 miles. I take it in when the car tells me its time :)
3000 is a ripoff. The owners manuel does not even reccommend that. Most all manufactures reccommend 6,000. Anyone changing oil at 3000 is wasting money and resorces. Check it out before your next change.
NO! This is a big myth to get you to pay for oil changes. If you sold oil changes you would keep this myth going too. I have had 4 out of 5 cars get over 200,000 miles by changing the oil every 15,000 or so. The oil level is whats important.
5k per Toyota
5000 or 6000 miles...
honda accord
My car gets changed every 10,000 miles with Synthetic oil, as recommended in the auto manual. I get +12% in overall driving above the EPA mileage estimate for highway so I must be doing something right!
The wife's car calculates how long to go between changes. It averages around 12,000 miles. Failure to use synthetic results in ruff idle and reduced fuel economy, so I use synthetic even though it's not mentioned in the manual.
One way that I deviate from the owner's manual is that I replace the oil filter every change, even though the manual suggests every other change. But the additional cost isn't more than a few dollars when you take advantage of the oil change specials at the various auto parts stores and it can't hurt so I do it anyway.
I had an old, cheap POS car that wasn't worth more than scrap value but kept running. When I decided that I didn't want the car anymore, I stopped changing the oil and filter entirely to help save up for my next car. Got another 55,000 miles out of it and the engine was still running strong (transmission problem). I just topped off the oil every month (about 1/4 quart). I lost about 1 MPG but that was more than offset by saving the cost of an oil change every 3,000 miles like the owner's manual suggested. That car had 180,000 miles on it.
3,000 miles is bad perpetuation of outdated advice. If I remember right it goes back to the 50's when you would have to tune your engine every year and the oil pretty much just came out of the ground went straight into bottles. Engines are built so much better now, and engine oil is made better, too. How can oil change intervals not be extended as a result?
I am a big fan of the class iv, totally synthetic oils and have had good luck with them, seeing cleaner oil at the change, improved power, and better gas mileage. Mobile 1 and Castrol Platinum are examples. In both of my cars, the oil barely discolors. For all I know it's a marketing gimmick like the 3,000 mile oil change, but it works well for me.
Change my oil?? Heck no, I might get dirty!
On my old cars with flat tappet cams, yes. On the new car and truck, no. With todays oils and todays engines it's unnecessary to change the oil every 3K mles. With a good oil you can easily go 10K miles and if you had your oil tested at 10K you would see that your oil is still good. So, in my new vehicles I change the oil and filter about every 8K miles to be safe.
Own a toyota camry, 2000 with 165k miles. I used to change it at the recommended interval 7500 miles on highway and decided to buy synthetic(Mobil1). Now change filter two times per 1 oil change which is now 15000 miles. Had sampling taken and exmained by mobil and everything is fine.
Buy the fully synthetic and save yourself the hassle of doing two oil changes. People, in general, change their oil too often!
5k for the diesel truck
tractors are hour based
wifes car is 5K but sometimes I do that one at 3500 - 4000
I change mine about every 3500 to 4000 miles. It is a newer vehicle. I tried to wait for the car to "tell me" to change the oil, but that freaked me out, I was up to 5000 miles and no notice. I do have the filter changed every time I change the oil. I've had mechanics tell me the engine is the heart of the car, and you need to take care of it.
5k , Most of that mileage is highway.Been doing this a long time . No problems . Mfg says 7500 that may be a bit much.
Folks dont forget that you rotate your tires every four or five oil changes.
As Recommended.
My car turned 100,000 miles a couple of weeks ago. The only money I've put into it has been oil changes (which I do myself), air filters, and changed the plugs once. (Also a new set of tires at about 55,000.)
2005 Honda Civic. I've averaged 42 MPG since I've bought it new. A very reliable car. I'm happy :)
Just a heads up for those who don't change every 3000. My daughter's Chevy Cobalt has a "Oil Life Indicator". The dealer made the point several times to only change the oil when the indicator said. This turned out to be about 7500 - 8000 miles. The engine died (bearings they dealer said) and neither the dealer or Chevy would cover or even help with the costs. The Chevy rep even said they wouldn't cover it because it wasn't changed every 3000! If you expect any coverage, you'd better change the oil every 3000!
