Stop Changing Your Oil

84bobtail

There are a lot of variables in oil life including dust, loads, outside temp, etc. My GMC oil monitor goes quicker the colder it is outside. Having your oil analyzed even once or twice could tell you a lot about what is happening inside.

duncan36

The 3000 oil change sprung out of the introduction of high compression 4 cylinder engines in the 70's. You had these old oils designed for boat anchor lopey V8 motors in these high rpm 4 cylinders and the oils just didnt last.

chrisw40

I am for reasonably frequent changes.
No more than a six month gap or 5000 miles intervals is my rule of thumb. If nothing else, it allows for seasonal viscosity changes … and I have to deal with very cold winter starts. My cars have to deal with anything from -15F to 100F in Chicago.
Engine safety is no minor issue! Not all engines are created equal. For one thing, how does anyone know whether a newer engine design will last at least 10 years at the outset? Just because some early production units went through the wringer without catastrophic results? Only after a few hundred thousand engines have gone 5+ years (after the warranty is up) do we REALLY know the truth.
You can't truly simulate real world conditions that involve long term factors, and it's too late when an engine breaks to have regrets. I had a ‘99 Durango that had a V8 that was eventually known for "engine sludge" issues (design related)… but fortunately I had frequently changed the oil and I never had an engine problem during 6 years of ownership. My Jeep Liberty V6 engine type turned out to have some history with oil issues in some cases ... so that risk has been mitigated by frequent changes. At 11 years and 80K miles she's still truckin!

I think 3000 miles 3 months is not necessary, but I also think 5000+ miles is probably an unnecessary risk in real world conditions. 3000 miles in winter is diff to 3000 miles in the fall. Mountain vs flatlands. Loaded or single driver. The variables are endless and very significant.

OK so if you spend $1800 on oil changes that seems like a lot. Have you added up the cost of insurance over the life of a vehicle? That’s much scarier. You might think of that $1800 as engine insurance expense… and replacement engines cost a small fortune!

ahiggins

while many new cars can go 7800 miles between oil changes most cars on the road are over 10 years old.Another thing to consider is other than oil changes when does a car get inspected for leaks,belts,hoses ,battery,and brake condition.some major repairs can be avoided by finding theese problems early.also out of 153000000 gallons of oil only 59 percent is being recycled so they would like you to believe 63 million gallons are being dumped in the ground.i doubt it how about all the oil used in waste oil heaters and boilers?oil changes are a lot cheaper than major repairs and the only time the car gets any attention under the hood.

jgrasmus

First of all, automotive service shops don't make a dime on oil changes. I'd rather do them less often. Secondly, while the oil is admittedly way better than the oils of old, the filter technology has not kept pace, so the oil is not getting cleaned effectively. I would rather not have very slippery, but very dirty, oil running through my clients' engines. Thirdly (if that is a word), the auto manufacturers are in the business of selling NEW cars. They have an incentive for our engines to wear out. I know, paranoia at it's best....but if the shoe fits...

brnmcc013

You know what the biggest part of all the BS in this article is. Even a new car's engine will use some oil. So if you extend the oil change interval past say about 5000 miles or so, a car with normal oil consumption will burn off or lose about 1 1.5 quarts. I highly doubt there is any cars out there that can go 13000 miles without adding any oil at all. With the majority of dumb car owners out there that think a car is just something you put gas in it and go, and never ever open the hood, advising them to go 13000 or 15000 miles between oil changes is extremely dangerous, and the engine will probably run out of oil, and seize by then.

So, the oil can maybe go 13000 miles for sure, you know why? Because every time you "top off" that oil oil, you're replenishing the additive package in the oil, and also adding some fresh oil into the mix. So, I call total [non-permissible content removed] on that so-called "lab test" that showed the oil still had useful life left after 13000 miles. Yah because the owner probably just added a fresh quart the other day!

I think it's a waste of money to buy oil 1 quart at a time at maybe a gas station or something, and dump the new oil into the old stuff you're just going to have replaced in a couple of thousand miles anyways

So, what I do with my old GMC van, is when the oil is about 1 quart or so low, like when it gets down to the "Add" mark, (about 3 or 4 thousand miles, depending on use, the season or whatever), then instead of topping it off, I just take it in, and have it changed. It's a 1992, and it's still running great after all these years.

