The Myth Of The 3000 Mile Oil Change

[VWLMember]

I have a 2003 Chevy Malibu and have changed the oil every 7000 miles since new. The car now has 138000 miles on it and has never had any engine issues and still gets a consistent 24-27 mpg. The 3000 mile rule is a work of fiction, totally unnecessary. When I look inside the oil fill the heads are still shiny and clean, no sludge.

The one exception is a turbocharged vehicle that uses the engine oil to lubricate the bearing in the turbo. Turbos generate a lot of heat and definitely put a beat down on the oil. Every 3k is a must for these motors. Mobil 1 or some other synthetic should also be used. If it works in the space shuttle it is good enough for my turbo motor.

The same holds true for spark plugs and wires. That same car still has the original plugs and wires. It still runs and idles perfectly. Until it skips or has a drop off in MPG they will not be changed.

Air filters should be changed twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall to be sure the motor can breathe easily.

 

[Maddle]

For the conspiracy theorist in all of us....I asked my Dad once, "how come Jiffy Lube tells me to come in every 3,000 miles, and my manual says every 5,000 to 7,500 miles depending on conditions?" and his response? "Because the service guys are in the business of selling you oil, and the car guys are in the business of selling cars."

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I bought my Honda Accord in April. DH has been HOUNDING me to take it in. I had a day off last week so I drove up to the dealership. The service advisor saw that I had 30% oil life left and he told me they WON'T change it until it is 15% or less. Gee, THANKS, DH! Way to waste a chunk of my morning!

 

[mafibisha]

For the conspiracy theorist in all of us....I asked my Dad once, "how come Jiffy Lube tells me to come in every 3,000 miles, and my manual says every 5,000 to 7,500 miles depending on conditions?" and his response? "Because the service guys are in the business of selling you oil, and the car guys are in the business of selling cars."

Ya know, doesn't that also make you wonder about other things? Like shoes (never supposed to wear someone else's that have been used) or mattresses (replace every 10 years) -- and I'm sure there's more!

( I actually believe both of those....)

 

[ricktib]

My Hummer's "Oil Life Meter" usually projects the oil will need changed after 11,000-12,000 miles, but I do it every 7,500 - can't bring myself to go longer than that.

 

[JanyJan]

Especially for that first oil change, people should really be following the manufacturers recommendation. The makers put a special engine oil and it should be left in place for as long as possible for the "break-in" period of a new car. At least that's true in Hondas, I don't like to buy anything else.

 

[seashoreCM]

Regardless of whether you use regular oil or detergent oil or synthetic oil, dust and fine metal particles will accumulate in the oil at the same rate. This material acts like sandpaper to wear down the parts of the engine. This is in addition to acids and varnishes that may be produced as oil breaks down under heat from the engine.

The more often you change the oil the more often you start fresh with oil with little or no such material.

And regardless of the oil change interval, the oil is dirtier and leads to more engine wear during the second half of the usage period compared with the first half. So if you cut the change interval in half, you end up with two cleaner half periods rather than a clean half period followed by a dirtier half period.

It is possible that some formulations of oil hold this material in a suspended condition in a manner that reduces the sandpaper effect but I have no proof of that.

 

[The 4 "Quay"balleros]

My 2005 Honda Accord calls for the change at 10,000 mile My wife's 2007 Honda Odyssey has a maintenance minder. It calls for the change at approximately 7,250 miles. I use synthetic oil because one of my buddy's was the auto teacher at a votech. One of his continuing education courses was to go to the Mobil R&D lab(I think it was in Michigan-makes sense right?) They showed how the synthetic(Mobil 1) compared to traditional- it blew it away in all the tests! He wont use anything else.

 

[daleswife]

My husband is an ASE Certified Master Mechanic and he changes the oil in our truck every 3000 miles. he said it can go longer, but the gears are using that oil with the dirt in it and it starts to put little nicks in the gears and eventually it will make the gears go bad. Hense replacing more parts and more money for waiting on changing the oil. The cleaner the oil the better the engine runs.