How Often Do I Need to Change My Oil?

Most drivers have grown up with the traditionally advertised oil change recommendation of 3,000 miles, but if you've bought a new car within the last ten years that interval may no longer be necessary.

In fact, if you’re driving a car that’s less than five years old, you may only need to change your oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. Some models don't require an oil change more frequently than every 15,000 miles; synthetic oil can help your engine last longer, and may even allow car owners to go up to 20,000 miles between changes. If you're changing your oil too frequently you’re simply wasting money and oil.

In the 1970s, typical cars used 10W-40 oil, which tended to wear out within about 3,000 miles. Thanks to improvements in high-quality lubricants and tighter tolerances in the assembly of automotive engines, the 3,000-mile baseline does not apply to many cars on the road today; in fact, automakers now recommend oil changes at 5,000, 7,000, 10,000 or even as high as 15,000 miles for newer models under ideal driving conditions. For example, Toyota recommends an oil change at 5,000 miles for a 2005 Tacoma pickup, Honda recommends 7,500 miles for its 2002 Odyssey, General Motors suggests 7,500 miles for its 2010 Chevrolet Malibu, Ford recommends 10,000 miles for its 2011 Fiesta. A 2013 Porsche Boxster can go 10,000 miles between changes, and both a 2013 BMW 3 Series and a 2015 Jaguar F-Type can go up to 15,000 miles before an oil change in ideal conditions; with this kind of complexity, it’s easy for consumers to be confused.

A 2012 survey by CalRecycle indicated that almost 10 million Californians change their motor oil every 3,000 miles or more often, using more than 114 million gallons of motor oil each year –- enough oil to fill 173 Olympic-sized swimming pools†. And that’s just California —- imagine how much oil is being wasted across the entire United States by people who don’t follow the intervals recommended in their owner’s manual. “Unless you’re driving a really old car, or under super extreme conditions, there’s really no reason to change your oil at 3,000 miles anymore,” says AskPatty CEO Jody DeVere.

Let’s put that amount into dollars: Changing motor oil according to manufacturer specifications would reduce motor oil demand in California by approximately 10 million gallons per year, and could halve the amount of money those drivers spend on oil changes, which average about $25 at quick-change facilities and can cost significantly more if your vehicle uses long-life synthetic oil. Under normal driving conditions, following the automaker’s recommended intervals will not affect your car’s engine, its performance, or your warranty.

How Do You Know When To Change Your Oil?

It’s easy: Read your owners for information on the oil change interval and engine oil best suited for your vehicle. Or simply do what your car tells you. Since 2003, General Motors has equipped nearly its entire North American lineup with the GM Oil Life System; in fact, since the 2010 model year, nearly half of American carmakers -- including Acura, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and Mini -- now offer Oil Life Monitoring Systems to tell drivers when their car actually needs its oil changed. These Oil Life Monitoring systems automatically monitor engine characteristics, driving habits, cold starts, short-distance trips, and the climate in which the vehicle is operated, and then notify the driver when it is time to get an engine oil change.

What Is Considered Severe Use?

Your engine is considered to be under severe use when it experiences extensive idling or driving frequently in stop-and-go traffic, extreme temperatures above 90 degrees or below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, extreme humidity, repeated short-distance trips of less than five miles, towing a trailer or hauling heavy materials, or using E85 fuel more than 50 percent of the time. If you drive under any one of these conditions in a typical week, your driving is considered "severe use," and you may need to change your oil more often.

Also, if you are an extremely low-mileage driver you should change your vehicle’s engine oil at least once a year. Otherwise, if your vehicle is equipped with an Oil Life Monitoring system, you can trust the info/alert in your dashboard to tell you more accurately when you need a change.

Don’t have an Oil Life Monitoring System? Consult your owner’s manual, your auto manufacturer’s official website, or authorized dealer for more information. Curious about your car right now but don’t have an owner’s manual handy?

You can find suggested oil change intervals for many makes and models all the way back to the 2000 model year on the nifty widget at CheckYourNumber.org.

 

Tired Of Changing Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles?

Then trade in that beat-up 1970’s jalopy for something newer! Find your next new car at the AskPatty Auto Buying Service, where you can research new cars and get negotiation-free Guaranteed Savings (available in most states) to save yourself both time and money. The AskPatty Auto Buying Service also shows you what other people have paid for a new car by make, model and options in the last 30 days, giving you an idea what is a fair market price for any particular new car. The AskPatty Auto Buying Service can also connect you with a nationwide network of trusted dealers who offer a fast and hassle-free car buying experience.

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