Oil Changes
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 868
Likes: 1
From: Marion VA
Originally Posted by NASSTY
Different conditions may warrent different oil change intervals.Short trip driving and frequent cold starts and barely getting the engine up to operating temperature may contaminate oil sooner than highway mileage.I live 1.5 miles from work so mine fits into that category.Oh well if it gives someone peace of mind to do it at 3k who cares.Some people get peace of mind by spending $6 or $7 per quart for synthetic.That's their problem.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,823
Likes: 15
From: Houston, TX
Originally Posted by azfordby4
That truck must look real nice parked in the driveway. You must have to wash it more than you drive it.
Actually, the miles are a bit ridiculous. I purchased the truck with the intent that it would be my "baby" and that I would only drive it around for fun on the weekends. I fully expect to keep it for the rest of my life, and turn it over in pristine condition one day to my son. But I was kind of expecting to put around 1000 - 2000 miles per year on it. As you can see, I haven't even come close!
However, with my son being born in the past year, and work being fairly busy of late, I just haven't had much spare time to go do things like tool around in my truck on the weekends! I'm sure as my son gets older we'll put some more miles on it when we hop in old "Blue" and take him out for a cruise on some nice country backroads on a sunny summer afternoon!
If my son grows up to be any kind of a "car guy" he should have some good memories associated with the truck and our weekend cruises together that it should really mean something to him when he inherits it from me some day......
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 314
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From: Great Northwest
Frequent oil changes (I use 3,000) are cheap insurance. The commonly available oil filters are not that efficient at removing particles from your oil. Oil changes are very effective. Why take a chance that your engine will wear prematurely?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 868
Likes: 1
From: Marion VA
Originally Posted by pacificnw
Frequent oil changes (I use 3,000) are cheap insurance. The commonly available oil filters are not that efficient at removing particles from your oil. Oil changes are very effective. Why take a chance that your engine will wear prematurely?
Last edited by osbornk; Dec 26, 2006 at 12:49 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 2
From: Decatur,AL
Originally Posted by osbornk
The 3,000 mile oil change was dreamed up by the oil change industry to bring them more business. Why do people do it when there is no documentation anywhere by anybody that supports it? Ford now recommends a 5,000 interval but at one time (late 70s) they recommended a 10,000 interval. BMW and some other premium makes recommends a 10,000 or more interval.
A friend of mine changes his oil every 5,000 miles but only changes the filter every 10,000 miles. He trades cars between 175,000 and 200,000 miles and has never had an engine related problem. He uses conventional oil.
I guess the people who swallow the 3,000 oil change "recommendation" are the same people who drink bottled water instead of tap water even though the bottled water is simply tap water run through a filter. They waste oil and increase pollution with unnecessary oil changes, pay nearly $10 per gallon for water and then complain about the price of gas.
A friend of mine changes his oil every 5,000 miles but only changes the filter every 10,000 miles. He trades cars between 175,000 and 200,000 miles and has never had an engine related problem. He uses conventional oil.
I guess the people who swallow the 3,000 oil change "recommendation" are the same people who drink bottled water instead of tap water even though the bottled water is simply tap water run through a filter. They waste oil and increase pollution with unnecessary oil changes, pay nearly $10 per gallon for water and then complain about the price of gas.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Great Northwest
Originally Posted by osbornk
If 3,000 mile oil changes are better than 5,000 oil changes, then 2,000 would be even better, etc., etc. Where did you get the information that commonly available oil filters are not efficient? From the same people recommending your frequent oil changes?
Indeed, it is better... especially if some heavyt duty towing has been happening and/or off-highway (i.e., dusty, dirty, muddy) conditions were part of that 2,000 miles.
If commonly available oil filters were highly efficient at removing particulate matter from your oil then why don't performance engines use them? Sorry, but a $3.50 part made out of $0.15 of material is not the best at keeping your oil clean. Have you seen the difference betweeen new oil and 3,000 mile oil?
Anyway, each of us must decide what is best for his/her engine with regards to frequency of oil change. One could either go with what the manufacturer says, go with what the dealer says, go with what the next door neighbor says, or... guess?
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 350
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From: Dallas
Originally Posted by osbornk
The 3,000 mile oil change was dreamed up by the oil change industry to bring them more business. Why do people do it when there is no documentation anywhere by anybody that supports it? Ford now recommends a 5,000 interval but at one time (late 70s) they recommended a 10,000 interval. BMW and some other premium makes recommends a 10,000 or more interval.
A friend of mine changes his oil every 5,000 miles but only changes the filter every 10,000 miles. He trades cars between 175,000 and 200,000 miles and has never had an engine related problem. He uses conventional oil.
I guess the people who swallow the 3,000 oil change "recommendation" are the same people who drink bottled water instead of tap water even though the bottled water is simply tap water run through a filter. They waste oil and increase pollution with unnecessary oil changes, pay nearly $10 per gallon for water and then complain about the price of gas.
A friend of mine changes his oil every 5,000 miles but only changes the filter every 10,000 miles. He trades cars between 175,000 and 200,000 miles and has never had an engine related problem. He uses conventional oil.
I guess the people who swallow the 3,000 oil change "recommendation" are the same people who drink bottled water instead of tap water even though the bottled water is simply tap water run through a filter. They waste oil and increase pollution with unnecessary oil changes, pay nearly $10 per gallon for water and then complain about the price of gas.