If your engine is using more than say about 1 quart every 3000 miles, you might want to look into it. If the rings are worn, and it's still running fine, then yah it's not worth it to replace the engine oil every 1000 miles, so you will have to add a quart a time or two by the time you replace it.

That brings up another good point. If you have a high mileage vehicle, that is really worn, but still running well, then extending the oil change interval is another really bad idea, and here's why. The more worn out your rings are, the more blowby is going into the crankcase, and on a gasoline fueled engine, that blowby is really toxic to your oil. The small amounts of unburned hydrocarbons really wipe out the oils lubricating properties, never mind all the moisture and junk from the blowby.

I think this article was assuming you have a brand new well broken in engine, that is well sealed, has very little blowby, and no existing wear, and then maybe you can get away with changing the oil every 7500 or 10000 miles. But in the real world, it's not the case. I've pulled valve covers off engines that the owners had sometimes gone 10000 or 20000 miles between oil changes, and boy you can sure tell. It's nasty to try and work on them, everything is coated with massive amounts of black sludge. Sure the car was still running, but it's hell to try and fix something, when, not if, something needs fixing.

sunnygrandisle

My GMC truck oil moniter indicator reads 45% oil life left and the oil is very dirty (aprox 7500 mi) so I will change it along with a new filter. I could go to 10000 but will not do so even though GM 's engine warrenty is 100,000 miles. I think the engine will last a little longer by not going over 8000 miles. My Toyota truck has a 10,000 mile interval using synthetic oil. Retired auto and truck Tech.

masterbbqman

i was told by the dealer that if i didnt follow the 3000 mile oil change schedule it would void my warranty

bluesky32174

LOVE it

bluesky32174

LOVE it

zica

Great idea. To the average American this means nobody is going to air up the tires, check any of the fluids including the oil or even lift the hood for that matter until the next oil change which is now 9 months off instead of 3 so the hood latch is rusted shut, the tires are all flat and there is no oil showing on the dipstick over a 40 dollar oil change. Smart. Very smart.

gemigniani

Edmunds is IRRESPONSIBLE. Tens of thousands of late model car owners are learning the hard way the 3000 mile oil change rule is more important than ever - even when synthetic oil is used - because todays fragile engine designs (e.g. fragile resin coatings on the pistons) and smaller oil passages and clearances in the engine make them more susceptible to wear and deposits that result from more extended oil changes. All this irresponsible advice is good news for the carmakers because it means car owners will end up junking their cars sooner than they used to.

gemigniani

Edmunds is IRRESPONSIBLE. Tens of thousands of late model car owners are learning the hard way the 3000 mile oil change rule is more important than ever - even when synthetic oil is used - because todays fragile engine designs (e.g. fragile resin coatings on the pistons) and smaller oil passages and clearances in the engine make them more susceptible to wear and deposits that result from more extended oil changes. All this irresponsible advice is good news for the carmakers because it means car owners will end up junking their cars sooner than they used to.

zzootticus

Interesting article by the Edmunds folks. In a recent trip to the shop, the owner razzed me for coming in too soon and that the interval should have been 7,500 miles (Prius) rather than 3,000. I reminded him that his shop recommended the 3,000 interval for this car (a 2001), and he apologized, saying that the tech used the wrong information for the reminder sticker. Checked the new sticker when I left - marked for 3,000 miles again, same tech - I'm saving that one for the owner. Owner also told us that our Escape Hybrid interval is 10,000 miles - checked the sticker - same tech marked that one for 3,000 miles, too.

zzootticus

Wow, comments are even more interesting. I will add that with most of our cars I've done a lot of the LOF service myself, always in the 3,000-5,000 range, depending on the car, and that our cars have reached mileage milestones of 307,000 miles (1996 Suburban), 214,000 miles (1987 S-10 Blazer), and 224,000 miles (2001 PT Cruiser) - and that the only one that experienced any failure was the Blazer, at 173,512 miles, when it broke a rod (and continued to operate for another 50 miles to get to a shop) and was rebuilt because, as the engine shop owner noted, everything was in remarkable condition other than the rod itself. So - oil changes can make a difference.

