General Discussion

taught_me_patience

(5,477 posts)

12. I've always done 5k

Thu Dec 15, 2011, 05:11 PM

Dec 2011

Makes it real easy to remember when to change the oil! You know the 3k is complete bullshit because the exact same cars in europe have recommended intervals of 10-15k miles.

There have been huge advancements in fuel injection, allowing the precise metering of fuel and air in the combustion. Therefore, the old problem of fuel polluting the oil is long gone.

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State hopes to break car owners' habit of changing oil too often - 7.5K to 10K is better than 3K [View all] Liberal_in_LA Dec 2011 OP

My guess is the 3000 mile suggestion comes straight from big oil, Inc. tridim Dec 2011 #1

And the car dealers Andy823 Dec 2011 #6

I had the opposite experience etherealtruth Dec 2011 #57

They told me 5000 proud2BlibKansan Dec 2011 #59

Its come about honestly ... rtassi Dec 2011 #2

As a rule of thumb... randome Dec 2011 #3

I had no idea. I would feel guilty if I drove past 3K. Never went past 4K. Now I know. Liberal_in_LA Dec 2011 #9

General Motors doesn't care if you replace your oil every 3000 or your car every 100,000. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2011 #47

I just looked mine up. bluedigger Dec 2011 #4

Don't believe everything you read. randome Dec 2011 #8

I thought the whole point of the op was that the site had better info. bluedigger Dec 2011 #20

This may void your warranty joeglow3 Dec 2011 #35

My mom had her new Toyota little SUV ProdigalJunkMail Dec 2011 #5

I thought it was only newer cars that could safely go longer between oil changes. iris27 Dec 2011 #7

The big advancement was fuel injection taught_me_patience Dec 2011 #19

True, but there's a big difference between 5k and 7.5-10k, which is what the article recommends. n/t iris27 Dec 2011 #29

I have always been lax about changing my oil, RebelOne Dec 2011 #10

Shampoo companies are in on it too.... Lazlo301 Dec 2011 #11

I stopped getting dandruff the day I stopped washing my hair every day. tridim Dec 2011 #13

got an oily head... ProdigalJunkMail Dec 2011 #17

I don't repeat, but I have to wash daily, too. iris27 Dec 2011 #30

Have you tried other ways of washing? pinstikfartherin Dec 2011 #33

I read someplace that pipi_k Dec 2011 #58

I've always done 5k taught_me_patience Dec 2011 #12

I am driving mom's old van. No oil change/tuneup in 5+ years The Straight Story Dec 2011 #14

When it fails, it will be spectacular. bluedigger Dec 2011 #22

(Lack of) oil changes don't cause timing belt/chain/gear failure REP Dec 2011 #37

Lubrication quality DOES cause timing chain failure. n/t lumberjack_jeff Dec 2011 #48

2004 peugeot 206 diesel 4 cylander reggie the dog Dec 2011 #15

My Sti has to have it's life-blood changed every 3500 miles. EnviroBat Dec 2011 #16

0 to 60 in seconds on a turbo? MattBaggins Dec 2011 #27

It can hit 60 mph in just under 5 seconds. EnviroBat Dec 2011 #45

On a turbo you definitely need to change the oil every 3,000 miles jmowreader Dec 2011 #36

This Mazdaspeed3 owner agrees with you. flvegan Dec 2011 #38

We quit doing the 3,000 ohheckyeah Dec 2011 #18

yeah sylveste Dec 2011 #25

I agree. ohheckyeah Dec 2011 #34

I have a 2008 with 12,453 on it REP Dec 2011 #39

LOL....I get ohheckyeah Dec 2011 #40

yeah, 5k is the minimum in most cases... Blue_Tires Dec 2011 #21

i let my car tell me when it's ready.. usually every 7500 to 12000 dionysus Dec 2011 #23

So my every 3 years is uber good MattBaggins Dec 2011 #24

this only makes sense if you drive on unpaved roads in dusty conditions Bill USA Dec 2011 #26

I love the maintenance minder on my '09 Honda. Thegonagle Dec 2011 #28

back in the 60's it was every 10k miles spanone Dec 2011 #31

So I'm *NOT* abusing my motor? BiggJawn Dec 2011 #32

people would flip if they knew how long big trucks go on a change of oil. uncle ray Dec 2011 #41

10,000 miles is the recommendation on my VW Tiguan. tammywammy Dec 2011 #42

I shoot for the 5000 mile range for changing my synthetic oil in my fords. madokie Dec 2011 #43

5k on synthetic? taught_me_patience Dec 2011 #49

I know its good for a lot longer but I just can't seem to make myself wait that long madokie Dec 2011 #56

I drove my 86 Sunbird for 23 years arikara Dec 2011 #44

I will show this to my husband. If he goes over 3000 miles without a visit to Jiffy Lube, TwilightGardener Dec 2011 #46

It depends on the the car he has. taught_me_patience Dec 2011 #51

Jiffy Lube serviced my car and left out the air filter. Found out 1000s miles later Liberal_in_LA Dec 2011 #53

Q-Lube (don't know if they're still in business) ProdigalJunkMail Dec 2011 #55

I see men standing & watching their car the entire oil change process. Now I know why Liberal_in_LA Jan 2012 #64

it was actually quite comical ProdigalJunkMail Jan 2012 #66

Yeah, one time they didn't tighten the drain plug to the oil pan, it was all leaking TwilightGardener Dec 2011 #63

so blame the car owners when Jiffi Lube and all the others push the 3K rule? Really? Donnachaidh Dec 2011 #50

If I ever buy another new car, I'll install a bypass oil filter as soon as I get it home. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2011 #52

haven't done 3k changes since the 80's zero failures so far. ileus Dec 2011 #54

It depends on the kind of oil. Fawke Em Dec 2011 #60

My car let's me know when to change the oil. ananda Dec 2011 #61

I go 28,000 miles between oil changes B Calm Dec 2011 #62

the 3000 miles crap is a good example of the evil power of advertising. Odin2005 Jan 2012 #65