Fewer Oil Changes on the Horizon?
While we could debate endlessly over whether their motivations were monetary or metallurgical, the question of oil change frequency has loomed since Stoopid-Lube invented those little stickers for our windshields. Finally, we're being offered an ounce of clarity for our quarts. Ford recently increased its official service interval between oil changes from 5000 to 7500 miles. You may not consider the Ford Motor Company to be the end-all authority on engine care, but considering how safe they're forced to play things, I consider this announcement a huge stride. Hopefully other auto makers will follow.
Was it a scam all along? No! At least I very seriously doubt it. But the original oil change figures were come up with quite some time ago, and both engines and engine oils have changed for the better since then. Newer oil formulas can reach insane temperatures without breaking down, and the newer detergent additives in oil continue to reduce build-up inside your engine.
It's cause for celebration. Not because we don't want to change our oil, but because now we can wait longer - guilt free - and save money!
Comments
i use mobile i syntheatic and they state you can go 15000 miles between oil changes.although it does seem long iam going to try going longer and send samples to a private lab to have the oil checked
Resistant traditionalists of the extended oil change intervals have had to eat crow.
3000 miles between oil changes is cheap insurance for makeing an engine run for almost forever. For under $15 for the do it your selfer. OEM oil filters run about $4, and good oil about $2.00 a quart.
I have been changing my own oil for years - I enjoy doing it, I get the satisfaction that it is done correctly, and I use premium products. I have a 1988 Grand Am with 180k; a Toyota Celica with 190k and a Pontiac Bonneville with 99k. I use the 3000 mile interval because of condensation. I live in a climate where it is 20 degrees in the morning and can be 75 degrees the same day. Any oil that claims a 15,000k change interval is ridiculous. I don’t care how good the oil is. Oil doesn’t break down - but it does get dirty and contaminated. For $30; I can use synthetic oil and one of the best (Napa/Wix) filter. It’s well worth the cost. Beware the $14.99 oil change - the filter used is garbage.
So does that mean that the dirt build up over 10,000 to 15,000 miles is not a problem? Why would the extra dirt not cause more engine wear?
When I can do an oil change for less than $15 myself, it seems pound foolish to cut from 6 yearly oil changes to 4.
I change my oil every 3000 miles and the engines in my vehicles run well for it. What might convince me to go for a longer interval is to find a decent oil filter. Many of the name brand filters are cheaply made and I don’t trust them. In fact, I use a store brand oil filter that I consider to be better made than the name brand.
Why can’t manufactures make an even better oil filter?
i use valvoline and castrol both in high mielage and i use a fram oil filter i enjoy changing my oil because i know that i have used uality products and in my opinion i don’t think that oil can go 5,000 beacuse at about 3,000 miles the oil is dark and dirty a sign of deteration so if they chane the interveal to 5,000 i will still change it at 3,000
Interval should include time for those who drive less. Since buying a Prius (50+mpg) our van is rarely on the road. When it is it is short runs of a few miles perhaps as much as 25 miles. It gets changed at least 2x a year.. It has a magnetic drain plug, all cars should, or even better a tiny magnet on dip stick!
Prius first change was at 2K miles. There are a lot of wear particles when the rings polish the honed cylinder bore and both wear in. Now it is change at 4000 or so miles. Use Mobile synthetic… 5w30.
I do it myself. And have for six decades now. I started before I got drivers permit with the family car. I did grease fittings at same time with hand gun. Try to find the fittings nowdays!
It is not the money as much as insuring that a dirty fitting doesn’t feed abrasive into the moving parts. Oil changes require clean filter seat on the engine. Do you fill the filter with engine oil before installing? I do. It avoids pumping a half quart of air through the bearings before the oil reaches them.
My engines last 150,000 miles at least with original bearings.
I HAVE USED THE 7500 RULE FOR YEARS NOW.MY LAST AUTO LASTED 230000 MI. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE,BUT THE REST OF THE CAR BEGAN TO FALL APART.REMEMBER YEARS AGO LEAD WAS ADDED TO GASOLINE,TODAY FUEL IS LEAD FREE
William makes a good comment regarding lead content. The lack of a heavy metal contaminating our oil should have made a big difference in the life of the oil.
Even Click and Clack say 5000 miles is fine!!!
I’ve been changing my oil for years at 5000 miles, never had any problems.
Toyota recommends a 5,000 mile interval and I’ve followed that for several years suing Mobil 1. Although some companies claim 10-15K mile durability, I doubt that a filter can be effective that long. I also understand that oil change intervals are even longer in Europe, but that might be due to different formulation of petrol.
I own several cars and motorbikes, BMW R1200RT service interval 6000 miles for oil change using castrol mineral 10/40w, also a citroen C3 deisel 5 years old, service oil change at 10,000 miles. I have just passed 140,000 miles in this short time. I am suprised Ford oil changes are so condervatively low. WHY ???
I too have been changing my oil every 7500 miles and have 120,000 on my Ford Explorer 4×4. I use AMSOIL for all my vehicle lubricants, no problems here!!
FYI: www.amsoil.com
or try another synthetic..
No thanks on Ford reccomended 7,500 mile oil changes. I drive in dusty conditions and pull heavy stuff. I will continue to change my oil at 4-5k miles intervals. Been doing it too long to change now.
I work for a transportation service in Teeluride Colorado, we use chevy/G,M,C Suburbans to haul folks from the Airport 65 miles away. The thing is that most of the year there is plenty of time to change oil, but from Dec till the first of April those Rigs run almost non-stop, and I have seen them go 10,000 plus miles without a Oil change. The Flag-ship of the Fleet ( the first rig bought when the Biz started ) is a 96 Burb with ( last I drove it any way)363,000 miles on the motor ( not everything like Tranny etc) and runs like a champ. It is the emergency back up rig because the Body is a bit rattly with that many miles. I think modern motors with good crankcase ventalation ( helps keep Hydrocarbins out of the Oil) and fuel injection and other tolerence improvement can go longer on an oil change.