Every three months or 3,000 miles, right? A. No. That’s the old standard that oil change shops continue to promote. The automakers say newer cars and trucks can go much further than that. Toyota, for example, recommends six months or 5,000 miles for its recent models. Ford and Chrysler recommend every 7,500 miles. Check your owner’s manual to see how frequently it says your car or truck needs one. Honda and General Motors (the maker of Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, Saab, GMC, Pontiac and Saturn) have even stopped making specific recommendations for most of their cars and trucks. They’re installing sensors that measure oil temperatures and engine revolutions to calculate oil life and activate a warning light when it’s time for a change. GM’s data indicate that those vehicles are going an average of 8,500 miles between oil changes, and that some have gone as far as 15,000 miles without doing any damage to the engines. How’s that possible? Motor oils are better. They’re being made with high
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend changing the oil once a year or every 7,500 miles in passenger car and light truck gasoline engines. For diesel engines and turbocharged gasoline engines, the usual recommendation is every 3,000 miles or six months. If you read the fine print, however, you’ll discover that the once a year, 7,500 mile oil change is for vehicles that are driven under ideal circumstances. What most of us think of as “normal” driving is actually “severe service” driving. This includes frequent short trips (less than 10 miles, especially during cold weather), stop-and-go city traffic driving, driving in dusty conditions (gravel roads, etc.), and driving at sustained highway speeds during hot weather. For this type of driving, which is actually “severe service: driving, the recommendation is to change the oil every 3,000 miles or six months. For maximum protection, most oil companies say to change the oil every 3,000 miles or three to six months regardless of what type of
In the real world, the vast majority of drivers operate their automobiles under what is often called “severe driving conditions”. If you operate your car under severe conditions, it is important that you follow your car manufacturer’s recommendations for service intervals, often suggesting oil changes every 3,000 miles or 3 months.
Q–The first new car I bought was a 1978 Honda Accord. The manual stated that the engine oil should be changed every 7500 miles or a least twice a year. Thinking I would keep the car forever, I changed the oil every 5000 miles, using brand-name multi-grade oil. I drove the Accord well over 100,000 miles. Every new car I have had since: 1989 Honda Accord (over 100,000), 1999 Toyota Camry (at 90,000 still going), I have always changed the oil at 5000 miles using normal multi-grade oil. I always felt that the 3000-mile mark became popular with the introduction of fast lube shops. What is your take? A–My take is that you may pat yourself on the back. I also think that 5000 is probably a good number for many drivers. Engines have gotten tighter; there is less blow-by and less contamination of the oil. Along with other factors, this is why oil-life monitors are now permitting us to drive 10,000 miles or more before oil changes. One caveat, however: If your driving style fits the severe cate