orkmommy

I have a 2006 Chevy Uplander that has the 3K mile reminder built in. I use synthetic oil and drive about 300 miles a week for work so we change it every 6K miles. It's so annoying when my van reminds me to change the oil every time I start it when I know that I don't need to!

brownb56

I actually worked at a car dealership that used miles at time of service instead of when the next 3,000 miles was up. This was also the only dealership I worked at that actually recommended replacing trans fluid and filter instead of flushing the system. There are some good places out there. And a majority of mechanics are not out to rip anyone off, just gotta know where to look.

gearkat

It gets worse. I had a friend who had engine problems relating to his oil in 2004 Passat. The dealer was going to null the warranty unless he could come up with documentation for every oil change he had for the car, and the oil change had to be every 3000 miles to keep the warranty.

The dealer was really trying to rake my friend over the coals because Toyota / VW issued a recall for this very same problem that dealers were supposed to fix free of charge.

Fortunately we had a third party with a legal background that was able to get the dealer to back down with the recall information I provided, and the repair was performed.

And yes, I think racism was involved as my friend was Asian-American.

helspont

It all depends on the car/engine, the type of oil, and how hard you drive your car. Saying a specific mileage does not really help. Best thing is check your oil every other time or everytime if your picky you fill up your tank. If the oil is real dirty looking or black or milky it needs changed (depending on darkness) If its fairly clear its in good shape. My car I change about every 7Kish miles I drive hard on my car and use real good synthetic. However I use a cheaper oil in my 2nd car that needs changed about every 3-4K . Best advice is check it periodically for optimum performance it only takes a few moments to check! Take the stick out wipe it clean and stick it back in remove it again and see how the oil level/color looks!

graydog1

Ask an oil engineer about your oil. I was told that oil, especially synthetic oil, never wears out, it gets dirty. Dirty from metal rubbing against metal causes wear and creates a metal dirt or contamination of the oil. This is what causes more wear as time goes on. Better modern engines with closer tolerances. and much better metallurgy, reduces this type of wear, it is true. It makes more sense to me to change the filter more often, if you are going to run more than say 5000 to 10,000 miles. Then you know the oil is going to do it's job when kept cleaner.

graydog1

helspont, Good comment, makes a lot of sense. color of oil shows how much crap it has picked up from engine wear. I would say however, if the oil is milky it may have water in it, and that is not good. Some where water is getting in the oil system and that will kill an engine in no time, due to thinning out the oil.

graydog1

Gemigniani Have to say that Edmunds is going along with all the dealers now days, and they are all saying 10,000 miles with synthetic oil. Also disagree with you on todays engines. They are by far better than the old engines that did require oil changes at 3000 miles. New cars go farther than the old ones did because of better engineering, and metallurgy. The oil must be kept clean, and that depends on how hard you drive, where you drive. Todays engines will outlive any old car in the past, I know because I have driven for years and have worn out a few old cars at 60,000 miles, needed engine overhaul.

tomfl12

"Jiffy Lube" give me a brake, I recently went there, the service tech said I need all new Wiper arms and blades, for something like $29.99, little did he know, I had just replaced them 3 weeks before myself. If that had been my mother or wife, he would of made the sale.
"Buyer Beware"... just change my oil son, and quite being a crook!

ranchhand2002

My 1996 Ford Ranger V-6 now has over 260,000 miles, having changed the oil/filter at 5,000 mile intervals, using conventional oil. The engine has had no problems, and uses less than a quart between changes; so, despite some of the negative comments posted on this issue, I wholeheartedly agree that oil changes at 3000 miles are unnecessary for normal vehicle use.

wildhorsetrail

When you write an article arguing from the point of "wasteful" or "environmental impact" you are going to miss something. Prove to me that changing the oil at 7500 miles versus 3000 is going to make my car last longer OR save me money. Sure it saves me money NOW, but what about the longevity of the engine? This whole article was about "you can wait longer and it won't be so wasteful and harmful to the environment." What about all the resources that go into making a car verus keeping the one I have going another year or two?

