The 3,000 Mile Oil Change Myth

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Oil Change General Motors Engines Environment
Medialink
  • By: Medialink
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  • Updated: 03-Nov-09
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  • Added: 19-Jun-08

Everyone knows you need to change your cars’ oil every 3,000 miles, right? Well, maybe not. The traditional oil change recommendation was based on decades-old engine and oil technologies. Today’s engines are built using advanced technology, reducing or eliminating contaminants and increasing the recommended time between oil changes.
New in-vehicle technologies, like GM Oil Life System, can reduce the frequency between oil changes by calculating each engine’s oil “life.” The system is a sophisticated technology that determines the optimum oil change interval for each vehicle, based upon how individual drivers have used it. This can add up to two or three less oil changes a year, saving more than 100 million gallons of oil annually. Less motor oil consumed helps to reduce environmental impact and saves drivers money.
Produced for General Motors

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The 3,000 Mile Oil Change Myth

6 Comments | Add Comment
  • I change once a Year

    Using Amsoil Synthetic and a special oil filter I change mine once a year for about $100.

    I used mobil on a 1982 years ago and at 350,000km the engine ran great. Unfortunately I can't say the same for the body.

    By thomsonr 1214436060 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • incredible!!!

    you all stupid North American people is not about how much money are you going to save in one year or not. If each one of us change at least one time less the oil of or car that means millions of oil gallons that are not going to end in the rivers of the planet you live and plus you can save a little money in the way ass hole....

    By nodral 1214344891 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • wrong

    you better change your oil every 3,000 whether new or old car and whether you use synthetic or regular base oil.
    if you dont think so get your oil tested at Blackstone Laboratories and see for yourself.
    another thing if you drive 15,000 you would only save 2 oil changes if you did it at 5,000 instead of 3,000. so you would save around $80 a year???
    wooptie doo not a lot of money. Better to be safe then sorry.

    By lemmonhead 1214152045 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Who gives a flying one..?

    Ok.....lol. WTF is this all about..?

    By JazzAmelia 1214070887 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • The 3000 mile oil change myth

    Good piece of info. but with 2-3 less changes per year that comes to about 3500-4000 between changes. Not a huge difference for the average driver.

    By dachopper 1214011170 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • Fuzzy Math

      I'm not sure how you come up with your 3,500-4,000 miles between changes but the average driver tacks on 12-15K per year with 4-5 changes per year. If the predicted 2-3 less changes occur that works out to ~ 7,500 between changes which in my case means a time savings more than anything.

      By DAMANINMIAMI 1214011993 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
6 Comments | Add Comment