How often do you have the oil changed in your vehicles?
I have tried to stick to a 3000 mile or 3 month benchmark for my family cars and have recommended the same when asked. Several auto manufacturers are specifying longer intervals however.
According to an article in todays mlive.com....
DETROIT (AP) — Most major automakers agree: The adage that you should change your car's oil every 3,000 miles is outdated, and even 5,000 miles may be too often.
Ford Motor Co. became the latest manufacturer to extend its oil life guidelines, making public that it is raising the recommended oil change interval from 5,000 miles to 7,500 on its newly redesigned 2007 models and all subsequent redesigned or new models. more ...
The story goes on to quote representatives of Ford Motor Company pointing out that improvements in the current generation of motor oils allow for the longer times between service.
Other manufacturers are relying on sensors do do the work. Mlive says...
Some manufacturers, such as Honda Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., have stopped making recommendations on all or most of their models, instead relying on sensors that measure oil temperature extremes and engine revolutions over time to calculate oil life and tell drivers when to get the lubricant changed. Oil can lose its lubricating properties if it runs at too low or too high of a temperature.
Peter Lord, executive director of GM's service operations, said oil can last 12,000 miles or even more for many drivers who don't run their vehicles in extreme heat or cold or tow heavy loads.
Yikes! More sensors. According to Ford's guy, they feel that people will go by set mileage intervals, and not trust the sensors. Would you trust the sensors. I assume that they buy these sensors from the same people that bring you the check engine or service engine soon sensors.
I pass.
Toyota has taken a different path altogether. The Mlive piece says...
Toyota Motor Corp. reduced its change interval from 7,500 miles to 5,000 in 2004 in part because it found that more drivers ran their vehicles under severe stop-and-start and short trip conditions that cause oil to deteriorate more quickly, said company spokesman Bill Kwong.
Toyota also had an oil sludge buildup problem on less than 1 percent of its 1997-2002 model year vehicles, Kwong said. Changing the oil more frequently prevents the sludge problem, which he said was caused by owners going more than 7,500 miles before changing oil.
The mechanic that I trust most in this world, told me not long ago that, 3000 mile should be the upper limit of oil use in this part of the country.
It is good advice that is still cheap insurance.
The information is precisely one of the desirable source every reader should takes place of. Keep on partaking such useful information. Good Luck...
Posted by: Buy Car Insurance | October 15, 2010 at 05:59 AM
If you'll look at the money-side of things, which do you think is the better choice? Changing it after 3,000 miles, or changing it even later? Anyways, It seems that you trust your mechanic a lot that you follow the 3,000-mile rule faithfully. How's your car doing?
Posted by: Kevyn Hagemann | May 10, 2011 at 09:41 AM
Keyless entry is such a convenience, no wonders all modern vehicles come with the facility.
Posted by: keyless remote replacement | August 06, 2011 at 12:15 PM
For maximum protection, most oil companies say to change the oil every 3,000 miles or three to six months regardless of what type of driving you do. To reduce the costs of vehicle ownership and maintenance, many car makers say the oil filter only needs to be replaced at every other oil change. Replacing the oil filter every time the oil is changed, therefore, is highly recommended.
Posted by: CGS intake | August 24, 2011 at 03:11 AM
It's really important to monitor your car's performance once in a while. It's also good to invest on maintenance if you want to make your car last long.
Posted by: Desking tool | August 31, 2011 at 10:59 PM
Weekly, monthly check-up is important in a car. You really have to invest some maintenance cost to it in order to last sometime.
Posted by: Cargigi Posting | September 15, 2011 at 03:53 AM
Clearly, those numbers on oil change means something and is something not to mislook for. You gave me an idea on when to have an oil change. I'll just average it up. I own a Corolla, too.
Posted by: air ride kits | January 10, 2012 at 12:11 AM
Gonna keep this in mind. Thanks for the helpful tip.
Posted by: Air Intake Kits | January 19, 2012 at 10:22 PM