How Often Should You Change The Oil In Your Car?

3000 miles or every 3 months.

I've heard and believed to be true that when you car runs about 3000 miles then you should change the oil in your car.

We always do approx. 3000 miles, but check your oil and that can tell a lot too, nice clear oil is good :)

Changing your vehicle's oil is one of the most important things you can do to avoid bringing large bags of money to your mechanic later on.

However, there's a lot of controversy about exactly when engine oil gets old and how often it should be replaced with new oil. Because there are many factors at work — how you drive, the condition and age of the engine, the external environment you drive in, and stop-and-go versus highway driving — it's an inexact science. Owner's manual recommendations for oil and filter changes vary from 3,000 to 10,000 miles.

You should change your oil and filter every 5,000 miles. That's the best estimate. It may be too soon for many people and too late for a few, but for the vast majority, 5,000-mile oil changes will help your engine last to a ripe, old age.

You may want to consider changing your oil more frequently if:

You drive like a knuckle head: jack rabbit starts, heavy acceleration or high-speed driving
You live where the climate is extremely hot or cold
You often drive on dirt roads
Your engine is old and burns oil
Why ?

Oil undergoes thermal breakdown due to high operating temperature. When this occurs, the oil becomes less effective as a lubricant. And without a good lubricant (read: expensive), parts of the engine rub together and wear each other out.

Oil also contains additives that have the ability to neutralize acids. Over time, these additives get used up and stop being effective.

Finally, oil can absorb water, dust and combustion by-products and also hold them in suspension. Eventually, the oil gets saturated with this stuff and can't absorb any more. Then that stuff remains in the engine and can cause corrosion.

What happens if I don't do this?
Your engine won't last as long as it could. Oil serves many crucial functions, and clean oil performs those functions better than dirty oil. Oil is relatively cheap, and changing your oil every 5,000 miles is a very cheap insurance policy against major repairs down the road.

Is there any maintenance required between intervals?
Yes, you need to check the oil level every few hundred miles. With your car parked on a level surface, remove the oil dipstick, clean it and then reinsert it. Remove it again, and check the oil level.

Changing your oil at 2,000, 3,000, or even 4,000 miles is a total waste of money and oil. This was necessary 20 years ago, but not today. You can change your oil every 5,000 miles and meet any manufacture today's recommended oil change interval. In fact most recommend 7,000 to 10,000 miles. Open your owner's manual and look at the oil change interval. It will not be less than 5,000 miles under normal conditions. The oil we use today and the filters are far superior to what they were even 10 years ago. Also the engine components are superior to what was used when oil change intervals of 3,000 miles was the norm. The only people recommending 3,000 mile oil changes today are people making money off these oil changes, or people that do not know any better. Also you can extend oil change intervals if you do mostly highway driving or use synthetic oil. The 3,000 mile oil change is a thing of the past and has not bearing on modern vehicles, just like 10w40 oil should never be used in any modern vehicle, but some people still foolishly use it. Use exactly what your owner's manual say's and change your oil as outlined in your owner's manual. It is the bible for your car. Sure you can waste your money and oil by changing it more often as some people recommend, or you can listen to people who swear that oil never wears out and you should only change the filter. Both are wrong. Change you oil as recommended by your owner's manual or every 5,000 miles or 6 months whichever comes first.

It depends upon the usage of the car. The oil of the car should be changed. First of all you should think what the need for the change is in the car's motor oil. For first know the reason then go for it will save your time. You do not need to wait in the service shop for the oil. It is very easy to change a oil even a child can do it. So if you need to do it yourself you can do it. It is an easy process to change your motor oil. Empty the old oil from the engine of your car. The second thing is the change the oil filter and then adds the new oil from the car bonnet.

So this way you can change the oil of your motor oil. The oil should be changed after the car is driven 6000 miles. It depends on the cars and how much you drive your car in a moth. The most important thing in changing the oil is you should not use sub-standard your oil for your car it will damage your car engine. You can use the top quality engine oil which is of some patent and recognized company. For the better performance of your car you need to change your car's engine oil.

I always change my oil and filter every 2000 miles. The vehicles I've owned in the past are still on the road today. My parents Have always done it every 3000 miles and have had engine problems and very few of there vehicles make it over 130,000 miles. My 1987 pathfinder has 346,000 miles and the timing chain has just been replaced the heads are fine as well as the compression. I have no bottom end noise and the truck purrs like a kitten. I have put 200,000+ miles on this truck and the Wisconsin winters are ruff on the body but it wont die. The point is, the more you do routine maintenance, the longer the vehicle will last you.

Every 3000 miles or 3 mos is recommended for most models of cars. I have gone over by 1000 miles without damaging the car, but the better you do your upkeep and maintenance, the longer you'll have your vehicle.

The standard distance for changing oil is about 3000km but I do recommend that you change the oil every 2500km or just check the oil color if its mat then you have to change it.

What he said ( ubinn ) top answer ,today's cars and oil are better. And you have been hearing a lot of talk on the issue  because big oil wants you to keep throwing  your money away.

I change the oil in my ford car roughly every 18 to 20 months. I have had the car for 7 years and it runs perfect. I drive mainly city driving,(about 10, 000 miles per year) Its nonsense to change the oil more often unless in a desert environment. You should use 5w-30 semi synthetic oil or the best oil you can afford and of course change the filter too.

Every three months or every 3,000 miles.

Less than every 3000 miles recommended in California

If  you don't drive much how often should you change oil

The gentleman was right. Normally oil and filter should be changed every 3000 miles, but there is an oil built for extended life, and this could be for 5000 miles. It depends on how you use and treat your car.