Mtnman1830
07-01-2008, 11:12 AM
Analysts say some motorists change oil too often
July 1st, 2008 @ 7:28am
Some auto analysts say people have been changing their oil too often and that the rule of changing it every 3,000 miles is bogus. But mechanics say waiting too long to change it could do more damage than people realize.
For years, mechanics have recommended changing the oil in your vehicle every 3,000 miles. Now, some people say that's was just a myth. Recently, General Motors teamed with the California Integrated Waste Management Board to tell drivers to have their oil changed every 5,000 miles. Some mechanics say, in some cases, a change every 3,000 miles might be excessive.
Mark Miller Toyota foreman Brian Lawrence said, "Sometimes people do put a lot of mileage on their cars quickly, like a salesman, for example, that has to go between here and Idaho all the time. He may have 25,000 miles on his car in a year."
If that salesman followed the 3,000 mile rule, he'd make eight oil changes every year. Lawrence says Toyota recommends getting a change between 5,000 and 7,500 miles, or every six months, and under certain circumstances, the closer to 5,000 miles the better.
"Circumstances are climate changes, so they have extreme hot to extreme cold, which we have here in this area. [Also,] salty roads, dusty roads or anything that's going to cause contamination in the engine," he said.
But Lawrence says if someone wanted to change their oil every 3,000 miles, he wouldn't stop them.
"You start to then turn your oil and it could become acidic, it could become corrosive, and things like that. It could have moisture in it," he said.
Other mechanics, like Michael Robinson with the Salt Lake City Midas, are holding tight to the 3,000 mile rule.
"I've always done my own on 3,000 miles, and I think it's a cheap way, an inexpensive way, to keep the preventive maintenance, to keep your engine lasting and performing to its peak," he said.
I know what you're thinking, because I thought the same thing. You're thinking: "Of course he says you should change your oil more frequently. He sells oil changes." Well, he says they really don't make much money changing oil.
"Our oil changes haven't changed in years. Our prices are still the same as they were two years ago," he said.
Robinson says the company makes its real money on bigger repairs, often caused when people don't change their oil often enough.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3660901
July 1st, 2008 @ 7:28am
Some auto analysts say people have been changing their oil too often and that the rule of changing it every 3,000 miles is bogus. But mechanics say waiting too long to change it could do more damage than people realize.
For years, mechanics have recommended changing the oil in your vehicle every 3,000 miles. Now, some people say that's was just a myth. Recently, General Motors teamed with the California Integrated Waste Management Board to tell drivers to have their oil changed every 5,000 miles. Some mechanics say, in some cases, a change every 3,000 miles might be excessive.
Mark Miller Toyota foreman Brian Lawrence said, "Sometimes people do put a lot of mileage on their cars quickly, like a salesman, for example, that has to go between here and Idaho all the time. He may have 25,000 miles on his car in a year."
If that salesman followed the 3,000 mile rule, he'd make eight oil changes every year. Lawrence says Toyota recommends getting a change between 5,000 and 7,500 miles, or every six months, and under certain circumstances, the closer to 5,000 miles the better.
"Circumstances are climate changes, so they have extreme hot to extreme cold, which we have here in this area. [Also,] salty roads, dusty roads or anything that's going to cause contamination in the engine," he said.
But Lawrence says if someone wanted to change their oil every 3,000 miles, he wouldn't stop them.
"You start to then turn your oil and it could become acidic, it could become corrosive, and things like that. It could have moisture in it," he said.
Other mechanics, like Michael Robinson with the Salt Lake City Midas, are holding tight to the 3,000 mile rule.
"I've always done my own on 3,000 miles, and I think it's a cheap way, an inexpensive way, to keep the preventive maintenance, to keep your engine lasting and performing to its peak," he said.
I know what you're thinking, because I thought the same thing. You're thinking: "Of course he says you should change your oil more frequently. He sells oil changes." Well, he says they really don't make much money changing oil.
"Our oil changes haven't changed in years. Our prices are still the same as they were two years ago," he said.
Robinson says the company makes its real money on bigger repairs, often caused when people don't change their oil often enough.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=3660901