3k or 3 months ?

[Rat407]

I know of several individuals that change their oil every 3 months even though they don't reach 3k. To me this would be a waste. I know the saying is 3k or 3 months which ever comes first. How many on here feel this is just marketing? To me most can go 4k to 5k with no issues, the time limit is just a waste. Now if you don't put but 2k a year on your vehicle then maybe change the oil out once a year might not hurt. I did have a sample of oil that was in my mother-in-laws 95 Mark VIII for close to 18 months with no filter or oil change and the oil only had 4k on it.The car had 40k on it. She does nothing but 1 to 1.5 mile runs with the car, but it was my luck the USPS lost the sample. So now I will never know how the oil held up under that style of driving and those conditions.
I did a search on here to see if this was posted before but couldn't find anything. Sorry if it has been discussed before.

 

[hominid7]

There is not a one-size-fits-all OCI that everyone can use. Some can go 6000 miles, some less, some 12 months, some only 2. Thats why oil life indicators are a good idea. You have to factor in cold starts, miles driven on each start, outside temp, driving style, etc...

For the average driver, in absence of any other information, an across the board interval suggestion of 3000-5000 miles or at least twice a year would be reasonable. However for just about anyone registered on BITOG, coming up with your own interval that fits your specific set of circumstances makes sense to me.

 

[TallPaul]

Seems the 3K 3 month is worst case. I always went 3K 6 months, but now am going 5+ K and not really worried about the months. But if I had a purely short trip vehicle, I'd do something different, maybe HDEO, maybe shorter OCI. One longer trip a few times a month should be enough to allow for the longer OCI. I'd even say a year is fine if you don't exceed appropriate miles, say 5000 for conventional and maybe 8000 or 9000 with synthetic.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Back when I barely drove, I would change the oil every 3k, which usually equaled 6-9 months, seemed like a waste to change it at the 3 months. Never hurt a thing. Engine was perfect at 128k when I sold it.

 

[SLM]

The only people who push the 3/3 rule are those who are going to make money off it. I change at the 6 month interval and while I could push it to once a year, I feel more comfortable doing it this way. I run cheap dino. By the way I was a 3 month guy for many years.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I live in a four seasons city like yourself - so I make sure I change the dino oil before the winter - then after the winter... every six months or 3K - whichever comes first. I don't worry about worn out oil - just like to keep a clear dipstick as long as possible.

 

[Merkava_4]

It may be a waste in some people's minds, but it's still cheap insurance.

 

[Cutehumor]

5k/6 months is the new 3k/3 months. lol

 

[jonny-b]

I also live in a a four seasons city. So I make sure to change the Synthetic oil whenever the OLM says to do it. Of course, since it indicate 18-19000 miles, I sometimes do an UOA to confirm everything is OK. If I had been driving a petrol car,I guess the intervalls would have been some 22-24000 miles, since it is much easier on oil than a turbodiesel. I cannot understand why people considder the waste of oil(3K changes) a cheap insurance. Testing seem to indicate that if you change your oil too early, you are not doing you engine a favour. 18K/12months is working fine for me. I am also using a high quality synthetic. Many people have the excuse that they need to change the oil because it gets "dirty". Where do the "dirt "come from? It does not come from the air(the airfilter, filters away some 98-99% of the contaminants). The thruth is; the oil itself is making most of the dirt that you find in it. This can be because it is not protecting well enough, and bearings and other metal parts in the engine is suffering. Thiis is why some cars that have seen 2-3000 mile OCI, suddenly start to develop sludge.

 

[Patman]

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5k/6 months is the new 3k/3 months. lol

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I totally agree!!

 

[SrDriver]

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Seems the 3K 3 month is worst case. I always went 3K 6 months, but now am going 5+ K and not really worried about the months. But if I had a purely short trip vehicle, I'd do something different, maybe HDEO, maybe shorter OCI. One longer trip a few times a month should be enough to allow for the longer OCI. I'd even say a year is fine if you don't exceed appropriate miles, say 5000 for conventional and maybe 8000 or 9000 with synthetic.