mctiredofit

I was skeptical at first, I had always routinely changed oil at 3000 miles. I now believe and follow the owners manual information.
I believe the auto manufacture is interested in their products lasting a long time, therefore I change my oil according to the owner manual.

lward4805

I totally agree with the numbers you are sharing -- one topic you are missing that is actually just as critically important is the filtration system. Oil filters have also evolved but unfortunately they still have to be replaced ! I'm in the gas turbine business and we use oil for years but we replace the filters whenever the pressure differential dictates.
Same on cars ---unfortunately - they don't have this option yet ! So we have to change the filters !

dirtyhands

It's the oil filter too ! I change it at 3000 with a factory filter not some trash from the auto parts store.
I use Castrol Synthetic, change the oil at 7000 and the filter at 3000.
I have 375.000 miles on my Toyota Corolla and is still running great.
I do run some RXP thru the gas once every couple a months according to the type of driving I do. City or Hwy. Dust Dirty streets in the city // Dallas Texas. So far so good, no oil burning. Ma I swear by this oil... and factory filters... //////

wolskesk

I've been changing my oil at the recommended interval specified by the proper owner's manual for my car (every 5,000 miles) and have had NO PROBLEMS. My car has been running superbly with over 100,000 miles on it.

lubester

I agree with the above article completely. The severe service tag should only be used for vehicles traveling under five miles per trip or those that spend hours idling. I am a farmer and sell oil for a small independent manufacturer. I operate a car, two pickups, two heavy trucks, and four tractors as well as several small engines. All are changed at the maximum interval in the owners manual. The tractors are on an oil test program and are changed only once a year. I have never had an oil related engine problem.

lubester

Another thought. Most engine wear occurs during cold starts after the engine has set idle for several hours. Allowing the engine to run for a minute or two before driving will definitely improve engine life. Also accelerating and driving at a moderate speed until the engine warms to operating temps help a lot too. Lastly an important thing often overlooked is the air intake system. More engines are damaged by dirt taken in through the intake system than by extended oil use. Engines must have clean air to burn in order to survive. Check the air cleaner regularly.

wuatty80

What is so difficult about changing oil at 3000 miles. Do you realize how much work is done by your motor over that time. It will be less work or expense than overhaul of a burned up engine.

mkinzla

The gist of this is true. I, being cheap, have a simple test...when I can't see through it on the dipstick, I change it, soon. I use synthetic if I don't blow it or leak it. Common sense should prevail.
But, if someone does change every 3,000 miles, what harm is it??
The changed oil should be RECYCLED, and used for less critical situations. But, the average American is stupid, so best to err on the side of caution.

drgdug

Life of engine oil is effected by three factors. Debris from metal parts. Contamination from moisture. And breakdown from heat. With proper preparation your intervals between oil changes could be as often as you change your tires. There is an aftermarket supplemental oil treatment system you can install in your vehicle that along with synthetic oil could help you achieve this. This system does two substantial things. One is that will quickly bring your oil to operating temperature after a cold start. This will reduce or eliminate moisture in your oil. This moisture doesn’t normally boil off unless you drive at least 10 to 15 miles. Short trips will introduce substantial moisture into your oil (and exhaust system). Not a good thing. Second this OT system has a reusable filter that screens out particles 1/10 the size that regular filters let through. Third is use synthetic oil. Put regular oil in a pan on a stove. Bring it up to 350 degrees and slowly but surely watch it turn brown then black. Do the same with synthetic oil and it takes over twice as long. Plus synthetic oil is a better lubricant, therefore less metal particles. I don’t remember the name of this OT system. But it will cost about $500 to buy and have installed. About the price of a set of tires but you’re buying convenience (not to mention better engine protection).

johnsnare1

Very good article, and informative. Dealers have always pushed the 3000, mile routine, and still do. I go to Walmart, and they still write on the sticker,,3months, or 3000, mile. A real gimmick to bring you back unnecessarily. I would imagine, many uninformed folks will simply comply with the recommendation.

