I'm curious to see what the reactions are to this new website. It's essentially sponsored by the California Integrated Waste Management Board. It seems they're trying to convince people to extend their oil change intervals well beyond 3,000 miles. According to the site, "Needing to change your car’s oil at 3,000 miles is a myth."

http://3000milemyth.org

What are your opinions?

 

They're right.

See your owner's manual.

 

7,500 for me

 

When the bureaucrats in California can convince me that they know something the engineers in Dearborn don't know, then I might buy into it. But the last time I checked, bureaucrats don't design engines...

 

Last time I checked Fords manual suggest a 5k interval using Synthetic blend. Full synthetic and a filter change at 3500 can easily get you 7k

 

Only for the last couple years' worth of production vehicles, which makes up a very small percentage of the Fords currently on the road. If you'll notice on the web site, they repeatedly tell you to consult your owner's manual.

My 98 Explorer and 2000 F-150 both qualify for their respective severe duty schedules, so they both get oil and filters every 3k just like the service manual recommends.

 

I'm running full synthetic rated to 15k and a double element oil filter designed for synthetic to 10k.

If you want to change every 3k, it's your truck, treat it how you want, you sure aren't HURTING it. I'm not going to tell people NOT to, but I don't feel it's necessary - and I do not feel that I'm HURTING my truck. If I were using pure dino, I'd do it every 3k too.

 

I know a guy running an Amsoil bypass filtration system on his Explorer with Amsoil 0W30 oil, running a used oil analysis every 5000 miles or so. Last I saw, the oil is still good with more than 50,000 miles on it. Yes, oil *can* go much longer than the recommended 3000 miles under the correct conditions.

For me, $15 a month is not an outrageous expense to ensure my engine lives as long as possible. Additionally, it gives me a regular opportunity to grease all my ball joints, tie rods, and u-joints.

And the greenies in the people's republik of Kalifownyuh (As the governator would say) won't convince me they know better than the guys that designed my motor without some empiracle data to back up their claims.

-Joe

 

I don't do my own oil changes any more, my service costs me $52.

I've put 35k on my truck since 9/06 so 10k is not really a long period of time.

 

Oil change every 3K using synthetic is a waste.... big time!

 

It all depends. That is why even in our manuals, there is more than one published maintenance schedule. Some of us do qualify for severe duty schedules, so oil every 3000 is not a waste. It also depends on your oil. Some oils last longer than others. It's just a fact that not everything is created equal. My F150 is a daily driver and does qualify for severe duty. The F150 gets Royal Purple & a K&N filter every 3000. My Explorer gets Mobil 1 Extended Performance which is rated for 15000 miles and a Mobil 1 filter. The Explorer sees an oil change once a year.

 

What are the qualifications required to be classified under the "sever duty schedules" tag?

I know longer have an owner's manual...

 

If you download the maintenance schedule for your vehicle, it's well defined in there. I don't have mine handy, but it involves towing, load hauling, short trips, dusty conditions, stuff like that.

 

I change every 4K ....

Mercedes Benz reccommend using Mobil 1 full synthetic for a 10k oil change interval.

They have recently released a TSB about how that interval is much too long, and they are experiencing severe sludging problems. They have a new recomendation.... 7,500 miles. We just round down to 7k for our customers.

 

But aren't you using Swepco instead of Mobil 1 in your customers' engines? Which filter do you install?