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Being retired we don't drive either vehicle all that much and change the oil just shy of every 6 months for the warranty requirements.

If we do take long trips, change it and the filter every 4,000 miles just depending on driving conditions.

 

[LouDawg]

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I cannot understand why people considder the waste of oil(3K changes) a cheap insurance. Testing seem to indicate that if you change your oil too early, you are not doing you engine a favour.

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Yep...

 

[TallPaul]

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I also live in a a four seasons city. So I make sure to change the Synthetic oil whenever the OLM says to do it. Of course, since it indicate 18-19000 miles, I sometimes do an UOA to confirm everything is OK. If I had been driving a petrol car,I guess the intervalls would have been some 22-24000 miles, since it is much easier on oil than a turbodiesel.

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I'd like to know what it is about European cars / oil / fuel / etc. that permits such long OCIs. Few brands of syntetic in N. America can go that distance.

 

[Texas Aggie]

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I also live in a a four seasons city. So I make sure to change the Synthetic oil whenever the OLM says to do it. Of course, since it indicate 18-19000 miles, I sometimes do an UOA to confirm everything is OK. If I had been driving a petrol car,I guess the intervalls would have been some 22-24000 miles, since it is much easier on oil than a turbodiesel.

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I'd like to know what it is about European cars / oil / fuel / etc. that permits such long OCIs. Few brands of syntetic in N. America can go that distance.

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I was thinking the same thing, maybe he means km?

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Paul

We don't know if he is first & last owner of his vehicles. I do short OCIs because I want my engines to be regularly, modestly clean -- much like the seating-interior and vehicle-exterior. Very few gas engines using American dino/blend oils last very long without needed repairs - doing 15-19K OCIs.

 

[bar1]

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I also live in a a four seasons city. So I make sure to change the Synthetic oil whenever the OLM says to do it. Of course, since it indicate 18-19000 miles, I sometimes do an UOA to confirm everything is OK. If I had been driving a petrol car,I guess the intervalls would have been some 22-24000 miles, since it is much easier on oil than a turbodiesel.

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I'd like to know what it is about European cars / oil / fuel / etc. that permits such long OCIs. Few brands of syntetic in N. America can go that distance.

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I was thinking the same thing, maybe he means km?

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GM models in Europe. 30 000 km or 2 years. OLM.
VAG models in Europe. Gasoline and diesel 30 000 km or 2 years. Some diesels is up to 50 000 km. OLM.
BMW 30 000 km. OLM.
MB 30 000 km. OLM.
Honda 20 000 km. OLM.

50 000 km ~ 31250 miles.

 

[ShiningArcanine]

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I know of several individuals that change their oil every 3 months even though they don't reach 3k. To me this would be a waste. I know the saying is 3k or 3 months which ever comes first. How many on here feel this is just marketing? To me most can go 4k to 5k with no issues, the time limit is just a waste. Now if you don't put but 2k a year on your vehicle then maybe change the oil out once a year might not hurt. I did have a sample of oil that was in my mother-in-laws 95 Mark VIII for close to 18 months with no filter or oil change and the oil only had 4k on it.The car had 40k on it. She does nothing but 1 to 1.5 mile runs with the car, but it was my luck the USPS lost the sample. So now I will never know how the oil held up under that style of driving and those conditions.
I did a search on here to see if this was posted before but couldn't find anything. Sorry if it has been discussed before.

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I change my oil approximately every two months. It accumulates 5000 miles in about two months time.

 

[yannis]

I have the impression that the average German changes his car every 6 years. Most of these vehicles end up in eastern europe.

 

[bar1]

The average age of cars that goes to the junk yard is ~17 years here in Norway. OCI's has been 15000 km or more since early 90's.
http://www.ssb.no/en/bilreg/tab-2006-05-18-02-en.html

 

[bar1]

Sorry.. that link was to average car age.
Average age of private cars when scrapped:
http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/10/12/20/bilvrak_en/