The Myth Of The 3000 Mile Oil Change

[Purseval]

This is a pretty good article and, if you click on the links inside the article, you can also get to the original NYT article on lowering the amount of detergent you put in your washer/dishwasher.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Like-the-55-Chevy-the-nytimes-3825041162.html?x=0&mod=pf-family-home

Like the ’55 Chevy, the 3,000-Mile Oil Change Is Pretty Much History

(summary)

“There was a time when the 3,000 miles was a good guideline,” said Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for the car site Edmunds.com. “But it’s no longer true for any car bought in the last seven or eight years.”

Oil chemistry and engine technology have improved to the point that most cars can go several thousand more miles before changing the oil, Mr. Reed said. A better average, he said, would be 7,500 between oil changes, and sometimes up to 10,000 miles or more.

Judging by the comments under the article a lot of people still need convincing and they post a number of good reasons why they would still change every 3000 miles.

 

[dfchelbay]

This is a pretty good article and, if you click on the links inside the article, you can also get to the original NYT article on lowering the amount of detergent you put in your washer/dishwasher.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Like-the-55-Chevy-the-nytimes-3825041162.html?x=0&mod=pf-family-home

Like the ’55 Chevy, the 3,000-Mile Oil Change Is Pretty Much History

(summary)


Judging by the comments under the article a lot of people still need convincing and they post a number of good reasons why they would still change every 3000 miles.

I've never followed the 3,000 mile/3 month rule. I've always thought it was overdoing it a bit. I have a newer car, with Onstar Diagnostics. My car tells Onstar everything going on with the engine, electrical, tires, etc. I get a monthly email telling me if anything needs to be done. It also counts down with a percentage how much oil life is left. I got an Oil change last October 22, 2009, and it wasn't until Aug ust 2010 that I had a 14% oil life left, and an email to tell me it's about time to get an oil change. It's been well over three months and more than 3,000 miles that's for sure. So, now I will use my $39.95 dealership coupon for an oil change, tune up, tire rotation etc.

If the computer the automotive company put in my car is recommending this to me via the car they built, I'll trust they know what they're talking about.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I have "Maintenance Minder" in my Honda which is like what the PP mentioned. It gives me oil life in a percentage. I don't need to change it until it gets down to 15% or lower. I changed it in July and it's at 90% right now. I put about 7500 miles on the car before it got down to 15%.

 

[java]

Yes a few years ago I read an article in oops it was Popular Mechanic magazine that said unless you drive a cab you don't need to change it every 3000 miles. So when my guy comments to me I should be doing it more often I break out the article!

 

[SaraJayne]

I've never followed the 3,000 mile/3 month rule. I've always thought it was overdoing it a bit. I have a newer car, with Onstar Diagnostics. My car tells Onstar everything going on with the engine, electrical, tires, etc. I get a monthly email telling me if anything needs to be done. It also counts down with a percentage how much oil life is left. I got an Oil change last October 22, 2009, and it wasn't until Aug ust 2010 that I had a 14% oil life left, and an email to tell me it's about time to get an oil change. It's been well over three months and more than 3,000 miles that's for sure. So, now I will use my $39.95 dealership coupon for an oil change, tune up, tire rotation etc.

If the computer the automotive company put in my car is recommending this to me via the car they built, I'll trust they know what they're talking about.

I have the same thing on my Traverse and I love it!

 

[Starbrite]

The guy at the Jeep dealer recommended every 5,000 miles - so that's what I've tried to stick to.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Some of this statement is true, some is myth.
2) For normal driving, with little dust or dirt on roads
. . . 4 cyl - every 3,000
. . . 6 cyl - every 4,000-6,000
. . . 8 cyl - every 5,000-8,500
3) More often for more severe driving conditions

NOTE: 4 cylinder engines run pretty hot and have other issues. Regardless what you read, changing oil every 3,000-4,000 miles is critical. These engines break down the oil faster than bgger engines and need more protection. I spent several years making gas and diesel engines for cars and trucks, so it is an area in which I have experience.

 

[tlbwriter]

I have "Maintenance Minder" in my Honda which is like what the PP mentioned. It gives me oil life in a percentage. I don't need to change it until it gets down to 15% or lower. I changed it in July and it's at 90% right now. I put about 7500 miles on the car before it got down to 15%.

My Honda does the same thing, but I've never really paid attention to how many miles I go between changes. The service guy told us "if you come for an oil change before it's at 15%, I'll just send you back home."

(Of course, the cynic/conspiracy theorist might say that they're just trying to get our cars to break down sooner so we'll buy another one... )

 

[pixiewings71]

We follow the 7500-10,000 mile rule for DBF's car, he's got an '09 Kia and the book says for his type of driving that's what we should do. For the minivan that I drive we tend to try to follow the 3000-4000 mile rule, but that's because we drive it most often for long distances so we feel it needs it. But we also have included oil changes with our van so we don't pay for them at all. I just go in mid-week and get the oil changed, easy peasy and no charge. We wish the Kia dealer had offered a similar deal when we purchased that one but they didn't so we have to pay OOP for our oil changes. The Kia's getting close so I'm watching the deals......

