How often do I need to have the oil changed in my car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine are both every six months or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first. Truck is 3,000 miles with regular towing and/or driving on dusty dirt roads.

I read an article once, written by a recently retired Exxon petroleum engineer who explained advances in motor oil formulation were such that doing anything more than the manufacturer's recommendation does nothing for your car, but does contribute to his pension fund.

Find your manual as noted above.

At least every 5,000 miles. You don't want oil passages to get blocked. Don't care what the oil service light says.

European cars will often say 10K or more for the "Umwelt" because they include oil changes in the initial cost of buying the car and it's out of their pocket to change the oil for the first several years.

When you start getting a quiet ticking, it's because you followed their recommendation, the oil passages get plugged up and the valve lifters get worn out. It gets worse with time.

Yep!!!!!

That little tick-tick-tick-tick-tick…. Like a stopwatch.

Ticking off the weeks/months until your valves start contacting the tops of the pistons, and your engine destroys itself.


But hey, you saved like $300 by doing fewer oil changes, so that totally offsets a new engine

Hm, my car is 11 years old, been parked outside most of its life, and I've changed the oil every 5000 miles which, for me, is about once a year. No new engine needed..

Never mind your oil - how are your tires? Because they likely have a lot of tread left on them with so little driving, so they’d appear like they’d have plenty of life left, right?

Wrong. If they’re more than 5 years old, they’re done. Especially parked outside. UV and ground level ozone destroy tires outside.

Most people wear tires out before they become dry rotted and dangerous. You’re the opposite. Your tires will be dry rotted and dangerous before they look worn out.

If your tires are as old as your car, you’re driving a death trap.