How Often Should You Change Your Oil?

I hear from people all the time who are confused about the correct time to change their oil and filter.  I wrote an article some years ago titled “nix the 3000-mile oil change”.  The truth is, oil is just so much better these days, there is never any reason to change it at fewer than 5000 miles, and that is for those people who really want to get a lot of mileage out of an engine.

Businesses that change oil for consumers often want to tell you that the sooner you change your oil the better. Some even put a sticker on your windshield that cites mileage at 3000 more than when they changed it.  If you think about it, the more often you change the oil, the more money they make.

There are many theories on why some new vehicles consume excess oil. Personally, I think the tighter tolerances inside the engines cause friction and heat, and literally causes the oil to dissipate.  I can’t think of another reason based on the cases I’ve seen where there are no leaks and no evidence in the tailpipe.

No matter what kind of vehicle you have, I recommend drivers check their oil levels at around the 1000 mile mark, especially in the timeframe when a car is new, just to be sure. 

Many car companies will put it in print, in your owner’s manual or maintenance guide, that usage of a quart of oil every 1000 miles is in the acceptable range.  While I disagree, consumers often have to live with this.

As I preach on the air, keep good maintenance records, electronically or manually.  Record not only when you change your oil, but also the date and mileage you checked the oil level, and if it is low.   That information could be extremely useful in the event you have to challenge the factory over oil usage.

Reprinted from Car Pro.

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