Many people swear by the commandment, “Thou shalt change thy oil every 3,000 miles.” But nowadays, many say that’s a waste of money.
You need to change oil about every 7,500 miles.
“The vast majority of American commuters are changing their oil way too often and wasting a lot of money in the process,” said Philip Reed, senior consumer advice editor for auto website .
An investigation into the truth about oil changes last year offered a blunt conclusion.
“This wasteful cycle continues largely because the automotive service industry, while fully aware of the technological advances, continues to preach the 3,000-mile gospel as a way to keep the service bays busy.”
The average car’s oil change interval is 7,800 miles, Edmunds found. Consumer Reports says most people would be fine changing oil every 7,500 miles or six months. But averages don’t necessarily apply to your car.
The best rule is this: Check the maintenance section of your manufacturer owner’s manual. Look up this information once, and you never have to worry about it again for that vehicle. Gregory Karp, Chicago Tribune; RJ Sangosti, Denver Post file photo
