When to change the motor oil

[FrontlineWarrior]

So I bought a new car about 2 years ago, and I still have less than 6000 miles on it, for various reasons. Anyway, the dealer at the time told me to not change the oil until 10,000 miles, for reasons that are unclear to me. Problem is that I haven't driven that much in 2 years now, and I wonder if there's some sort of time expiration for oil changes.

I haven't had any problems with my car at all except for a windshield wiper that's kind of loose due to me using them with ice on my windshield. Are there things I need to have gotten maintanence on by now? I am clueless when it comes to cars.

Cliffs:
1. oil change: bought new, 6000 miles in 2 yrs, need change?
2. scheduled maintence after 2 yrs?

 

[Eli]

Jeebus Christ, change your oil!

Oil change intervals are assuming you're actually DRIVING. That's why there's also a time phrase. IE: Every 6,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.

 

[mugs]

I would have changed it by now.

You go by mileage AND time, and you shouldn't leave the same oil in your engine for 2 years. (edit: and the same filter)

 

[BobDaMenkey]

You should have your oil changed every 3k miles or every 3 months. Dunno about the first run through from a new car, but that's how cars generally work. 5k if you're using sythetics, but I'd still do it at 3 to be safe.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey
You should have your oil changed every 3k miles or every 3 months. Dunno about the first run through from a new car, but that's how cars generally work. 5k if you're using sythetics, but I'd still do it at 3 to be safe.

Pssst...

The 70s were almost 40 years ago.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey
You should have your oil changed every 3k miles or every 3 months. Dunno about the first run through from a new car, but that's how cars generally work. 5k if you're using sythetics, but I'd still do it at 3 to be safe.

Pssst...

The 70s were almost 40 years ago.

 

[BobDaMenkey]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey
You should have your oil changed every 3k miles or every 3 months. Dunno about the first run through from a new car, but that's how cars generally work. 5k if you're using sythetics, but I'd still do it at 3 to be safe.

Pssst...

The 70s were almost 40 years ago.

When you start driving on a car that had an engine designed in the 60s, you stick to those rules (82 BMW 320i, used an m10 modified engine designed originally for the 2002, which started production in 67 IIRC).

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey
You should have your oil changed every 3k miles or every 3 months. Dunno about the first run through from a new car, but that's how cars generally work. 5k if you're using sythetics, but I'd still do it at 3 to be safe.

Pssst...

The 70s were almost 40 years ago.

When you start driving on a car that had an engine designed in the 60s, you stick to those rules (82 BMW 320i, used an m10 modified engine designed originally for the 2002, which started production in 67 IIRC).

Most manufacturers don't even recommend 3000 mile oil changes anymore I think... so you could at least up it to whatever the manufacturer of your current car recommends. Unless it's another BMW, I believe they recommend 16k now which is a liiiiitle too long.

 

[Eli]

Hell, my Dad's '87 Camry's change interval is 7500 miles, assuming "Normal" driving conditions.

Severe Service woud be less.

 

[BobDaMenkey]

1995 Mitsubishi Mighty Max now a days. The engine in the 320i was a tank, it shouldn't have even been running when I pulled it out to do a performance rebuild. I've got a new engine sitting in my garage waiting for me to put in, when I get around to it one of these days. It's an m42 from a 91 318i, 1.8l dohc, 140hp, vs sohc and 103hp from the 1.8l m10. I'm pretty sure they still recommended 3k for changes on those as well.

 

[Ruffrider]

I change my oil in my 88 Mustang GT every 3K miles. Its now at 225K miles and still running strong. Of course I don't drive it to much but normal maintenance is what makes cars last.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: BobDaMenkey
You should have your oil changed every 3k miles or every 3 months. Dunno about the first run through from a new car, but that's how cars generally work. 5k if you're using sythetics, but I'd still do it at 3 to be safe.

Pssst...

The 70s were almost 40 years ago.

