The 3,000 Mile oil change is busted!
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How Often should I change my Oil
Making your money count at the Gas Pump
People have been changing their oil every 3,000 miles for a long time. The idea probably came from a good intention to give people a simple rule for car maintenance that left a lot of room for mistakes.
Prices at the pump won’t go down no matter how much you wish they would. Instead, put your energy into things that will make a difference. Follow these 7 tips to improve your gas mileage and get the most out of every gallon.
It is possible and, to be honest, not that hard to drive farther on a gallon of gas. Using less gas saves you money and helps the environment by cutting down on pollution.
Change your oil every 3,000 miles is Marketed by fast lubes
Fast lube chains, which first appeared on the market in the 1970s, took the message and spread it through long-term advertising campaigns. Large oil companies owned fast lube chains, so they had a financial reason to see customers often and sell more oil, most of which was conventional.
Dad and mechanic say it's good to change your oil every 3,000 miles
Even though this timeline helps put things in perspective, it doesn’t do much to deal with the emotional side of having to change the oil every 3,000 miles. So many drivers change their oil every 3,000 miles because their fathers and mechanics told them to. These are two of the most important people in the automotive world. Many people have a tradition of getting their oil changed every 3,000 miles. This reminds them of the person who taught them important things about life, like how to keep their car running well.
New technology added to old ways of doing things
Traditions are passed down from generation to generation in many families. While the spirit of the tradition is kept, many parts are changed to reflect new technology and ways of living. During the holidays, you may no longer be able to use a rotary phone to call a distant relative. Instead, you may need to use Skype. Also, your family’s annual trip may start at the airport instead of in the station wagon. In the case of the 3,000-mile oil change, we can keep the good intention of taking care of our cars by making it a habit to change the oil from time to time, but not always every 3,000 miles.
Since the 3,000-mile oil change came out, advances in lubrication and car technology have made it obsolete. For example, you no longer need to add water to car batteries, replace ignition points, or adjust the carburetor. Now, many car companies say you should change the oil every 5,000 miles or more. BMW says you should wait 15,000 miles between oil changes.
The science of synthetic motor oil
Synthetic lubrication technology is a big part of why oil changes don’t have to be done every 3,000 miles. Compared to conventional motor oil, synthetic oil protects against wear better, handles temperature changes better, and keeps the engine cleaner. Because of this, you can safely use them for more than 3,000 miles.
AMSOIL products give you confidence and extra protection that goes above and beyond what’s expected. It’s what your dad or granddad might have called the “belt and suspenders” approach. AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil, for example, is…
- Provides 75 percent more protection for the engine against loss of horsepower and wear than a leading industry standard calls for.
- 72 percent more protection than what a leading industry standard called for
2, giving turbochargers the best protection against extreme heat and harmful deposits that can build up. - LSPI was stopped 100 percent of the time.3
So, it’s important to change your oil and take care of your car, but it’s also important to keep up with the latest technology and improve your methods. And modern synthetic oils have made oil changes every 3,000 miles as old-fashioned as the rotary phone.
Why You Change Your Oil
Let’s remember why it’s important to change the oil in our cars. Oil is used for many different things: Most importantly, it is a lubricant that keeps the moving parts of your engine from rubbing together too much.
Oil is also a sponge that soaks up water and harmful byproducts of combustion, which helps protect the engine of your car. Over time, the high temperatures in your engine will break down the oil, making it less effective as a lubricant, and it will become so full of contaminants that it won’t be able to absorb any more.
At this point, the oil won’t be able to “do its job,” and the other parts of your engine will start to wear out faster. So, it’s important to get rid of the old oil and put in fresh, new lubricant.
The old rule of thumb, which many people still follow, was to change your car’s oil every 3,000 miles or so. People thought that doing this would keep your car in top shape.
Why it's a good idea to change your oil less often
Even after reading all of this, it seems like a good idea to stick to the “every 3,000 miles” rule. Changing the oil won’t hurt your car, and it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?
But there are some good reasons to change your oil less often. The most obvious is that it costs more. Even though oil changes aren’t very expensive, they can add up over time if you do them three times more often than you should.
If you usually spend $100 a year on oil changes, spending only $30 can be a big savings. You also save the time it takes to drive to a lube shop or do the job yourself.
But the environment is another reason why you should change your oil less often. Even the best programs for recycling oil aren’t very good, and oil is a scarce resource on Earth. When you use your old oil for a longer time, less new oil is put into circulation. This does a little bit less damage to the environment and lowers the overall need for fossil fuels.
Make sure to stay on top of your Maintenance
If you want to save money, you may have to pay some money. Make sure that your car gets regular maintenance. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence says that a bad spark plug can waste up to 30 percent more gas. Even older cars can still get good gas mileage if they are well taken care of.
Oil changes are another way to make sure your car is in good shape. AMSOIL has many kinds of motor oils that can help you save money. AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oils is one of them. When you only change the oil once a year or every 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. Both time and money are saved.
Here are some good reasons to switch to AMSOIL Signature Series Motor Oils.
A New Level of Motor Oil Technology
Why AMSOIL? Superior protection against wear, improved fuel economy and better performance under extreme temperatures. AMSOIL is the only oil that is able to last up to 25,000 miles. Save yourself time and money and protect your car or truck by using AMSOIL products. Your vehicle will last longer and you will lower your maintenance expenses. Protect your Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler or any other vehicle with AMSOIL synthetic oil!
We advise you to consult your owners manual for proper fluid recommendations and to consult the appropriate repair manual for proper maintenance procedures and specs. Follow all appropriate safety practices. We are not responsible for misuse of products.