The 3,000 Mile Oil Change Myth

[CinderSchnauzer]

FWIW the Oil Life Monitor on my 2008 Sierra is showing 65% life left with 2,790 miles accumulated. Pro-rated that would suggest a change due at 8,000 miles.

 

[VA_Joe]

FWIW the Oil Life Monitor on my 2008 Sierra is showing 65% life left with 2,790 miles accumulated. Pro-rated that would suggest a change due at 8,000 miles.

Makes sense - my guess is that they would have a hard limit in the computer program for the maximum recommended mileage (i.e. never let the mileage between changes exceed some number) but not for the maximum time between changes (e.g. one year).

 

[arrow]

My son in law ran into the same sludge problem with his 2002 Camry. They also accused him of not changing the oil and gave him an estimate of $6000 to replace the motor (and a rebuilt one at that). He had all of his slips to show he had changed the oil and he had all of his changes done at that dealership and they still gave him a hard time because some of his intervals were over 3000 miles by only a few hundred at most.This makes me believe of a corporate attitude as opposed to dealership attitude of denying a sludge build up. These engines run so hot nowadays to reduce emissions it is no wonder some cars have recommendations for using synthetic. Fortunately for me I have a 91 Dakota that changes its oil automatically.

 

[4720 OWNER]

Due to climate considerations, change them all spring and fall regardless of mileage. Never had an engine issue. Best filters can afford, Amsoil or synthetic. 2000 Jeep Cherokee, I6, 104000 mi, just got back from a trip, 22mpg. Tractor too young to tell, still on warranty. 1970's ground master Toro, lots of hours, no leaks, runs good, no engine issues. 1997 Subaru, box 4, 160000+, no engine issues.
Saves me tons of work to do them all on the same sched, tools are out, filters and oil in a pile, etc, $ works out to be about the same with syn vs dino.

 

[arrow]

4720 can you explain why climatic changes should effect oil change intervals? I can understand about large temp extremes such as running at over a constant 100* ambient outside temp or the reverse in running sub freezing. Do you think it also affects intervals for climates without these extremes and if so why? Thanks

 

[AndyinIowa]

Everyone also needs to think about the 3k oil change recommendation from a human perspective:

1. Automakers need an easy policy or recommendation to share will ALL potential and current vehicle owners.

2. If you tell someone 3k, there is a much higher chance, as a consumer, that the oil change will occur sometime AFTER the car has 3k miles on the oil.

3. The recommendation must account for all people who drive. This includes people who are very meticulous about changing their oil, and people who neglect their oil. The recommendation is adjusted to account for the xx% of people who go nearly twice the recommended change before they get to the shop to change their oil.


The 3k recommendation is not a 'myth' or a 'screwjob'. Its an aggregate recommendation based on the driving and operating habits of the entire consumer base.

Obviously this recommendation is slowly evolving to match the consumer base.

For those of you who feel like this is a conspiracy, imagine the outrage our country would face if 50% of the vehicles who exceed the recommended change interval experience sudden complete engine failure. There is a very important reason why the recommendation is skewed to the low side of the median life for engine oil in today's vehicles. Its about liability control...

IowaAndy

 

[radioflyertoo]

Arrow,

Be careful I had an 88 dakota that automaticly changed it's own oil and one day poof an engine barbacue . Fortunately no one was in the vehicle.

Bob

 

[woodchuckc]

My recent auto history:

1989 Camry, 4 cyl, I sold it with 305,000 mostly highway miles, 5000 mile dino oil / filter changes, started using about 1/2 quart between changes with 275,000 miles on it.

1992 Accord, 4 cyl, I sold it 3 years ago with 284,000 mostly highway miles, 5000 mile dino oil / filter changes, never did use any oil between changes. I still see the car driven around town, don't know how many miles it has on it.

1998 Accord, 4 cyl, my current driver with 201,000 mostly highway miles, 10000 mile dino oil / filter changes, does not use any oil between changes. Had 60000 miles on it when I bought it 3 years ago.

1998 GMC Z-71 truck, 5.7 L V-8, 104,000 miles, 10000 mile synthetic oil changes, change filter (I installed an adapter to moved it the inner fender well for easier access) every 5000 miles, does not use any oil between changes.

I have never had any oil related problems with any of these vehicles, and I see no need for more frequent oil changes - but I do mostly highway driving. When I have changed the timing belts in the Camry and Accords, the engines are as clean as a whistle inside. I would probably not go 10000 miles between oil changes if I did mostly stop / go driving. I do change oil (synthetic) and filter in my Harley FXDX at 3000 mile intervals, though (it is pretty heavily modified - bored out, high compression, hot cams, ported heads, etc.).

With our current oils, 3000 (and for the vast majority of people, probably 5000) mile oil changes are a waste of oil in my opinion, based upon my experiences.

 

[DieselPower]

Everyone also needs to think about the 3k oil change recommendation from a human perspective:

1. Automakers need an easy policy or recommendation to share will ALL potential and current vehicle owners.

2. If you tell someone 3k, there is a much higher chance, as a consumer, that the oil change will occur sometime AFTER the car has 3k miles on the oil.

3. The recommendation must account for all people who drive. This includes people who are very meticulous about changing their oil, and people who neglect their oil. The recommendation is adjusted to account for the xx% of people who go nearly twice the recommended change before they get to the shop to change their oil.


The 3k recommendation is not a 'myth' or a 'screwjob'. Its an aggregate recommendation based on the driving and operating habits of the entire consumer base.

Obviously this recommendation is slowly evolving to match the consumer base.

For those of you who feel like this is a conspiracy, imagine the outrage our country would face if 50% of the vehicles who exceed the recommended change interval experience sudden complete engine failure. There is a very important reason why the recommendation is skewed to the low side of the median life for engine oil in today's vehicles. Its about liability control...

IowaAndy

Well said and very true. I have spoken with quite a few automotive and heavy truck engineers over the years and what you said pretty much hit's the nail on the head. It's a "safe" recommendation and don't forget that key word either, "recommended" oil change interval. Now when it comes to why a repair shop recommends a short change interval I would have to say because the more often they change it the more money they make.

The only true safe way to extend oil changes is to use a used oil analysis (UOA) program. Being in the lubricants industry I have customers that run some equipment only 2 times over the recommended interval and others that safely run 6+ times over the recommended interval. It all depends on the specific piece of equipment, driver, operating conditions, environmental conditions..... and so on. Check this TBN link where I went over UOA's if you are unfamiliar with them. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/oil-fuel-lubricants/99875-what-uoa-you-ask.html?highlight=uoa

It's better to change to often than not often enough. If you plan on extending change intervals over the recommended I suggest a UOA program.

 

[4720 OWNER]

Arrow
Changes comes from the fact that run 10w30 in the summer (hot out) and 5w30 in the winter (cold out). Usually about that time the oil is dirty enough visually that needs to be changed anyway, and always a new oil filter. Nothing scientific, but then the past has shown me that i have never gotten rid of a vehicle because of an engine issue. Usually everything around the engine fell off or needed fixing. There is always the issue of changing the oil in the middle of winter!

Course there is first time for everything.