The oil life indicators are actually really handy.... instead of measuring distance, they measure revolutions. So if you're sitting in your car at stop lights all the time, you can expect to change your oil with fewer miles than if your driving highway miles.
Every 3000 or less because I'm picky about my vehicles. The work truck gets it every 5000 (all highway). And never use Quakerstate or Quakerslim!
every 5,000 or so as Lincoln recommends. I'm over 100,000 and going strong. Darn it, I hope I didn't jinx that.
Nope. Change it once or twice a year or when I do a tune up.
got my first new car since 1993 this past august, and am really peculiar about it. i changed it first at 2200 miles, and plan and doing it really close to every 3000miles after that. manufacture recommends every 4000 or so, but its cheap enough to change it often, and you definitely wont hurt the car by changing more often then recommended. have only ever used penzoil products, and have had really good luck with them.
Yes, between 3 and 4K. For those of you who don't think it's necessary...look in your owners manual under SEVERE service recommendations. If your car is driven without a five minute warm-up period, in sandy conditions, a lot of stop and go and so on you are under severe conditions. You should change the oil every 3K. My light didn't come on either after 4K miles but the dealer sent me a card at 3K saying it should be time. When I bought the car they said it needs changing when the light comes on which could be 15K. WRONG!! That is a way to void your warranty. 3K the best way to go.
12:14 you still need to check the oil level
From the comments on this post, it just amazes me how little people know about their cars, yet are very opinionated about what they think is "best". Even the comment about "severe" driving conditions is utter bull. Warming up today's automobiles prior to driving IS NOT recommended by any owner's manuals and actually contributes to most premature engine failures. It is an "old" school of thought, that believes in this poor practice, that comes from back in the day of carbureted engines. Warming up a computerized, fuel injected engine for 5 minutes prior to driving is wasteful of fuel, dillutes the viscosity of the crankcase oil, and contributes to premature engine failure. Also, your warranty will never be voided by changing your oil at the RECOMMENDED intervals in your owner's manual. Recommended intervals have not been at 3,000 miles for a long time now.
So many people want to follow old advise, swear by it, and fail to change with the technology. It just amazes me how smart they think they are....
If one is not going to check the oil level on a routine basis, and add oil when necessary, then perhaps one should stick with the old 3000 mile interval, even though it is wasteful. It will save that person in the long run, just because it will help the neglectful driver to avoid major engine repairs. But I can't see how someone who doesn't remember to check the oil can remember to get it changed at 3000 miles.
And, OF COURSE a dealer will call and remind an owner to come in for an unnecessary 3000 mile oil change. No surprise there. That oil change is their cash cow!
Every 3,000; never go over that. Hopefully it will pay off in the long run. 2000 Buick with 91,000 miles.
Every 3,000 miles, to keep up my waranty
anon 315- how does warming up an engine cause premature damage? even in new engines, the school of thought is that different parts heat up and expand then other parts do, and it is supposedly better to warm them up more slowly and evenly than very quickly. five minutes may be too long, but a minute or so is definitely good. you can even tell by listening to the engine revs as it warms the first minute or so, they go down to a normal idle. also, the severe driving conditions also makes since. oil does wear out, or degrades over time from heat and use. severe driving conditions causes this to happen faster. i agree that 3000 miles may be too often for normal oil, but i wouldnt recommend much more then that unless it is all highway miles. im not a mechanic, and maybe you are. if you are, please let us know your certifications so that we can rely on what you post.
3000 miles or 8000 recommended by the owners manual? A little quick math--- five qts. of oil and a filter is maybe $20.00. Multiply that by 50 gives you $1000.00 for 150,000 miles. If your car still runs fine it beats having to shell out $30,000.00 for a new car to replace the heap that you changed oil only half as many times. I did that without having to use my toes! LOL
Um, no.
I do.My Dad drilled that into all his kids,that and checking ALL fluids regularly.
I live in a rural area that is very dusty and have more short trips rather than long road trips,so I am diligent about oil changes because I consider those factors "severe" conditions.Grit in the oil makes the engine very very unhappy!LOL.....I am a chick and I know that it isnt good.