 

[JoiseyMom]

I've never followed the 3,000 mile/3 month rule. I've always thought it was overdoing it a bit. I have a newer car, with Onstar Diagnostics. My car tells Onstar everything going on with the engine, electrical, tires, etc. I get a monthly email telling me if anything needs to be done. It also counts down with a percentage how much oil life is left. I got an Oil change last October 22, 2009, and it wasn't until Aug ust 2010 that I had a 14% oil life left, and an email to tell me it's about time to get an oil change. It's been well over three months and more than 3,000 miles that's for sure. So, now I will use my $39.95 dealership coupon for an oil change, tune up, tire rotation etc.

If the computer the automotive company put in my car is recommending this to me via the car they built, I'll trust they know what they're talking about.

I have this with my Equionx. I am at 40% and see no reason to rush for my first oil change!!

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

I have a Honda Pilot...and was told about every 5000 miles for oil changes (I normally remember around 5500 or so). But since I don't get it changed at the dealership...I always get 'fussed at' at the oil change place. I think it is a V6, but not sure (I know it isn't a 4 cylinder).

And about the laundry detergent...I found out a couple of years ago when I started cloth diapering my baby (who has super sensitive skin, anyway)...that the 'recommended' amt of detergent is usually way more then needed, unless the garment is really soiled. I usually use 1/2 to 3/4 of the amt recommended per load.

 

[LAH LAH]

I often wondered if every 3,000 was too much.

I think I will get it changed less often.

Guess who just "found" some $ in her budget!

 

[kydisneyfans]

My 2002 Saturn with 260K miles on it gets an oil change about every 12-15,000 miles. Our Saturn Vue has the Onstar diagnostic and it goes 10K without notification.

My parents had a Chevrolet Celebrity with 120K miles on it and only 1 oil change was ever done. My brother totalled that car though.

As a rule, I'll look when about 10,000 miles hit.

 

[Free4Life11]

I get the oil changed every 3000 miles because I like how they look over everything, inflate the tires, top off fluids, etc. My car is a 2001 and I don't care to do any car maintenance, so the $30 or so it costs is not a big deal to me.

 

[MrsPete]

I have "Maintenance Minder" in my Honda which is like what the PP mentioned. It gives me oil life in a percentage. I don't need to change it until it gets down to 15% or lower. I changed it in July and it's at 90% right now. I put about 7500 miles on the car before it got down to 15%.

This is one of the many things I love about my Honda.

One of the things I don't love about it: The oil-change guys NEVER re-set the maintenance minder, and I always have to ask them to do it and they're confused.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

My Honda does the same thing, but I've never really paid attention to how many miles I go between changes. The service guy told us "if you come for an oil change before it's at 15%, I'll just send you back home."

(Of course, the cynic/conspiracy theorist might say that they're just trying to get our cars to break down sooner so we'll buy another one... )

They WILL send you home. I kept getting reminders to come in for an oil change, so I did because I didn't want to wait too long. Well, I didn't know how to check the oil % at the time. He checked it and it wasn't below 15%, so I got sent home!

And yes, the conspiracy theorist in me says the same thing!

And I know the miles because I bought the car with 17 miles on it on July 1, 2009 so it was a little over a year before it got down to 15% and I was amazed it was over 7000 miles!

This is one of the many things I love about my Honda.

One of the things I don't love about it: The oil-change guys NEVER re-set the maintenance minder, and I always have to ask them to do it and they're confused.

They re-set mine. I'll have to pay attention next time just to make sure!

 

[Purseval]

One of the things I don't love about it: The oil-change guys NEVER re-set the maintenance minder, and I always have to ask them to do it and they're confused.

You can do it yourself. Google reset honda maintenance minder and look for your particular model.

 

[ssawka]

If you have a new car, go with the Manufacturer's recommendation. For example, I have a 2010 KIA Soul that I bought in May. KIA only recommends an oil change every 7500 miles. In fact, the number of miles is so great that the dealer includes free oil changes for life.

 

[JamesMom]

My 2003 Ford Explorer owners manual recommends oil changes at 5,000 miles. I still have to remind my husband of that when the windshield sticker shows need to change that we still have 2,000 miles to go. If he's really persistant, I pull out the owners manual

 

[howlongtildisney]

My car (Honda Fit) has a sensor in the oil that tests it and determines when I need an oil change. So far, it's needed one every 7,000-10,000 miles. I love how it's cheaper and I don't have to spend as much time getting it changed!