I used to change mine in my 99 Prelude every 3000 mile and then reuse the used oil in my work van for another 3000. Prelude has 56K on it now and I have it back on the road for the first time in 5 years to save gas

I have a 2002 Chevy Silverado Z-71 I bought brand new. As soon as I hit 500 miles I changed the oil to Mobile 1 synthetic. I then have changed my oil every 3,000 miles ever since with Mobile 1 synthetic and a Mobile 1 oil filter. I am currently right around 150K on my truck.

Speaking of oil changes another thing that’s gone crazy with inflation.


Just had the oil changed in my Mazda, it takes full synthetic and it used to run me with the coupon around $70, this time I walked out at $90 and that was including a coupon.

I just changed the oil/filter on my 2021 Honda Pilot today. I go 10,000 miles, per the Honda notification system, and use OW20 full synthetic. Up until today I had been lazy and had Valvoline change it for me, but they charge just over $100. They also want $30+ to rotate the tires Today I paid just over $50 and did it myself, both oil/filter change and tire rotation.

That sucks. One of the drivers at my old company inherited an oil change company. I bring him the oil/filter of my choice and he charges me 20.00 to do the change.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Speaking of oil changes another thing that’s gone crazy with inflation.


Just had the oil changed in my Mazda, it takes full synthetic and it used to run me with the coupon around $70, this time I walked out at $90 and that was including a coupon.

I have always done my own oil changes until the last two. I need to try to fix my 20 year old Sears floor jack. It will raise up, but not hold weight and lowers. There is no oil leak on it so I just need to research. Second oil change was due to the back pain I had. For these two oil changes, I bought the oil and filter and brought it to a local shop and they just charged me the labor.

The funny thing about oil changes and regular maintenance is that for every story about the guy that has religiously stuck to a maintenance schedule for his high mileage car, there's another about the
guy who rarely ever changes his oil or even checks it and somehow his ride just keeps chugging along.
It weird that some vehicles, regardless of make, model or abuse, will take a beating and keep on going.

I don’t think it’s that weird. I just think cars are that much better than in the past. I always make the joke with my children when they complain about their car, “when I was a kid it was a great car if it started MOST of the time”.

I suspect if you took a new Corolla, Civic, or even a Hyundai/Kia and did minimal maintenance it would drive for a longtime. They started off better, the tolerances are way better, and computer chips make engines run smooth and steady until they break.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
I don’t think it’s that weird. I just think cars are that much better than in the past. I always make the joke with my children when they complain about their car, “when I was a kid it was a great car if it started MOST of the time”.

I suspect if you took a new Corolla, Civic, or even a Hyundai/Kia and did minimal maintenance it would drive for a longtime. They started off better, the tolerances are way better, and computer chips make engines run smooth and steady until they break.

I remember when you thought you were lucky to get 100k miles out of a car. Now 100k miles is broken in.

But the cost of the small entry level cars has also gone up significantly. Used to be able to get new Civic/Corolla for $13k, now they're starting around $21k.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
I don’t think it’s that weird. I just think cars are that much better than in the past. I always make the joke with my children when they complain about their car, “when I was a kid it was a great car if it started MOST of the time”.

I suspect if you took a new Corolla, Civic, or even a Hyundai/Kia and did minimal maintenance it would drive for a longtime. They started off better, the tolerances are way better, and computer chips make engines run smooth and steady until they break.

My well maintained 2009 Corolla blew the motor at 189K. Oil changed every 3-5K as well as other maintenance items done according to the manufacturers recommendation. No more brand loyalty for me.

Depends on the car, what kind of oil, and what kind of use it sees. There's no one mileage fits all.

For what it's worth, my 4runner says 10k for oil changes and that's with 0w-20, but if I recall correctly they say a different number for the filter that's lower. Use mobile 1 for oil, and the Toyota oem filter since a pack of 6 was cheap for the cartridge style.

Either way, I usually go around 7000-7500. I use the same 3/4ish rule for other fluids like transfer, differentials, and transmission too. Side note, if you have a Toyota, look at redline for those fluids. They duplicate Toyotas fluids for diffs and transfer and don't cost 70 a quart like the transfer oil.

I was doing 10k mile intervals on my ‘18 Mazda3 GT but I went from driving 20k/yr to maybe 5k/yr so I will change it up. Follow recommendations but I also think more importantly adapt to your conditions. Lots of long day driving extends your oil life (most likely), lots of stop and go driving hurts oil life (most likely).

You always get the same stuff, follow what the manufacturer recommends (not wise) or so and so does it every 3k and has a car with 8 million miles on it.

I personally do mine very 3k with synthetic. Why? Because it is cheap insurance.

You will not know from people on the inner webs, you will not know by the color of the oil, or the smell or taste. If you really want to know send off oil samples for testing. That is the only real way to know. Neither the auto manufacturer or oil manufacturer can tell you how many miles the oil is good for.

An oil analysis will show a 3k mile oil change interval is a waste of money with modern motor oils. I’ve sent off several samples over the years and I change mine every 7-8000 with full synthetic and the additive package shows the oil still has life left.

I use good synthetic oil and a long life filter, and change it every 10K. I drive mostly on highways, and drive like an old man. It is hot here, but conditions are mild other than that.

I drive a lot. If I changed every 3K, I'd always be at the mechanic's shop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJhFAwFv-O0

A good video about oil changes.

I’ve been using Blackstone to do analysis on my daughter’s Subaru. We’ve been doing the interval at 6mo/6k since it’s new and under warranty and every time Blackstone Labs has said we could extend the internal. She’s about to hit 36k before winter so we will switch to 7.5k/6mo intervals like I have been doing on my bmws.

It all depends on the car, engine, how you drive, and your environment. For a large number of cars, 3K is too short of an interval.

My car calls for 10K intervals. I do it every 7,000-8,000 miles. I'm at 70K miles now. I've never had to add oil between changes so far.

Wife's Honda would tell you went to change it and it was often around little more than 7K miles. I usually did it around 7500K or a little less. Sold that car with 110K miles and it hadn't burned a drop of oil at that point.

quote:

Originally posted by Snapping Twig:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJhFAwFv-O0

A good video about oil changes.

Hopefully people will watch that video and stop perpetuating the same old wives tales. Some of what he said I stated in the last 2 or 3 oil change threads. Yet still people post that 10k is fine.

Oil's $25 bucks, a filter is $12? Wasting money changing it too often? Perhaps, but what am I wasting, $100-$150 over the whole time I own the vehicle? Piece of mind is worth it. Plus there's the built in buffer on the back end if you screw up and forget.


I don't go by miles, usually months. Changed oil in something this spring with less than 1k miles on it. But it had been in there two years and didn't care for that considering what it was. As many stated, "it depends" is the right answer... but this is the internet and goddamn it my answer is the right answer I'll pound my square peg into your round hole and you'll like it!