Frequency of Oil Changes

[Ken B.]

Re: Frequency of Oil Changes

This is just my 2 cents. My daily driver is a 2009 Silverado 2500 HD. I change my oil every 3000 miles. Of course i drive an average of 2000 miles a month. My last vehicle was a 2002 explorer sport and when i gave it to my step son it had 315000 miles on it. Changed the oil on that every 3000 miles on that as well..Big believer in fresh oil...
Ken

[Bill M.]

Re: Frequency of Oil Changes

don't shoot the messenger:

http://oilsaverchip.ca/

A friend of mine bought a new '78 F150 and never changed the oil, just added. At about 100,000 miles, he blew the gaskets out. The truck was scrap.

[Bill M.]

Re: Frequency of Oil Changes

Right now, I change the oil/filter yearly, but it seems a waste when there is only few hundred miles on the engine.
Thanks,
Pierre
34410

Pierre, I see you're in Ontario. I'm in Michigan. If you store your car in an unheated garage, you may have significant water in the oil in the spring due to condensation. I change my oil in the spring before starting the engine.

[Bill M.]

Re: Frequency of Oil Changes

The 3000/3 months may date from the fifties. The Chevrolet recommended interval for my '63 is every 60 days or 6000 miles - yeah, 60 days - with a new filter every 6000 or six months. Back in those days I changed every 90 days, which was typically 3000 miles and a new filter every other change.

Modern cars certainly need much less frequent changes due to better fuel flow management, tighter ring seal, and quick warmup. Just look at any new car manufacturer's recommendation for warranty coverage, and the warranty may cover the powertrain for up to 100K miles or ten years.

Also, the oxidation resistance and additive package (C-category) of today's oil are much better than in the sixties, plus we're not driving them everyday, so a change interval reflecting the better oil and easier driving environment is reasonable.

Duke

My wife gets a Chrysler lease car (owned by Chrysler and serviced by Chrysler; Chrysler pays for oil changes at a Chrysler dealer...if there are any dealers left!) Anyway, Chrysler mandates oil changes at 3000 miles on their lease cars. The oil change reminder light on her 300C comes on before 3000 (the engines with cylinder deactivation are sensitive to oil).