Stop Changing Your Oil: Breaking the 3,000-Mile Habit.

Meanderer

Meanderer

Senior Member
How often do you change the oil in your car?

Oil chemistry and engine technology have evolved tremendously in recent years, but you'd never know it from the quick-change behavior of American car owners. Driven by an outdated 3,000-mile oil change commandment, they are unnecessarily spending millions of dollars and spilling an ocean of contaminated waste oil.
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I personally don't change it at all, I let the mechanic sort it out if necessary when it goes in for it's service, I've only done approx 11,000 in the 3 years I've had the car from new!
 
Honey said:
I personally don't change it at all, I let the mechanic sort it out if necessary when it goes in for it's service, I've only done approx 11,000 in the 3 years I've had the car from new!
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Sorry, I didn't mean you personally changing the oil. So you haven't had it changed for 11,000 miles?
 
Meanderer said:
How often do you change the oil in your car?

Oil chemistry and engine technology have evolved tremendously in recent years, but you'd never know it from the quick-change behavior of American car owners. Driven by an outdated 3,000-mile oil change commandment, they are unnecessarily spending millions of dollars and spilling an ocean of contaminated waste oil.

carcare_327133_600.jpg
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I finally had a guy-friend tell me that I didn't need to change my oil so often. In fact, he said I could go twice as far, like 6000, geesh! I will have to dig deeper here because I want to know the whole "skinny" on it. I always sensed it was a scam for these "oil change" establishments to make dough:( Denise
 
I would think that they had changed it at least once. They say that if you don't drive much like you and me, I have 16,000 miles in 3 years, that you still should bring your car in at least every 6 months; however, I've kept it at the 5000 mark recommended by the manufacturer.
 
Selena said:
My car will be 2 yrs old in July and I have about 10,000 miles on it. Get my oil changed about every 6,000 miles as that is what. I was told. In fact I'm having it done on Thursday along with rotating my tires.
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That's good advice.
 
My car is fourteen years old and I change my oil every six months. The car has 73,300, bit only about four thousad each year for the past three years. I think the mfg. reccommends a change every 5000 miles or every six months.
 
3,000 mile oil changes have never been recommended by auto manufacturers, only by oil companies. Years ago manufacturers recommended 5,000 miles between changes. Today some have upped it to 10,000 miles.
 
I do what the manufacturers suggest since they know their machinery better than any on-line auto gurus; Honda was 5,00 miles, Subaru and Nissan are 7,000 miles maximum with 3,750 miles recommended. Oil is not wasted, it is recycled and regular oil changes are far less expensive than a poorly performing or even damaged engine. Ours are free for the first 5 changes which more than compensates for the following frequent regular changes.
 
marinaio said:
Oil is not wasted, it is recycled and regular oil changes are far less expensive than a poorly performing or even damaged engine.
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It is our money that is wasted. There will always be illegal dumping by individuals and disreputable businesses.
 
I just think mechanic will tell you to change your oil regular because they are not going to tell you not to change it .I had a golf from New and acording to the handbook the brakefluid should be changed every 3years I had my golf for 12 years never changed the brakefluid and changed oil every 15 ·000 miles it had done 154·000 miles when I scraped it .
 
My Hyundai manual reads 7,500 miles or every 6 months, whichever comes sooner. I had my oil changed at the dealer last month and they did what all quick lube shop do, put a 3 month 3,000 sticker on the windshield. They want the extra $$$ too.

Although I have seen similar reports before(20/20 a few years ago), I too have been sucked into the 3 month interval routine. I'm going to up it to 5k or every 6 months.
 
Bullie76 said:
My Hyundai manual reads 7,500 miles or every 6 months, whichever comes sooner. I had my oil changed at the dealer last month and they did what all quick lube shop do, put a 3 month 3,000 sticker on the windshield. They want the extra $$$ too.

Although I have seen similar reports before(20/20 a few years ago), I too have been sucked into the 3 month interval routine. I'm going to up it to 5k or every 6 months.
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Wise me thinks.
 
I hate car maintenance so much. I usually change the oil before it gets to 12k but never at 5k. I do use that synthetic oil w/e they charge like an arm and a leg for because I drive long distances.
 
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