Poll of the Day > How often do you change your car's oil?

(+) Yeah! (+)

It just seems like something that you know you should do, but given the high price of synthetic oil changes there's a tendency to get away with what you can. Plus most people who work on cars agree the manufacturer's recommendations are way to frequent.

Where is the option for "whenever the sticker from my last oil change tells me to"?

MICHALCOLE posted...

Where is the option for "whenever the sticker from my last oil change tells me to"?

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Zeus posted...

MICHALCOLE posted...

Where is the option for "whenever the sticker from my last oil change tells me to"?

That would fall under the "owner's manual" option because that's what they generally have to go by.

Roughly every 3,000-4,500 miles. Manufacturer suggest every 6,000 miles but I'm fine with spending the extra oil and filter to play it safe. Though my car is new and have only 5,000ish miles so might be overkill for me to change every 3,000 to 4,500 miles.

desuno-to posted...

Plus most people who work on cars agree the manufacturer's recommendations are way to frequent.

Even if that is the case, I average 15,000 to 17,000 miles a year. Spending about $30 per oil change at possibly five oil change a year to me is worth keeping my engine at tip top shape even if it's a waste. Over the course of 10 some years that's only about $1,600. Still cheaper than rebuilding an engine.
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Twice a year, each time when I get my tires switched over from summer to winter and vice versa.
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4 times a year
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I follow the manual because I'm afraid if I don't, my car would break down or stop functioning.
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I get them for free at the dealership, so every 3 months.
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TheCyborgNinja posted...

I get them for free at the dealership, so every 3 months.

Wow my dealership sucks they charge me like 20-30 bucks. At least they throw in a car wash.
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Been 10,000 miles at least. Needs total fluid flush, but I drive maybe 8 miles per day.
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Mead posted...

TheCyborgNinja posted...

I get them for free at the dealership, so every 3 months.

Wow my dealership sucks they charge me like 20-30 bucks. At least they throw in a car wash.

It's to get you in there for other stuff, I figure. I usually get the recommended maintenance stuff based on mileage.
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As recommended by the dealership, every 5k km.
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Every 4000 miles or so
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Alexandra_Trent posted...

As recommended by the dealership, every 5k km.

That would be every 3100 miles. Isn't that more frequent?
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Synthetic oil so every 10k
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OneTimeBen posted...

Been 10,000 miles at least. Needs total fluid flush, but I drive maybe 8 miles per day.

Rip in peace your car

You should change it more often if you only do short trips.
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My car goes 10,000 miles before it's recommended to change the oil
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Masamune_DS posted...

Alexandra_Trent posted...

As recommended by the dealership, every 5k km.

That would be every 3100 miles. Isn't that more frequent?

I suppose so. But in my country of residence, it's recommended.

:(((
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Zeus posted...

MICHALCOLE posted...

Where is the option for "whenever the sticker from my last oil change tells me to"?

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about twice a year, which is half as often as I'm supposed to
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6 months

Unscrew the bolt, let it drain for an hour/over night if its late, swap the filter , screw the bolt back on, pour 1 qrt of fresh oil in, drain that out, pour in the remaining 4 qrts and I'm good to go

Seems like my auto store always has a $25 oil/filter special.. plus they take my old oil :)
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I go by the oil life on my dashboard.

I get it for free on the terms of my lease every 6k miles. Without a lease, I do it twice a year.
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I just got my 15k mile checkup on my 2015 Prius c, so for now I do whatever the dealer gives me for free. Still free until 25k miles or this December woopwoop
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Every 2500 or so. I can get by doing 3500 since the oils still relatively clean and my car doesn't eat much, but my cars really my only material thing I take care of so I don't like waiting haha

I've learned a lot about cars just by doing everything myself. The only thing I needed a mechanic for was when my axle needed to be replaced

I put less than 8,000 km on my car per year, so less than once a year.
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Depends really.

I try to follow no less than 3000km, but no more than 5000km. I run cheap oil in one of my vehicles; and the other runs a HDEO. I have no problems spending the money, since an oil change is way cheaper than an oil pump, engine, whatever else.
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I change it when it's dirty.
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Kyuubi4269 posted...

I change it when it's dirty.

Engine oil doesnt get dirty.
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MaverickXeo posted...

Kyuubi4269 posted...

I change it when it's dirty.

Engine oil doesnt get dirty.

It burns and is affected by piston blow-by, if it didn't get dirty then it'd be golden forever (and never need changing).
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Kyuubi4269 posted...

MaverickXeo posted...

Kyuubi4269 posted...

I change it when it's dirty.

Engine oil doesnt get dirty.

It burns and is affected by piston blow-by, if it didn't get dirty then it'd be golden forever (and never need changing).

It looses its lubrication properties, but it does not get dirty.

Aside from that, my oil turns black after pretty much one week. Oils are not 'dirty' when they are blacker colours.
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MaverickXeo posted...

It looses its lubrication properties, but it does not get dirty.

It loses its lubrication properties by being full of burnt oil and fuel. Oil burns and leaks and dirt builds up until you're running more dirt than oil.

MaverickXeo posted...

Aside from that, my oil turns black after pretty much one week. Oils are not 'dirty' when they are blacker colours.

Do you change your filters too when you drain your oil? And the black is from contaminants, carbon, oil doesn't turn black for no reason.
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Once a year usually, since that's about how long it takes me to drive around 3,000 miles with my car.
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Oil changing colour is not an indicator of wear/'dirt'. It is simply the properties of oil; especially HDEO.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/5-engine-oil-myths2.htm

I would be willing to bet if everyone checked their oils weekly; they would see it gets black after a week or two and does not get any darker.
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MaverickXeo posted...

Oil changing colour is not an indicator of wear/'dirt'. It is simply the properties of oil; especially HDEO.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/5-engine-oil-myths2.htm

I would be willing to bet if everyone checked their oils weekly; they would see it gets black after a week or two and does not get any darker.

the article literally says that particles build up, just that modern oils are designed to keep them suspended so that they have little to no effect. "dirt" just means "unwanted particles". what do you think you have an oil filter for?
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Just once a year. Gotta love full synthetic
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SmokeMassTree posted...

OneTimeBen posted...

Been 10,000 miles at least. Needs total fluid flush, but I drive maybe 8 miles per day.

Rip in peace your car

You should change it more often if you only do short trips.

This. 3 months or mileage based...
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My dealership does it for free, but I also only drive like 10K a year, so usually about twice a year.
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mastermix3000 posted...

Synthetic oil so every 10k

Synthetic oil doesn't last longer than conventional oil.

Not sure here that misconception came from...

Mike Xtreme posted...

Just once a year. Gotta love full synthetic

You should look into the differences between synthetic and conventional oil. Longevity isn't one of them...

WallyWeasel posted...

mastermix3000 posted...

Synthetic oil so every 10k

Synthetic oil doesn't last longer than conventional oil.

Not sure here that misconception came from...

True synthetic oils do not break down as fast under heat and stress. There are only a few synthetic oils that are actually synthetic though.
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2 or 3 times a year depending
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I wait for my car to tell me my fuel life is done, then I ignore that and keep going for like whenever. I usually go around 5k miles, I think.

WallyWeasel posted...

Mike Xtreme posted...

Just once a year. Gotta love full synthetic

You should look into the differences between synthetic and conventional oil. Longevity isn't one of them...

Mobil 1 group IV synthetic is good for 15000 miles, or one year. Other group IV's are the same way for the most part.
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Every 3000 miles. Auto repair shops always recommend 3 months if it happens earlier, but I never listen to that nonsense.
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