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2300 mile road trip, should I change my engin oil?

TubStain

Senior member
I just got back from a 2500 mile roadtrip, midwest to south to east coast and back. I left last wednesday and changed my oil right before beginning, I'm wondering if I should change my oil again, now that I'm back. Should there be any concern that the oil might be really used up or something due to the 12 hour cruises?

Basically im just wondering if the rapid increase in mileage in 5 days warrants changing the oil, or if I should pull on till I reach the 3000 mark?
 
I change the oil in my car every 2,000 miles but I pamper her so take it as you will...personally I would have changed mine during the road trip if not then now...
 
You can wait until the 3000-mile mark, long trips don't break the oil down as much as short trips or stop-n-go driving.
 
Actually, cruising down the highway would be the easiest on your oil.

Go ahead and wait until 3,000 miles.
 
3,000 miles?

Who changes their oil at 3,000 miles anymore? That was an old rumor spread by the oil people. Cars now a days can go 6,000 miles+ on an oil fil.
 
Originally posted by: LordJezo
3,000 miles?

Who changes their oil at 3,000 miles anymore? That was an old rumor spread by the oil people. Cars now a days can go 6,000 miles+ on an oil fil.
Nearly evrerybody?

You're right, but it certainly isn't going to hurt anything.
 
Hell, if it's a current day car you can probably wait until about 5 - 6k normally anyway. That whole "Change oil every 3000 miles" crap is from decades ago when Oil was just plain old Oil. Modern oils stand up so much better you're just wasting money changing your oil as often as most people think you have to...

But it does depend on your oil...

Here's a link of some good readin I just found by searching google...

http://www.performanceoiltechnology.com/threethousandmileoilchange.htm

 
Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Hell, if it's a current day car you can probably wait until about 5 - 6k normally anyway. That whole "Change oil every 3000 miles" crap is from decades ago when Oil was just plain old Oil. Modern oils stand up so much better you're just wasting money changing your oil as often as most people think you have to...

But it does depend on your oil...

Here's a link of some good readin I just found by searching google...

http://www.performanceoiltechnology.com/threethousandmileoilchange.htm

I don't think I could be comfortable changing my oil once every 25,000 miles.. that site is propaganda for AMSOil.. I would need to see some independent research.
 
The Fram oil filter company started the 3-month or 3,000 mile interval in order to sell more filter. Before them most people changed their oil every 5-10K miles, which I still do.
 
Originally posted by: Quixfire
The Fram oil filter company started the 3-month or 3,000 mile interval in order to sell more filter. Before them most people changed their oil every 5-10K miles, which I still do.

I think it's because their oil filters blow goats. Anything over 3000 and there's cataustrophic damage to the engine 😉
 
My 99 Grand Am has the standard "Chang Oil" light on it but it doesn't go by mileage. It actually counds every revolution of the motor or something like that and when it gets to a certain amount it figures it's time to change the oil. I think it averages about 6500 miles or so normally. I've never had any sort of problem at all with anything.

And yeah that site at the bottom is propaganda for that brand but the first half is just good information that disputes the whole 3k oil change garbage.
 
Not only has engine oil improved dramatically, so has engine technology- engines burn much cleaner now, extending oil life by reducing harmful combustion byproducts.

The "Severe service" oil change recommendation in most user manuals, AFAIK, is still 3750 miles. Not that far off 3000. And you would be surprised.. any city driving at all can be considered severe service. Not to mention if you live in hot, dry, dusty conditions....

It's silly to dis on someone because they change their oil too much, though. It's not going to hurt anything.

Remember, that your air and oil filter are more important than the oil you use. Face it, modern engine oils do an excellent job at lubricating. The thing is, even the best oil on the planet is useless if it has solid particles in it.

As for the 25,000 mile interval.. sure, it's possible. But you have to change the filter every 6 months.

Ontop of that, you're gambling if you don't do oil analysis. Your particular engine combined with your particular environment may lead to conditions where ANY oil would need to be changed more frequently.
 
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