Oil Change: Reconsidering 3000 Mile Service

We all got the speech from dear old dad or a concerned grandpa when we got our first cars, and most of our lives many of us have been more than certain that we should change the oil in our cars every three-thousand miles. While this was a steadfast rule to live by for older generations and older cars, today the rule has all but vanished except from urban legend. You may well need to change oil that often, but there are a few ways to make that determination which you will certainly want to do in the interest of saving time and money.

First and foremost, refer to your owner’s manual to find out when you should get an oil change. It will suggest a time schedule to adhere to for maintenance, and it is probable that the first change for a new off the lot car will be after a significantly higher mileage than subsequent ones will be. If you do not have access to the manual, you should be able to find it on the Internet by searching your make and model and the words “owner’s manual.” It will likely suggest somewhere between five-thousand and seventy-five-hundred miles for all changes after the first one, while the first change is likely to be suggested from seventy five hundred to ten thousand. Even though this is a good guide, the writer of this book is not privy to the conditions under which you drive, so you need to determine this on your own.

Normal driving conditions are somewhat of a misnomer and require less frequent maintenance for the lucky driver who falls into this category. Those who always, without fail, drive long distances without constant stopping and going are considered to be driving under normal conditions, yet this is not what normal people do. In these situations, you can go the absolute longest time suggested by the manufacturer before having the specified maintenance, but the truth is that most drive under so-called “severe” conditions. We stop and go a lot on city streets, run a lot of errands, and drive in dusty areas with a lot of seasonal effects on the road. This will create a need for more frequent maintenance, and can bring you down to that old school three-thousand mile mark, but it is not likely.

The absolute best way to know exactly when you need to get an oil change is to have it tested. Kits can be purchased on the internet and sent off for conclusive testing. You may also be able to find a mechanic that will do the test for you. In most cases the evaluations prove that most people are just stuck in the past when it comes to oil changes. We have it done too often, and while this will not hurt your car to err on the side of caution, it will hurt your pocketbook. 

If you still are not convinced, stick to your own schedule. If you feel like you need your dad’s approval, show him the research. It could be a bonding moment; he may also make you change your oil.