Your Wheels

Lol.... This artical will suck in a ton of people to stop properly maintaining theirs cars. Big manufacturers love selling more new cars. Fast oil change places make getting an oil change so easy that cars can last indefinately now because they actually get the right maintenance. LOL suckers!!!!

Kind Thoughts @ 6:42 PM PST, Feb 29, 2008

Ralph is correct. A lot, but by no means all, waste oil gets recycled. Companies like Safety Kleen have made a business out of it and have been doing it for years. According the U.S. EPA, 380 million gallons of used oil is recycled every year,

Jim Wilson @ 11:08 AM PST, Feb 29, 2008

As with a lot of advice, folks will get a lot of anecdotals about oil changes every 3k. Well, the flip side to all this are those who don't change oil that often, and their vehicles have been just fine too. 5-7k intervals has not been an issue on any car I've owned (8 so far), and the lowest mileage car I've ridded of had still gone over 100k; some over 200k miles and counting. Heck, our old work truck had several "well overdue" oil changes (20k oil changes, anyone?), and it was still running fine with well nearly 300k miles. Couldn't say that the interior or exterior fared quite as well, however, hence why we ridded of it.

KL @ 11:59 PM PST, Feb 28, 2008

Used motor oil is recycled (or burned as fuel in ships, etc.). It doesn't end up in a land fill... An appropriate oil change interval depends on many factors. Severe use as defined by most manufacturers is 3,000 miles. For example, my 2001 Chevy pick-ups on-board oil life monoriting came on at 2,930 miles recently. That's because my driving consisted of 7 miles each way to work. When I drove 100 miles each way to work (glad I don't do that anymore) the light came on at about 7500 miles.

Lee @ 7:03 PM PST, Feb 28, 2008

I am a service advisor at a Toyota dealership in the Midwest. I tell all of my customers to change their oil every 5,000 miles, as 3,000 intervals are a waste of their money. Still, some hard core old timers want their oil changed every 3.000 miles. I can't convince them otherwise. Myself - I change my oil every 20,000 miles or one year (0w-20 full synthetic with oil filters at every 5,000 miles). Toyota will warrant oil related failures, so as long as you provide proof that you changed your oil no less than every 7,000 miles. That should tell you something - 3,000 mile oil change intervals are a waste!

Erick @ 12:29 PM PST, Feb 28, 2008

Just do what most people do and lease a car, do 10,000 miles intervals, maintain it as little as possible, and give it back. Watch some poor fool buy it on the used car lot. Or better yet, lets make a determination on fluid based on color, smell, taste like the BAR says is illegal. Ask any quick lube operator what the BAR says about that practice. Or just ask an investigative reporter about recommendations based on smell, color, taste etc. You will see a swarm of vulture like media commenting on the practice.....thanks LIMA!

JSJ @ 8:47 AM PST, Feb 28, 2008

With engines engineered with higher compression raios, and manufacturers bowing down to EPA standards, engines are a lot different than they were in the past. Most people get a new car every 4-6 years, so maintenance is not really on their mind. I feel sorry for the person who buys that traded in car on the used car lot. I have 2 toyota trucks a '99 with 206,000 miles and a '92 4x4 with 225,000 miles. I go 5,000 on the average with synthetic oil....period! They don't burn any oil. 5w30 synthetic oil and filter......thats all!! My experience with maint. has been that of zero repair bills due to lack of lubrication.

JSJ @ 8:27 AM PST, Feb 28, 2008

With my current car, a 2004 Prius, I paid to have my oil analyzed. I found the optimal oil change interval for my car was 10K mi. After that, it becomes too acidic. I change the filter, however at 5K to keep the free particles to a minimum. Currently at 83K mi (fingers crossed).

APH @ 8:16 AM PST, Feb 28, 2008

Changing your oil depends on how hard you drive and conditions you put your vehical through. The severe the conditions change it at 3000mi, easy driver like myself, I change it once every 20000mi, are you shocked ! All my cars lasted over 150000mi, my Honda CRX 1988 has over 286000mi, any questions. It's all about profit.

HXH @ 3:48 PM PST, Feb 27, 2008

In Europe oil changes are recommended at around 10,000 miles for most modern cars. I found it very weird when I came to live in America that the standard was to change oil every 3,000 miles.

Iain @ 2:05 PM PST, Feb 27, 2008

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