sparky111

Having owned several cars from 1 mile off the lot to more than 250,000 miles before selling, I can tell you its a matter of quality of oil. My favorite oil is no longer offered in retail stores (in my town.) I have used Mystik JT-8 for more than 30 years. I also use Wix filters. My local bulk fuel jobber sells me 4 gallons for around $65. Then again, I maintain 3 vehicles. I've never had an engine fail due to lubrication issues. My failures have been from transmission and things like expensive radiator issues.

leo1957

I bought a 2002 Honda Civic at 3 years old with 15,000 miles. I started using Mobil 1 going 10,000 miles between changes then switched to Mobil Extended Life and started going 15,000miles between changes. Granted, 90% of my driving were highway miles but I put 165,000 miles on this car in 3 years without any engine issues.

I now drive a 2005 Toyota Camry XLE that I bought at 4 years old with 15,000 miles. I switched from Mobil Extended Life synthetic oil to 25,000 mile AMS Oil synthetic. I have driven 105,000 miles in 3 years without any engine issues.

I put my faith in the oil companies that guarantee their products at 15,000 and 25,000 miles respectively.

dutchman61

The real problem is none of the answers is really right. First, the car owner should understand what breaks down his oil and what factors accelerate it. Oil is a series of hydro-carbon chains which break down under pressure and heat to smaller chains loosing their lube properties along the way. The longer the chain the better and longer lasting the lube. Natural oil is a mixture of different chains and this is where the biggest improvements have taken place. Refiners have radically improved their ability to strip out the short chains and keep the better long chains. When Mobil developed the first synthetic, Mobil 1, they took short chains and linked them into chains 3 to 4 times as long as normal oil. Since it was manmade they were also able to make them very uniform. The result was an oil that gradually broke down into a "normal" oil, giving it superior lub abilities. Mobil also found that the long chains also flowed better at low temperatures as well. All oils are better due to this discovery. the second major improvement in oil is the better cold flow ability which is the real strength of synthetics. Cold starts (50 deg F or lower) have a time lag before the oil actually works into bearings and begins lubricating them. During this time the bearings are actually running dry, metal to metal, and 80-90% of engine wear occurs then. Cheap oil can literally take several minutes to begin proper lubing, but synthetics flow much faster cold and can begin lubricating the bearings in 10-20 seconds.

I have run vehicle fleets where we lab tested oil samples to determine change intervals and we found almost without exception that mobil 1 and other top synthetics usually lasted in excess of 15,000 miles. natural oils lasted between 6500 and 8,000 miles. With two exceptions we tended to follow those intervals with much better engine life. The exceptins though matter. Any vehicle that operates in a salt air environment must change the oil frequently. The salt will destroy the engine from the inside. The second is sever humidity and warm temperatures. If the engine is allowed to sit, bacteria can literally eat the oil and destroy the engine.

maintenance functions in cars today are helpful, but remember that a car can last 300,000 miles today with proper care. A few extra oil changes adds cost, but it is much cheaper than a new engine or car.

ridgeroadray

incredibly stupid article, remember toyota sludge engine problem's? if you change your oil too soon you will never have to pay for a new engine, most 4cyl engines hold 4 qts try driving 20 k miles on non synth oil on that program, you will need a new engine very soon, clean oil is cheap insurance,most porsche's hold over 8qts of synth oil,but you wont find any porsche owner's doing 20k oil changes' find a shop with fair lof price's and don't take this lame article's advise.

veyron

What a horrible article. Most owner's manual have the recommendation for the oil change, and then state that it must be performed earlier if the vehicle is subject to extreme conditions, such as extended idling. Wow....who in most major cities don't sit for long periods of time idling away...I know I do here in L.A..... especially on the 405. The second point about people changing their oil early adds to environmental issues through illegal dumping...really? I would say that is hardly true with it being law that shops have to accept waste oil. Also, the article fails to mention that used oil is recycled.

