Oil Changes: How Often Should You Change Your Engine Oil?

Should motorists change their vehicle's oil every 3,000 miles? This question has different answers, depending upon a number of different conclusions. The video shows why our views of the "3 month 3,000 mile" traditional oil change intervals need to be adjusted. You will have to sort out the information to determine what is best for you and your car. We objectively outline the 4 different perspectives:
1. What auto manufactures say in their owner's manual.
2. What your specific driving habits are.
3. The ecology and environment.
4. Your car repair and service economy.

Here is our explanation:
1. What auto manufactures say in their owner's manual.
A recent survey by CalRecycle indicates almost 15 million Californians change their motor oil every 3,000 miles or less. However, many cars can go farther. For example, Toyota recommends an oil change every 5,000 miles for a 2005 Tacoma pickup, while General Motors recommends 7,500 miles for its 2007 Chevrolet Malibu.
If you wish to follow the owners' manual (like you do  for your oven, lawnmower, television and coffee maker), you need to read the suggested oil change intervals in the owners manual that apply to "severe driving conditions". What does this mean?
2. What your specific driving habits are.
Pay attention to the video portion from 1:20 to 2:35. Matt Snider explains for those GM cars equipped with instrument panel displays of oil life consumption, how these  different driving conditions affect oil life.
Just as an athlete's metabolism differs from that of a pre-school student and a senior citizen, your car's engine (and thus, the engine oil that lubricates it) is affected by the driving conditions to which you submit your car. Severe driving conditions include:

• Extreme weather temperatures. "Severe" driving includes extreme hot (Las Vegas, Phoenix, Palm Springs, Salt Lake City, New York City, Dallas, Miami, gates of Hell-you get the idea) and extreme cold (Lake Tahoe, Salt Lake City, Boise, Montana, Chicago, New York City, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Canada, North Pole, Antartica, Superman's hideaway-you get the picture). Ambient temperatures-cold and hot-break down engine oil at a faster rate than moderate temperatures. So, unless you drive in Ecuador ( 65 degrees 12 months a year), chances are you drive in temperatures that fit severe driving.
• Stop and go city driving. Yes, your average, every day, "go-to-the-mall/go-to-the-store/go-on-a-date/take-the-kids-to-their-games" kind of driving is considered "severe". Why? Because, you stop and go! Accelerating, braking, speeding up, slowing down-all of that produces undue strain on your engine (and engine oil), than cruising along at 65 MPH (or 85 MPH with your radar detectors) along the smooth open freeways and highways (LA and Orange County California freeways excepted) of America.
• High RPM driving. Notice we (and Matt in the video) did not say MPH (miles per hour), but rather RPM (engine Revolutions Per Minute). Young people in their Camaros, adults in their Porsches and Lamborghinis, and wannabe NASCAR. Indy Car, and "Gone In 60 Seconds"  drivers who rev their engines down city streets are considered severe driving conditions (but you already knew that!).

3. The ecology and environment. Reduced motor oil consumption reduces the risk of environmental damage. Changing your motor oil less frequently preserves natural resources. So, if you are focused more on  "green, eco-friendly" than on car maintenance, extending the time between oil changes makes sense for you.
4. Your car repair and service economy. How long will you keep the car? Are you buying or leasing? Only have money for gas (2 gallons is a "fill-up" in your world)? Long term maintenance costs are reduced with regular oil changes-a little oil change bill several times a year prevents major engine repair bills down the road. So, if you want to keep your car for awhile, and not make new car or lease payments forever (Detroit would be happy if you did, though), then take care of your car's engine, and change the oil every 3,000-5,000 miles.

But, hey, if you are leasing your car, will give it back to the dealer in 3 years, get another "new" one to lease, do you really care what the engine will be like for the next poor sap who happens to buy it at an auction or used car lot? Probably doesn't tweak you at all. Then, drive it into the ground! Forget the oil, anti-freeze, even windshield washer fluid (well, maybe not the washer fluid-that is only $1.99 a gallon)-you can save your money for more important needs (like the RedBox video rentals).

Don't want to look in your glove compartment for your owner's manual information? Wonder where the glove compartment is in your car? Then log on to http://www.CheckYourNumber.org to find recommended oil change intervals for popular vehicle models.

Visit any of our Salt Lake valley tire and auto repair locations, and we will offer specific advice for your vehicle.