Jul 3, 2008

Is the 3,000-mile Oil Change a Myth?

A lot of people will tell you that you need to change your car oil every 3,000 miles. But they may be steering you wrong. The traditional oil change recommendation of 3,000 or 5,000 miles is based on decades-old engine and oil technologies. Today's engines are built to tighter tolerances, reducing or eliminating contaminants that get in the oil. And today’s oils are better than ever at lubricating and cleaning. This implies increasing the recommended time between oil changes.

That’s a good thing, because according to organizations like the California Integrated Waste Management Board, the need to reduce waste oil is significant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 185 million gallons of used motor oil are improperly disposed of each year -- dumped onto the ground, thrown in the trash or poured down the drain. And the CIWMB says that just one gallon of used motor oil can contaminate a million gallons of drinking water.

New in-vehicle technologies, like the General Motors Oil Life System, can play a role in reducing the frequency of oil changes by calculating each individual engine's oil life. The system is a sophisticated technology that determines the optimum oil change interval for each vehicle, based on how individual drivers have used it. This can add up to two or three fewer oil changes a year, saving more than 100 million gallons of oil annually. Of course, consuming less motor oil helps to reduce environmental impact and saves drivers money.