OT: Oil change frequency

from what I understand, it is no longer necessary to change your oil nearly as often as 3000 miles, assuming you have a fairly new car and use high quality oil.

I use synthetic oil, Mobil One, although there are better synthetic oils out there. I change it every 7500 miles, the manufacturer's recommendation. I used to do every 3000 miles, but here's a reason not to: environmental kindness and saving $$$.

From what I have heard, if you use good oil, you could change just the filter and leave the oil in for much longer. But I want to respect the warranty on my car so I wouldn't do that.
 
arty said:
One way to tell would be to try longer time intervals and then see what the oil looks like.

This could be an expensive experiment.

The location of the oil filter on the Honda CR/V must be seen to be believed.
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Click to expand...

I saw a web site once where, I dunno, I think people sent in samples of used oil for analysis to see what had broken down in the oil, how many filings in it, etc. Strange, and somewhat confusing, because the discussions on the chemistry of the oil were quite technical.

I was trying to figure out whether special oil formulations for "high mileage" cars were real or a scam. Couldn't figure anything out.
 
I would hesitate to change the brand or type of oil for an old engine. If the oil is good for a new engine, why not for an older one? If they add extra detergents, that could dislodge stuff in the valves and muck up the works.

I have always used the same oil from start to finish.
For my newer car, I am going to have the dealer do some of the oil changes (when I take it in for service), and I'll do the rest myself. Once I am past the 36,000 miles, it is generally easier to do it myself. Hope that it continues to be easy to do this.
 
I quit changing my own oil a long time back, so long actually that I don't remember just when I did quit.;) Actually it wasn't too terrible a decision to come to as it became increasingly difficult to dispose of the old oil and filter.
I used to use it too spray on my wood fencing but wood will only hold so much oil and then instead of soaking in it runs on the ground, not good.
Life was good when I bought our last car, the Dodge Stratus because when you buy a car from this dealer all your oil and filter changes are only $10.00 as for as long as you own the car.
Sure wish more dealers used the same propotion to get people back into the dealership for service.:grumpy:
 
If you search around(I will try to find it here in a bit if no one has posted it between now and hten), there are sites that list local oil recycling centers, including places that will take it for free. Know there's a gas station around here somewhere(at least was on the list then) that would take up to 5 gallons of used oil for any normal person and recycle it for free. even doing whole drive train on my truck, and doing the bike too, 5 gallons is like 2 changes on the truck and 3 on the bike. which is also probalby two yeras of driving for me, if you put it that way.

http://www.mobil1.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/Used_Oil_Recycling.aspx

Figures that I'd have found it while I had been on Mobil1's site in past looking for info. Least it was easy to find again. :)
 
Car parts stores usually take your used oil - places like Autozone.
They take up to about 5 gallons.
 
I thought I heard something once that places that sold oil or did oil changes HAD to accept oil for "recycling." I'm probably mistaken.
 
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