Oil is one of the most important items inside your engine. It has a dual function...it keeps internal components from touching each other and wearing out, it also serves as a secondary cooling system. Oil also carries away debris and moves it to the oil filter, holding smaller particles in suspension to prevent deposits. Your vehicle is like a person that has a bad kidney and must go for dyalisis periodically. If not, bad stuff in their blood will kill them. In all the years I've been in the auto industry, I have never seen anyone that had an engine failure of any kind from changing their oil too often. I have seen hundreds that did not change their oil with disasterous results. Manufacturers have attempted to capitalize on the fact that the oil products we have today are far better than those we had years ago.What customer would not want a vehicle that was maintenence free? Oil filters used today are a bit better than older ones, but are also smaller. They do not have the holding capacity needed to operate properly over extended change intervals. When full, oil bypasses the filter and continues along through the engine. These are the facts...Now here is what I think. If you intend to keep your vehicle for any period of time, use the best oil available (I prefer synthetics) and change the oil filter at least every 4,000 miles. Then, you could follow mfg change schedule with some confidence. With a good synthetic, you could actually run all the way to 10,000miles with a "halftime" filter change. If using conventional oils, I would prefer to see oil changed every 4K or slightly less, along with filter. Don't forget...the dealer only needs your vehicle to last as long as the warranty, and actually needs it to fail after that so they can sell you a new one. You would likely want it to last far longer!!! This applies to all fluids...coolant, brake fluid diff lube and trans oil...change more often and everything lasts longer!!! Good luck with your car!!!
Answers & Comments
Oil is one of the most important items inside your engine. It has a dual function...it keeps internal components from touching each other and wearing out, it also serves as a secondary cooling system.
Oil also carries away debris and moves it to the oil filter, holding smaller particles in suspension to prevent deposits.
Your vehicle is like a person that has a bad kidney and must go for dyalisis periodically. If not, bad stuff in their blood will kill them.
In all the years I've been in the auto industry, I have never seen anyone that had an engine failure of any kind from changing their oil too often. I have seen hundreds that did not change their oil with disasterous results.
Manufacturers have attempted to capitalize on the fact that the oil products we have today are far better than those we had years ago.What customer would not want a vehicle that was maintenence free? Oil filters used today are a bit better than older ones, but are also smaller. They do not have the holding capacity needed to operate properly over extended change intervals. When full, oil bypasses the filter and continues along through the engine.
These are the facts...Now here is what I think.
If you intend to keep your vehicle for any period of time, use the best oil available (I prefer synthetics) and change the oil filter at least every 4,000 miles. Then, you could follow mfg change schedule with some confidence. With a good synthetic, you could actually run all the way to 10,000miles with a "halftime" filter change. If using conventional oils, I would prefer to see oil changed every 4K or slightly less, along with filter. Don't forget...the dealer only needs your vehicle to last as long as the warranty, and actually needs it to fail after that so they can sell you a new one.
You would likely want it to last far longer!!! This applies to all fluids...coolant, brake fluid diff lube and trans oil...change more often and everything lasts longer!!!
Good luck with your car!!!