The 3,000-Mile Oil Change Is Pretty Much History

PapoZalsa · 09-12-2010, 12:13 PM

“There was a time when the 3,000 miles was a good guideline,” said Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for the car site Edmunds.com. “But it’s no longer true for any car bought in the last seven or eight years.”

Oil chemistry and engine technology have improved to the point that most cars can go several thousand more miles before changing the oil, Mr. Reed said. A better average, he said, would be 7,500 between oil changes, and sometimes up to 10,000 miles or more.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board ran public service announcements for several years about “the 3,000-mile myth,” urging drivers to wait longer between oil changes. Although the information is a few years old, the board has a list of cars on its Web site and how often they need oil changes. The concern is not only the cost to drivers, but the environmental impact of throwing away good oil, said Mark Oldfield, a recycling specialist for the agency.

Like the ?55 Chevy, the 3,000-Mile Oil Change Is Pretty Much History - Yahoo! Finance

Anatoray · 09-12-2010, 12:28 PM

Instead of giving people hard numbers, they should instead teach them how to check their oil themselves. It only takes a few minutes and is your best indicator on whether or not its time to change it.

bsramzy · 09-12-2010, 10:15 PM

my wife has an 09 honda crv. those with Honda's know about their maintenance minder system. Basically every 7000 miles it prompts us to change the oil with conventional.

sorry, I will run synthetic ....but I just cant grasp running conventional oil that long

Lemers · 09-12-2010, 10:54 PM

As I recall the guildline was 3k miles or 3 months. This made since. When I got my oil changed at Nissan they out a sticker in my windsheild that said 7.5k miles or 3 months. Now three months is up and I only drove 3k miles. So the time period doesn't make since anymore either. They need to extend it to 7 or 8 months.

PapoZalsa · 09-14-2010, 09:24 PM

I changed mine at the break in period around 1,200 miles, the dealer put a sticker for the next one at like 7,500 miles. Know the oil & filter change icon comes up everytime I start the car.

Does the computer needs to be reset?

Lemers · 09-14-2010, 09:40 PM

On your nav or the dash?

09-12-2010, 12:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
PapoZalsa A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Not in Sunny Florida Posts: 6,358 Drives: 16 Nismo w/Tech Pack Rep Power: 4499	The 3,000-Mile Oil Change Is Pretty Much History “There was a time when the 3,000 miles was a good guideline,” said Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for the car site Edmunds.com. “But it’s no longer true for any car bought in the last seven or eight years.” Oil chemistry and engine technology have improved to the point that most cars can go several thousand more miles before changing the oil, Mr. Reed said. A better average, he said, would be 7,500 between oil changes, and sometimes up to 10,000 miles or more. The California Integrated Waste Management Board ran public service announcements for several years about “the 3,000-mile myth,” urging drivers to wait longer between oil changes. Although the information is a few years old, the board has a list of cars on its Web site and how often they need oil changes. The concern is not only the cost to drivers, but the environmental impact of throwing away good oil, said Mark Oldfield, a recycling specialist for the agency. Like the ?55 Chevy, the 3,000-Mile Oil Change Is Pretty Much History - Yahoo! Finance __________________ 2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs

09-12-2010, 10:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lemers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Izmir, Turkey Posts: 15,371 Drives: 2012 Traverse LTZ Rep Power: 52	As I recall the guildline was 3k miles or 3 months. This made since. When I got my oil changed at Nissan they out a sticker in my windsheild that said 7.5k miles or 3 months. Now three months is up and I only drove 3k miles. So the time period doesn't make since anymore either. They need to extend it to 7 or 8 months. __________________ 2010 Black Cherry Touring/Sport/Nav Now - 2012 Travese LTZ until I leave for Turkey

09-14-2010, 09:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
PapoZalsa A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Not in Sunny Florida Posts: 6,358 Drives: 16 Nismo w/Tech Pack Rep Power: 4499	I changed mine at the break in period around 1,200 miles, the dealer put a sticker for the next one at like 7,500 miles. Know the oil & filter change icon comes up everytime I start the car. Does the computer needs to be reset? __________________ 2009 370Z MB Base w/Sport Package 6MT Modshack's Custom Air Intakes /3M Clear Bra/ Illuminated Kick Plates / F. I CBE w/12" resonators / EVO-R Front Lip / Rear Hatch Wing / Tein S-Tech Springs /Ilegal Tint in the Rep. of VA/4x20mm Z1 Spacers/ Vinyl Roof/Liquid Carbon Designs

09-14-2010, 09:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lemers A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Izmir, Turkey Posts: 15,371 Drives: 2012 Traverse LTZ Rep Power: 52	On your nav or the dash? __________________ 2010 Black Cherry Touring/Sport/Nav Now - 2012 Travese LTZ until I leave for Turkey

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09-12-2010, 12:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Anatoray Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 794 Drives: 09 BLK 370Z Rep Power: 17	Instead of giving people hard numbers, they should instead teach them how to check their oil themselves. It only takes a few minutes and is your best indicator on whether or not its time to change it.

09-12-2010, 10:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
bsramzy Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: prairieville Posts: 70 Drives: 09 350z maNUAL Rep Power: 15	my wife has an 09 honda crv. those with Honda's know about their maintenance minder system. Basically every 7000 miles it prompts us to change the oil with conventional. sorry, I will run synthetic ....but I just cant grasp running conventional oil that long