7:55
Please, please don't believe me. Educate yourself. Research the matter with sources that you trust. Actually READ your owner's manual concerning the "need" to warm up your vihicle prior to driving. I could tell you what it says, but I would rather see whether you have EVER read one of those things that come with the car. Look it up, the answer is there. You can also google information concerning the same. I have educated myself concerning this matter. You should do the same. Your "common sense" approach, without taking into consideration of the technological advances in engine technology over the past twenty years, leaves you at a distinct disadvantage in this discussion. It also leaves you at a disadvantage in dealing with automobile repair services. They take advantage of the ignorant every day. It will serve you well to educate yourself on computerized engine technology and its advantages.....unless you're eighty, then never mind, it's too late.
7:55
You make a "recommendation" about when to change the oil, but then say you're "not a mechanic" and then criticize a previous post and ask about certifications so that you can rely on what they post. You, a self proclaimed non-mechanic, making recommendations, is laughable. Are you contesting what he says is in an owner's manual? And on what do you base that? Your non-mechanic opinion?
Hey Joe,
I change mine at the recommended intervals, or when it appears dirty. Usually around 5,000 miles. One vehicle (P/U) has a "change oil" light that comes on at 4,500-5,500 miles. I just follow manufacturer's recommendations. It hasn't been 3,000 miles for a long time now. No need to waste oil.
anon 946- i have read the owners manual, and have googled the topic. there are conflicting ideas on this. althought the oil needs very little time to circulate, i was always led to believe that by warming up for a minute or so, you allow any gaskets or seals to expand with the metal in the motor, allowing for better seals. although as stated, im an not a mechanic. im not a doctor either, but i can tell you that smoking crack is bad for you. the minute warm up time i learned from many mechanics over the years that recommend it.
anon 958- i never criticized his post, but was simply asking for his advice. but i would like to know how qualified he is to give that advice. he may know alot more about the topic then i do, or he may not.
Hey 9:46, I'm sitting here reading my '01 Explorer manual and it does not state a damn thing about warming up my vehicle prior to driving, so what are you implying.. that i should warm up my vehicle to waste fuel? I think not. It is recommended that you start your vehicle or mechanics to start it after changing my oil to let the new oil cycle through and check to make sure that there are no oil leaks. I change mine every 3000 miles, just to be safe, and several mechanics told me the same thing, after I asked about it. It prevents engine wear and tear. I'd rather be safe repairing something easy to fix than wasting 2 or 3 grand on a new motor.
My dad drove till he was 88 and changed his oil every three months. His last oil change, he had driven 150 miles.
Hey 11:54
Thank you. You read your manual and it DOES NOT recommend warming up the engine prior to driving. That's my point! My post was to the people that think it is necessary, or recommended, to warm up an engine prior to driving.
If there is a recommendation in an owner's manual, it will state it is not necessary. Most information on this topic states that driving conservatively for a few minutes is the best way to "warm up" an engine. Don't pull out of the driveway and run 70 MPH. Warm up by idling is no longer recommended. Better yet, I challenge anybody to show me a manual from a modern car that recommends idling a vehicle for 5-10 minutes to warm it up. All those who are trying to convince someone (an arguing about it) are pig headed beasts living in the past and don't care if you damage you vehicle following their "advice". I'm just trying to help people to avoid making common mistakes that only line the pockets of machanics.
I have a friend that followed the same old thinking from the past, changed his oil every 3000 miles, religiously warmed up his vehicle for 10-15 minutes prior to driving, and instructed his wife to do the same. As he was my friend, I offered him my advice and knowledge on this matter, which he declined, thinking his old ingrained ways did not need to change with the times. Both of his new cars, that he had babied from the dealers lot, suffered catastrophic engine failure between 105000 and 115000 miles. One was an import, the other domestic. He now follows the owners manual and has not had another engine failure requiring replacement of the engine. I felt bad for my friend, but the rest of the knuckleheads that want to live with their heads in the sand, I have no sympathy.
Education is a dangerous thing...it may change your way of thinking. But there's always the school of "hard knocks", for the people that would rather argue about it with an opinion.
I rest my case.
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