YACT - Is the 3-month/3000mi oil change schedule a marketing ploy?

[MDesigner]

I was wondering.. do I REALLY need to get my oil changed every 3 months or 3000 miles (whichever happens first)? Or is that just marketing BS to get you to keep paying on a regular basis?

 

[Heisenberg]

There have already been about eleventy billion threads on this. Do a quick search and you'll find lots of opinions.

 

[Falloutboy]

nope not bs unless you like your oil turning into a gloppy mess and your engine seizing

 

[MDesigner]

OK.. ok.. another question then. They sometimes offer cleaners that clean out residue when they do the oil change. I heard it's BS.. that there's ALWAYS going to be crap in there no matter what. I was told i should just get a straight oil change.. no synthetics, no oils for "engines over 150K miles", or any other things.. those are gimmicks, right?

 

[whattaguy]

Synthetic oils like Mobile 1 will last a bit longer. Usually 5000-7000 miles.

 

[The Stigenator]

what about those higher mileage oils? is it worth jack?

 

[Heisenberg]

Synthetic oils like Mobil 1 and Amsoil are superior to conventional oils in just about every way. As for oil additives, I'm in general very suspicious of them (especially anything with Teflon in it). IMHO, a straight oil change using a quality filter with either a high-quality conventional oil (or synthetic if you're willing to spend the extra money) is the best way to go.

 

[Zugzwang152]

i'm about 5k miles since my last change, decided i'm going all the way to 6-7k before i get my lazy ass to do it.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Synthetic oils like Mobil 1 and Amsoil are superior to conventional oils in just about every way. As for oil additives, I'm in general very suspicious of them (especially anything with Teflon in it). IMHO, a straight oil change using a quality filter with either a high-quality conventional oil (or synthetic if you're willing to spend the extra money) is the best way to go.

bingo.

Also, if you've been doing nothing but long freeway trips, you can extend your oil change interval by a decent amount with no negative consequences.

 

[JohnAn2112]

I usually change my oil every 5000 miles or every 4 months. I use synthetic oil too.

 

[dartworth]

Bob is the oil guy

 

[MDesigner]

Bob IS the oil guy. Cool. Thanks
And thanks for the advice. I'll go for synthetic next time, perhaps. I'll refuse their offers of those oils for engines with high mileage. Sounds like a load of crap to me.

 

[rezinn]

If you've got an old engine, you may want to just keep using what you've been using. Switching to synthetic on an engine with a lot of buildup can cause it to dislodge and clog up oil passageways, as well as your oil filter.

I switch to synthetic as soon as break in period is over and change once every season. Only using ac-delco oil filters and mobil 1. Amsoil is the best, if you want to get that.

 

[Calin]

A good quality mineral oil will last up to 10 000 km (up to 6 000 miles) in good driving conditions. If you add dust, extreme cold, short trips, engine running cold (not at the 80-110 C temperature range) then the oil will last less (5 000 km or more). Changing oil at 6 month is recommended (but not absolutely necessary).
Of course, I am talking only about petrol engines (I don't know about diesels, but I think is the same)

Calin

 

[Mojoed]

Currently I've got a 1993 Accord with 205k miles. I've probably changed the oil 10-12 times, if that. The owners manual says to change oil every 7500 miles. This car purrs like a kitten, as good as the day I got it. Only mechanical problem I've had in nearly 12 years other than tires, brakes, exhaust was my front right axle from hitting a pothole.

Prior to my Accord, I had a Mitsubishi Montero. I barely changed the oil at all, maybe once a year. That thing ran fine until the day I traded it in for my Accord, all 180k miles of it.

So, nearly 400k miles spanning nearly 16 years of driving, and I've ALWAYS neglected to change the oil "as recommended". And you know what? I had zero problems ever.

If I were to get a new car would I change the oil more often? Perhaps, but not every 3k miles.

I will never believe that it's necessary to change oil every 3k miles.

 

[Thump553]

Yes. Read your owner's manual.

And there have been lots of threads on this topic.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Mojoed
Currently I've got a 1993 Accord with 205k miles. I've probably changed the oil 10-12 times, if that. The owners manual says to change oil every 7500 miles. This car purrs like a kitten, as good as the day I got it. Only mechanical problem I've had in nearly 12 years other than tires, brakes, exhaust was my front right axle from hitting a pothole.

Prior to my Accord, I had a Mitsubishi Montero. I barely changed the oil at all, maybe once a year. That thing ran fine until the day I traded it in for my Accord, all 180k miles of it.

So, nearly 400k miles spanning nearly 16 years of driving, and I've ALWAYS neglected to change the oil "as recommended". And you know what? I had zero problems ever.

If I were to get a new car would I change the oil more often? Perhaps, but not every 3k miles.

I will never believe that it's necessary to change oil every 3k miles.

