When you get your oil changed, they put that little sticker on your windshield to remind you when it’s time to get your next. They always write it to recommend your next oil change in 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first.The old standard used to be 3,000 miles, but newer cars are built to need less maintenance. Do you really have to have an every 3,000 miles?
Most automakers now recommend getting an oil change every 7,500 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. However, they recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles if you drive in "severe" conditions.What do they mean by "severe" driving? If you do a lot of city driving, make a lot of short trips, live in a hot or cold climate or near the ocean or in dusty conditions, or tow a trailer, then your car experiences “severe” driving. That's a large percentage of the drivers out there!
I agree with those who say that overmaintaining your car is a waste of money, but oil changes are pretty cheap. It should only cost about to get an oil change. It's certainly worth an extra per year if you drive under any of these "severe" conditions. Your other choice is risking under-maintenance, which may mean costly repairs or a shortened useful life. If you take good care of your car, it can easily last 200,000 miles or more. The longer you can make your current car last, the more money you'll keep. What if you could pay your car off and then save the money that you're no longer using for car payments. You could buy your next car for cash!
Some of us don't get oil changes as often as we should because it's inconvenient. But an oil change should take less than an hour if you go when the shop isn’t busy. Since an oil change is such a simple matter, every repair shop does them. Oil Changes are offered at so many places, including your dealership, a service station or even Wal Mart. Getting an oil change done while you're shopping or working makes it much less time consuming. There are even specialty shops that will guarantee to have you out in less than an hour! And many shops offer pleasant and convenient waiting areas. Many offer free wifi, snacks and tv to make the wait go by faster.
For most cars, I recommend an oil change every 3,000 miles. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s a good idea. So pick a shop and get into the habit. When your car has 200,000 miles and is still going, you’ll be glad you did.
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