Does Your Car Need More Oil Changes than the Manufacturer Recommends?

When you get your oil changed, they put that little sticker on your windshield to remind you when it’s time to get your next. They always write it to recommend your next oil change in 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. 3,000 miles used to be the standard, but they’re making cars better than ever now. Do you really have to have an every 3,000 miles?

Modern car manufacturers usually recommend an oil change every 7,500 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. However, they recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles if you drive in “severe” conditions.What do they mean by “severe” driving? If you live near the ocean or in a dusty environment, if you live in a hot or cold place, if you tow a trailer, if you do a lot of city driving or make many short trips, then your car experiences “severe” driving conditions. That’s a lot of drivers!

They say that over-maintaining your car is a waste of money and I agree, but oil changes are very inexpensive. An oil change only costs about . If you drive under any of these “severe” conditions, it’s definitely worth the extra a year. Your other choice is risking under-maintenance, which may mean costly repairs or a shortened useful life. If you take good care of your car, it can easily last 200,000 miles or more. The longer you can make your current car last, the more money you’ll keep. Imagine paying off your car and then continuing to make that “payment” into a savings account. You could get your next car free and clear!

Some of us don’t get oil changes as often as we should because it’s inconvenient. But an oil change should take less than an hour if you go when the shop isn’t busy. Since an oil change is such a simple matter, every repair shop does them. You can get an oil change from your mechanic, your car dealership, or your local WalMart. If you can combine this chore with shopping for instance, you’ll save time. There are even specialty shops that will guarantee to have you out in less than an hour! And many shops are trying to make their waiting areas more pleasant and convenient. Many offer coffee, free wi-fi and television.

For most cars, I recommend an oil change every 3,000 miles. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s a good idea. So find a mechanic or shop and get into the habit of regular oil changes. When your car has 200,000 miles and is still going, you’ll be glad you did.

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