A sad case of very bad, one sided reporting.

jbaumert

Amsoil synthetic lubricants has had a 25,000 oil changes interval since 1973 , if you use their by pass oil filtration system and oil analysis you can extend drain intervals much further..if worried about warranties, see Magnus-moss law, you cannot void warranties unless it can be shown oil failure was direct cause of failure. See Amsoil.com

willthewrench

So Phil and Ron, Can I put you down for a new engine if and when mine fails??? Also, Illicit used oil dumping? Seriously though, Chevy recommends I run 5W30 in my 2001 Blazer and change it every 7500 miles whether it needs it or not. Never mind the clattering crankshaft or the black, foul smelling tar which slowly oozes out of the crank case during an oil change. I understand the need to cut back on our dependance on oil, but we have to temper every new suggestion with the likelihood the thinner oil and longer service intervals have more to do with EPA edicts than real world science. Not to be cynical but if an engine only lasts 120,000 miles, Chevy will still be clear of the warranty AND more new cars will be sold...EVERYBODY WINS!!! Unfortunately I need my engines to last 300,000 miles or better. As for saving money, think about the power companies. In WA state, when you don't use enough electricity, the power co charges you more to offset the fact they are not making enough by serving you. Really...check it out! They aren't the only ones either. And when too few quarts are flying off the shelves, that price will skyrocket as well.

airmecher1

This article is so full of assumptions and what if's it is virtually worthless. As a life long licensed aircraft mechanic I can safely say that the limits on oil changes are a great big what if. It all depends on your auto usage. Not driving it is as bad, or worse, than driving it in town. When sitting it develops moisture in the crankcase through repeated heating and cooling periods caused by the atmosphere. The water that accumulates mixes with the oil and combustion by-products and creates acids. These acids ruin bearing and cylinder wall surfaces, among others, much like etched glass. Driving in the city is brutal on oil. Stopping, starting, and short trips never really get the engine and exhaust up to temp long enough to evaporate all of the moisture inside the engine which makes sludge formation inevitable. Constant highway driving gets the engine hot along with everything else keeping moisture at bay allowing for much longer intervals. The point is this: Oil is cheap. Engines are not. An oil change if done on your own is 30-40 bucks at most. An engine change is 2000 bucks, minimum. I'll err on the side of changing my oil and keeping my dollars in my pocket.

As an average driver I change my oil with the seasons, ie: 4 times a year with other changes when I plan on a road trip. That way it gets changed 5-6 times a year and I get to inspect the vehicle at that time as an added bonus. The only time I have changed an engine is when it had 350,000 miles on it. And it was clean and sludge free on the inside, just worn out and losing compression, but still running well. Well, there was the one I changed as a teenager but it was due to pushing the engine beyond its design limits by racing it. That was my fault not the oil or engine.

gee333

I used to work at Jiffy Lube and I can say that most people that I worked with knew nothing about oil and the actual life span differences between regular oil and synthetic. to them it was just a job like any other. The company preached to us to preach to the customer "3k miles" and use the "sever service" moniker to get people to believe that oil must be changed every 3k miles. But in the end, for the company it's all about money. It's like the toothpaste industry. You don't need to cover your whole brush with paste, a pea size dab is all you need. But Crest and so on make you believe you need a bunch. So you consume more more quickly, which will prompt you to buy more sooner! #Almightydollar

mr_microphone

As a MN resident, I considered this climate "extreme". Oh some 20 years back, you would have to use thinner oil in winter, just to be able to crank it over on a cold start. That was then. My concern lies not there but with the oil filter. It will trap only so much particulate matter in the oil, before it starts to bypass the media (this is by design). And while there was a lot of talk about the oils condition, there was not a lot of talk about the filters after extended use. I am legitimately interested in providing my customers with the best advice for their cars, and the environment. Now when synthetics were younger we would recommend changing the filter, and then topping off with fresh synthetic every 3K to keep it clean. Even our cheapest bulk oil now is a synthetic blend, so I am confident in your assessment of the life of the oil. My other concern is also the danger of perception. Say, as an adviser, I tell a customer its OK to go double on oil changes, and even advise them if the oil is dark to change the filter before that time and top off... He gets to mile 4000 and throws a rod or a timing belt on an interference engine. It may have nothing to do with the oil or filter, but the customer will perceive its because he listened to me about his oil. I have no problem recommending they use the oil minder provided by the manufacturer. We reset them at every change. I like where this is going, but I need more to educate the consumer.

