Are You Wasting Money By Changing Your Oil Too Often?

car-1562723_1280For my entire adult life, I’ve had the oil changed in my vehicles every 3,000 miles (or relatively close to that) just as my father had taught me when I was a teenager. In recent years, I had read articles online that suggested this paradigm was out of date but didn’t think much of it. I assumed since the employees at the oil change service stations kept slapping the sticker on my windshield reminding me to change my oil every 3000 miles, I’d better do it. That all changed when we bought our current mini-van a few years ago, and I read in the owner’s manual the recommended oil change frequency was every 6,000 to 9,000 miles.

The oil change service I normally use hesitated to tell me exactly how many miles I should go between changes, but said they would write my reminder sticker for whatever I directed them to. Being a little uneasy with tripling the rule I had used all my life, I directed them to make it out for 6,000 miles.

I knew my van came with a fancy electronic system that actually displayed a message when it thought I should get an oil change. Checking the dipstick regularly, I drove the van until the message was displayed which occurred at about 7,500 miles.

A few days later, I took my van into a different oil change service that comes with a free car wash. While sitting in the waiting room, an employee came in holding my dipstick.

“I’ve got a question for you,” the man said. “Do you know what kind of oil you had put into your vehicle at your last oil change?”

“I’m not really sure,” I replied, trying to remember.

“Because here’s the deal, your oil is full, and it’s really clean,” he continued, “We can change it if you’d like, but I really think you could get more miles out of it.”

I just looked at the man surprised.

“If you used high grade synthetic oil, that typically lasts 10,000 miles,” he stated.

That statement rang a bell with me, as I remembered my last oil change cost a little more than usual because I decided to use the best oil offered. I decided to not have my oil changed, and directed the man to give me a new reminder sticker for 2,500 more miles.

After a continued discussion with the man, I forged a new oil changing strategy for my vehicle:

  • Forget the oil change every 3,000 mile rule.
  • Check the vehicle’s owner’s manual for the recommended oil change frequency
  • Adjust the frequency based on use and conditions. Harsher conditions may put you on the low end of the recommended mileage range, whereas normal every day driving conditions will put you towards the higher end of the range.
  • Use good oil, especially if you are going longer between oil changes. Cheap oil costs less, but needs to be changed more often as it may break down quicker.
  • Check your oil often by pulling out your dipstick. If the oil level is low, or looks dirty, take it in for service.

Many people still live and breath by the 3,000 mile rule for oil changes. Unfortunately, at $35-$60 a pop, this may represent a lot of unnecessary money spent. Changing your oil is a necessary service to keep your vehicle running smoothly, but it should be a process that you as the owner is active in determining when your vehicle really needs it, and not just throwing money out the window.

How often do you have your oil changed? Do you still use the 3000 mile rule?

Note:  The technician’s honesty has prompted me to switch to that service as my primary provider for oil changes.

About Travis

4 Responses to “Are You Wasting Money By Changing Your Oil Too Often?”

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  1. Sassy Mamaw says:

    Thanks, Travis! I’m going to look into this. I have always had mine changed every 5000 miles, and just watched the odometer to keep track. (I hate those stickers on my window.) Maybe I can go even longer and save a few $$.

  2. I stopped changing every 3,000 miles years and years ago. For awhile I did it every 5,000 miles or so. Now my vehicle has a sensor that tells me when to go, and it takes forever for it to get there since we don’t drive all that much. Even better, the car came with free oil changes.

  3. Money Beagle says:

    We lease now and the cars have reminders that will pop up on the car and also through e-mail. In order to make sure we satisfy the responsibility to keep the vehicles maintained, we will get them done when the alerts say so. I know the owners manual for my truck indicates 7,500 is the new cycle.

    The quick change places still put 3,000 miles because if you go more often, they make more money!

  4. Syed says:

    I was told the same thing to change about every 6,000 miles more or less depending on your driving habits. Most cars have an indicator when it’s time to change so it’s a lot easier to tell nowadays.

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