Ugh. I'd hate to look in your engine. People like you are the reasons the good cars only last 250k miles instead of 400k like they should. If you understood and cared for your automobile, you would understand why it is unacceptable. Further, your engine, environment and the way you drive isn't the same as everyone elses. We don't know where you live, how you drive, or anything. I bet if you tried to pull something like that in an extreme environment(Arizona, Alaska, Afghanistan), you wouldn't go 200k miles on 10-12 oil changes.

The 3,000 mile interval is both kinda a worst case scenario and a carryover from when oils and engines were of lower quality and efficiency.

If you look in your manual, it will most likely specify a Severe Service, Normal and Light Duty change interval, typically 3750, 5000 and 7500 miles respectivly.

The thing is that most people misinterpret "light duty" or even "normal". Light duty isn't short quick 10 minute trips to the grocery store. That is Severe Service.

Light Duty is extended, steady speed highway driving.. I'd say like 85%+. Normal is somewhere inbetween.

Most modern oils lubricate very well, but there are some that are better than others. There are well-refined conventional oils that are better than some cheap synthetics, so beware.

Also, remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Most people put way too much focus on their oil when it is actually their filtration systems that are the most important aspect of engine longevity. Think about it; even the best oil on the planet is rendered useless if it has solid particles in it.

Your first line of defense is the air filter. If it gets passed that, it will get into your oil, where it is up to your oil filter to take care of it. Use high quality filters and change them often.

 

[Mojoed]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Mojoed
Currently I've got a 1993 Accord with 205k miles. I've probably changed the oil 10-12 times, if that. The owners manual says to change oil every 7500 miles. This car purrs like a kitten, as good as the day I got it. Only mechanical problem I've had in nearly 12 years other than tires, brakes, exhaust was my front right axle from hitting a pothole.

Prior to my Accord, I had a Mitsubishi Montero. I barely changed the oil at all, maybe once a year. That thing ran fine until the day I traded it in for my Accord, all 180k miles of it.

So, nearly 400k miles spanning nearly 16 years of driving, and I've ALWAYS neglected to change the oil "as recommended". And you know what? I had zero problems ever.

If I were to get a new car would I change the oil more often? Perhaps, but not every 3k miles.

I will never believe that it's necessary to change oil every 3k miles.

Ugh. I'd hate to look in your engine. People like you are the reasons the good cars only last 250k miles instead of 400k like they should. If you understood and cared for your automobile, you would understand why it is unacceptable. Further, your engine, environment and the way you drive isn't the same as everyone elses. We don't know where you live, how you drive, or anything. I bet if you tried to pull something like that in an extreme environment(Arizona, Alaska, Afghanistan), you wouldn't go 200k miles on 10-12 oil changes.

Actually my engine looks ok. Not super, but ok. I do understand and care for my automobile, as much as I have to. I drive like a granny, never "floor it", and rarely go over 75mph. Maybe that helps me, who knows? I'm from the North East and my driving is a mix between highway and city. If I were to move to an extreme environment such as the ones you listed, I'd probably take better care of my car. But for where I live, and how I drive, and 400k miles under my belt, I see no reason to modify my oil changing habits. To me that would be a waste of money.

 

[m2kewl]

oh no, not this again

recent cars, change it every 5k-6k. that is all.

 

[wedi42]

poll?

 

[Kelemvor]

Technology has improved so much in recent years many cars actually come withOil Life Monitors that are very technical. Old ones used to just count mileage and tell you to change every 3k miles or so. Current ones count engine revolutions, speed, temperature, and all kinds of other factors to determine when you really need to change your oil. My 99 car has this and I change my oil every 6700 miles or so and have NEVER had a tech comment about it being really dirty or my having waited too long or anything else.

Imagine how low gas prices could be if people didn't waste so much oil changing it in their cars all the time when they could really go for twice as long...

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: MDesigner
I was wondering.. do I REALLY need to get my oil changed every 3 months or 3000 miles (whichever happens first)? Or is that just marketing BS to get you to keep paying on a regular basis?

marketing ploy

consumer reports did a test of nyc taxis a few years ago. 2 millions combined miles. no difference in 3000 mile and 6000 mile oil changes. also, no difference between any of the oil brands

heck, my car manual recommends 7500 mile oil changes

btw- walmart $13 oil changes, including filter. if you're wondering why in the past few years oil change prices at some garages have dropped from 19.99 to 16.99, credit walmart

 

[0roo0roo]

just look at the color on the dipstick. synthetic is for sportscars and new engines. using it on anold one is foolish, too slick, will leak past worn bits. the cost is also excessive compared to the benifit for most people. normal oil is like 4-5times less costly.

 

[NogginBoink]

As someone else stated, Consumer Reports magazine did a study and found no difference between oil changes at 3K miles and changes at 6K miles in NYC taxis.

Also, my new car manual suggests changes at 6K miles unless in extreme driving conditions.

 

[MDesigner]

Will synthetic be OK for my 1999 Camry?