While most of the thread here talk about how to maximize your MPG, I think excessive oil changes are damaging to your wallet and the environment as well.


There is a common misconception that we NEED to change our oil every 3,000 miles, but I've read at numerous sites that anywhere between 5,000 to 7,500 miles is a better interval. So how often do you change your oil? What type of oil do you use? (traditional, hybrid, synthetic, etc.) Where do you go or do you do it yourself?


I am a new driver and I just hit 3,000 miles recently, so any input or advice are welcome. Just throw out your two cents

 

I always change mine every spring and late in the fall even before my car became very modified .. I seldom put enough miles on it in a year except a time or two to change it based on the maintenance minder... The more fuel I burn the more often I change the oil... Heat, condensation from cold starts in the winter and fuel dilution is what causes the need for early oil changes... If you are in an area with seasonal temperature extremes change to 0-20 when it gets cold and change it again when it gets warm again due to the oil being contaminated by a rich fuel mixture on start up and water condensation ending up in the oil while the engine is warming.. If you take short trips where the condensation isn't heated to vapor and exits the the engine by way of the PVC system there will be more water in the oil than if you drive 10 miles or more after starting a cold engine you shouldn't have any problem with condensation.... If Your car is brand new you should drive it with the break in oil until the maintenance minder says to change it... There are additives in the factory installed oil that adheres to and is said to penetrate the pistons and extends the life of the engine...

 

Synthetic 5w20 or 0w20 ~7500 mile interval.

 

..........

 

I follow the maintenance minder/owner's manual recommendations; for the first (and only) oil change thus far, that was about 11,500 miles. Needless to say, I do hardly any city driving with short trips—I live in semi-rural Vermont.

The maintenance minder is far more accurate than a simple milage. It takes into account many important variables that are unrelated to distance traveled: the operating temperature of the engine, the number of cold starts, operating time, etc. If you follow its suggestions, use a decent quality oil, and make sure the oil level in the engine doesn't get low, you shouldn't have any trouble due to lubrication problems.

 

i feel like the maintenance minder is off

 

I did the first two within 5k and 10k now have 13k within 7 months of ownership. Since the dealer was doing it for free. I put on 5k in the first month of ownership. Now I am waiting based on the maintenance reminder since I am paying for it.

 

According to the factory owners should follow the service messages displayed on the Maintenance Minder. If a message SERVICE does not appear more than 12 months after the display is reset, change the engine oil every year.

Servicing at shorter intervals is unnecessary.

 

When the Maintenance Minder goes to 0%. Last time it was at 11,688.

 

I change my oil at 15% on t he MM which I believe is the last % before the oil/service light comes on. I use Napa/Valvoline 5w20. Since I live in a cold climate, I might change my oil a little early right before winter, since a winter oil change is a PITA.

 

15-10%............

 

Based on that I would be changing my oil every 6 months not bad.

 

My first oil change was at 4000 miles and MM was indicating 20%. I was free that weekend and just decided to do it but I could have probably run it to 5k miles before I hit 5% on the MM. Most of my driving is in the city in a lot of stop and go. Like others have said, MM is adaptive and your oil change intervals depend on your personal driving conditions.

 

My MM goes off at around 7500. I use synthetic and do the change at around 10000.

 

I have just over 10,000 miles on this oil change and the MM is down to 20%.

Interesting read...

Stop Changing Your Oil! - Edmunds.com

"...For 2010 vehicles, 14 of 35 carmakers are now using oil life monitoring systems. One GM car driven by Edmunds went 13,000 miles before the monitoring system indicated the need for an oil change. We sent a sample of that oil to a lab for analysis. The results showed the oil could have safely delivered at least another 2,000 miles of service..."

 

The people at Blackstone Labs said the same thing both times I had them analyze my oil. once at 7500 and the other at i think 8500.