mmcswret1991

FACT # 1 25,000-Mile Extended Oil Change Drain Interval Synthetic Motor Oil has been on the market since 1972 ( 40-Years ). FACT # 2 100,000-Mile Plus Extended Oil Change Drain Interval Technology has been on the market since 1980 ( 32-Years ). ALSO Lawsuit Hits at Jiffy Lube Oil Change Intervals Read it in the Lube'n'Greases Lube Report http://www.imakenews.com/lng/e_article002438181.cfm?x=b11,0,w

Have A Very Fine NAVY Day... The Chief

mastertech14

This article is so incredibly blindsiding. Yes, Volkswagen advocates 20,000km oil changes. Yes, Mercedes advocates an oil change per year, but none of the manufacturer recommendations should be taken as the be-all-end-all of car maintenance. Your vehicle CAN go that far on a proper oil change, should it?

I'll put it to you this way, Toyota's synthetic transmission fluid (WS) is considered a lifetime fluid. However, I've known transmissions to fail at the 175,000km (~90,000 miles) mark due to poor fluid condition causing a lack of lubrication and heat protection. The dealerships recommend services to get 5-8 years out of your car, their foresight is questionable.

Do Chevrolet and GM recommend higher oil change intervals? Yes. However, did they also recently mandate the semi-synthetic DEXOS 1 oil for use in all of their post-2011 vehicles? Yes. Motor design stayed largely the same, however, knowing that their vehicles burned a lot of oil and would encounter engine problems at middling mileage, they introduced a new proprietory oil grade, thus changing their service intervals.

A 5,000km (3000 mile) oil change on standard SAE grade oil is still the most mindful interval for city, or elementally afflicted driving conditions. Seeing as the most cars are found in every North American metropolis, should we be criticizing that recommendation?

Run synthetic and drive 6000 miles if you want, but don't start making modern standard grade oil sound miraculous. Try running standard 5w20 in a Honda Civic SI, you'll burn through a quart and a half in three weeks, let alone 3000 miles.

Also, what perturbed me most was this:

"Mechanics nearly always recommend a car be serviced under the severe maintenance schedule — even though the experts say this isn't necessary."

Mechanics ARE experts. They qualified for a license, they don't just pull vehicle know-how out of their asses. If you have an accredited mechanic, he should be considered expert, and no less.

And speaking from personal experience at an oil change shop, the stickers that we print can be printed for any mileage, upon customer request, or vehicle requirement.

oilguy90

Everyone should really listen to this article and keep putting off your oil changes as long as you can, I will gladly repair your vehicles once they start sounding like theres marbles rattling around in your valve cover and breaking down. I hope I get a lot of people commenting this saying how much money im wasting because i use full-synthetic oil every 3000 miles! and better yet i change the filter every 1500 miles! doesnt burn a drop in between changes and sounds like a prius when its running. but you know what???? my 04 bmw 530i has 120k on it and has not had any repair yet besides the valve cover gasket that is notorious of getting a drip at about 80k, and that costed me a whopping $45 and an hour of my time at my shop to fix. Change the oil at 3000 miles with conventional oil and 6000 with synthetic. And by the way i actually have not read any of the other comments on this article because i know how stupid %95 of the comments are.

camden_ertle

I have believed in the 3000mile oil change since I was old enough to change oil, but after reading this article it makes me think twice about changing my oil so often.

techv10

There seems to be a trend here, and on other sites, to paint all technicians and repair shops with a broad brush. Not all of us are money grubbers who will say anything to squeeze one more dollar out of a customer, and not every service offered (cabin air filters to pull one from this article) is unnecessary. I have many customers I try to convince to extend their oil service intervals, but I don't believe the factory "normal" (it really should be labelled "light service", just read what it takes to qualify) schedule is always the right fit. This is where it is important for people to find a qualified technician, share their driving habits and style, and follow that technician's recommendations. Quick lube places can be short term cheaper, but when all they do is quick lubes, they need to sell more quick lubes. Go to a full service repair shop, with certified technicians, and show some loyalty, you'll get better service, better advice, save money long term and have a more reliable vehicle.