300 Mile Auto Oil Change Myth

SolarDave · Heavy Crude Joined: May 19, 2005 Posts: 382

3000 Mile Oil Change Myth site

I saw this in a banner ad today. It's worth reading. Interesting that the "waste" end of the automotive hyrdocarbon food chain sponsored this and not the "mouth" end (the Auto makers themselves).

It's nice to see how easy it would be to conserve in this case.

SolarDave
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biofuel13

I usually go about 8,000 miles on a change.

WatchfulEye · Tar Sands Joined: Jun 07, 2007 Posts: 54

This seems to be a cultural thing. For whatever reason, it's 'common knowldege' in the US that you should change your oil every 3k or so. This is reinforced by a number of manufacturers recommending service intervals of e.g. 6 or 8k.

There isn't such a belief in Europe. Indeed, what's even odder is that some manufactuers where they sell models in both markets, recommend a 6k interval in the US, but a 20k interval in Europe.

Maybe there is a valid reason, but I'm struggling to think what it is.

Hoops_Mckann · Coal Joined: Nov 15, 2007 Posts: 15

I do it every 10k miles. I run a synthetic blend, so I figure I can go longer than the recommended 7500 interval. From what I have seen, the 3000 mile mark is rarely sugested by many later model vehicle owners manuals. If you go to any auto parts store you see many advertisements that recommend replacing all sorts of parts, sensors, ect. for what ever reason. I think most of that is just pure false advertising.

heroineworshipper

Honda oil pans have a finite number of oil changes. Do it every 7500 miles for light conditions & U won't have to replace oil pans as often.
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hope_full · Heavy Crude Joined: May 27, 2008 Posts: 268

It also depends on the oil filter. You get what you pay for, and that truism applies to oil filters, too. Higher-end oil filters have a better filtering media and a check valve that prevents engine oil from draining out when the engine is off.

My Toyota Camry owner's manual recommends oil changes every 5,000 miles but the dealer's service department recommended every 3,000 miles - and they offered free oil changes for the first 60,000 miles, so it wasn't a profit-driven recommendation.

Cashmere · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Mar 27, 2008 Posts: 1971

WisJim · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:24 pm Post subject: Re: 300 Mile Auto Oil Change Myth

I use synthetic (Mobil 1 or Amsoil) in my vehicles, and change annually (or longer interval if I forget), and I change the filter and add a bit of oil every 3K miles depending on driving conditions, length of trip, etc. I decided to send an oil sample in for testing after changing oil on my truck last week, so it will be interesting to see what the test shows as far as additive left, material in the oil showing engine wear, etc. A year of driving is 3 to 6K miles. I did let the truck go over 2 years, changing the filter a couple of times, just because I use it so seldom.

SteinarN · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject: Re: 300 Mile Auto Oil Change Myth

I have a Mercedes Sprinter I use in my work. I took the first oil ond filter change at 45k miles. I have now driven another 66k miles. Time for the No.2 oil and filter change. I have however added roughly 6 liter oil since the last (first) oil change.

Kingcoal · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: 300 Mile Auto Oil Change Myth

Both my cars have an indicator for oil change which is based on engine revolutions, temperature, etc. They usually go off around 6,000mi with my kind of driving.

Auto mechanics support the myth; what the hell, they get more business from it. Even the new car dealer told me that 3K is recommended, even though I can't find that in the owners manual. Changing your oil based on the indicator is best because the computer is basing that calculation on how you drive and environmental conditions. If you only drive in dense traffic in the city, it might go off at 2K, for example. If you only drive highway, it might not go off until 10K. When the indicator lights, the oil looks like it needs changing. It's still got some life left, but it is a deep brown.
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Fiddlerdave · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 18, 2007 Posts: 300

I use Mobile 1 synthetic, and go 30,000 miles, at least, on a change, often 40,000 or more even if that is years. I add oil simply as needed, but I will put in half a quart at a time just to get a little fresh oil in there sooner and ensure the engine has plenty. I imagine the other synthetics like Amsoil will do the same service.

I just crashed my 92 Ranger truck with a 4 Litre 6 cylinder engine that I bought new - it had 300,000 miles and I never worked on the engine and it was still running strong, and my use included towing oversize and overloaded trailers over the hills to and from northern California in summer heat.

I started this after reading a Scientific American article around 1980? that tested an engine for 100,000 miles which concluded that a synthetic oil change was unneeded in that span, maybe a filter change if the environment was very dirty. I use high efficiency cleanable air filters, and I think that helps alot. I loved that the car would start easily at 20 below (F), and, man, did gas mileage improve in cold weather short trip usage.

I've done this with 11 cars and trucks, big and small, used and new, and a number have had multiple different drivers (employees of my company), and none of them have had engine failure or valve issues, for that matter. Its the only way for me. With the long life air filter and synthetic oil, service hassles are greatly reduced. I've worried about the warranty on new cars, but I run the first 10,000 miles of a new car with the regular oil changed at recommended intervals to fully wear it in , I figure if the engine hasn't blown from a defect by then, it won't.

Under $7/quart at Costco, its worth every dime. Originally, the synthetic oil had a 25,000 mile recomendation on the can, but I heard the shops and manufacturers made Mobile shorten it up.

YMMV.

WisJim

I first used synthetic oil in my pickup truck back in the early 1980s (different truck than I have now), based on recomendations of a friend who used Amzoil in his diesel VW Rabbit. The thing that I noticed most was how easily it cranked and started in the cold winters (sometimes minus 30 or 40 degrees), especially compared to regular oils, which barely let the engine crank over in those temps. I figured that longer periods between changes was just frosting on the cake in addition to the better lubrication that the engine got from synthetics.

dinopello

Time plays into it as well, right ? I put 5000 miles or less a year on my car and actually don't remember the last time I changed the oil, but I think they recommend something like every 6 months or something.

Fiddlerdave · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 18, 2007 Posts: 300

GASMON · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: 300 Mile Auto Oil Change Myth

To quote what my Father used to say "Oil is cheaper than Bearings"

Change oil at the manufacturers recomended intervals, and if you do low mileage AT LEAST once a year. Use the recomended oil type & viscosity. Use a known good brand. Try to use same brand also. ALLWAYS change filter with the oil, again using a good make.

Dont forget air filters, fuel filters, pollen (A/C) filters. While servicing allways check brake pads / linings & discs / drums. Replace as needed. Check / replace brake fluid also, follow manufacturers recomendations. Buy a workshop manual for your particular vehicle. Worth their weight in gold.

I've had many cars, allways done my own servicing, (unless car was in warranty). Incidentally most UK vehicles oil services now 10/12,000 mile, or yearly if lower mileage. Most diesels similar.

Gasmon
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