When you start driving on a car that had an engine designed in the 60s, you stick to those rules (82 BMW 320i, used an m10 modified engine designed originally for the 2002, which started production in 67 IIRC).

Most manufacturers don't even recommend 3000 mile oil changes anymore I think... so you could at least up it to whatever the manufacturer of your current car recommends. Unless it's another BMW, I believe they recommend 16k now which is a liiiiitle too long.

BMW schedules are 10,000 miles for the first change and then approximately 15,000 afterwards, depending on how the computer thinks you are driving.

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

what's a filter and how much does that cost to change? any other changes recommended?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: FrontlineWarrior
what's a filter and how much does that cost to change? any other changes recommended?

Oil filter. It's generally changed when you change the oil. They cost a few bucks.

 

[flot]

Originally posted by: FrontlineWarrior
what's a filter and how much does that cost to change? any other changes recommended?

Jesus dude, go to the dealer and have them change the oil and filter. It will cost you anywhere from $25 to $85 tops. ($85 if they use synthetic - which they probably shouldn't, this time, unless it was synthetic from the factory... NEXT time you get your oil changed, in 3-6 months, have them switch to synthetic)

Driving your car THAT infrequently is generally considered to be much worse for it than driving it 5 days a week.

That's probably the only thing you have to worry about right now.. but when you come up on 3 years you should probably have the dealer drain and refill everything. Radiator, transmission, oil, axle, and ask them to give everything a good looking over for any warranty concerns.

What's the reason for the ridiculously low mileage? Also if you're driving that infrequently, for the 'health' of the car you should be sure to take at least the occasional (once a month) 30 minute drive to allow everything to reach operating temperature and run the way it was designed.

 

[FrontlineWarrior]

thanks for the more detailed information. the reason for the low mileage is that i'm a med student in a relatively small town. so there's a combination of me not having that much time and/or reason to drive long distances.

 

[DVK916]

Your profile says you live in Westwood, westwood is in Los Angeles, a huge city.

 

[OrganizedChaos]

i change mine every 2.5k-3k miles. i'm the 4th owner of the vehicle so i'm always assuming failure is around the corner. 5 quarts of dino oil and a crappy fram filter is like 8 bucks so its not like its a big deal.

 

[cavemanmoron]

Originally posted by: Eli
Jeebus Christ, change your oil!

Oil change intervals are assuming you're actually DRIVING. That's why there's also a time phrase. IE: Every 6,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.

I agree,

parts inside get rusty, More when used Less.

3 times a year works about the best for me.

 

[OhioState]

change it

costs like 20 dollars and may save you thousands

do it

 

[Kelemvor]

Normally it's just mileage but I'd change it at least every 6 months even if you hardly drive it at all.

My car gets it chaged every 6500 miles or so as that's when it needs it.

Anyone that just says every car needs it every 3000 miles either works at an oil change place or is living in the past and doesn't know wth they are talking about

Check your owners manual and see what it recommends for your specific vehicle.

 

[Powermoloch]

lol check ur oild dude...lift up the hood already !

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: cavemanmoron

Originally posted by: Eli
Jeebus Christ, change your oil!

Oil change intervals are assuming you're actually DRIVING. That's why there's also a time phrase. IE: Every 6,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.

I agree,

parts inside get rusty, More when used Less.

3 times a year works about the best for me.

lol, it's not that parts get rusty... that would be really bad..

It's just that used oil degrades rapidly when it sits.

 

[MikeMike]

i know a family that went 28k before changing oil...

 

[swaq]

Regular oil changes are one of the best preventative maintenance you can do to a car. It obviously won't hurt to change the oil more often, and won't be too expensive if you do it yourself (usually not very hard, depending on the car). Traditionally car manuals have said 3000 miles or 3 months. Newer manuals are often something closer to 6-7.5k miles and 6 months or something like that. I think some people even go 15k miles before oil changes. I personally think you should change your oil at least twice a year. And if you haven't already done it, stop whatever you're doing right now and change your oil! =P