How often should I change the oil?

We’ve researched this and find that many “experts” disagree on exact numbers. First, check your vehicle owner’s manual. If you don’t have that or need a second opinion, here are some recommendations we’ve come across:

Many new vehicles have computers in them that keep watch on various engine conditions, and these computers do a good job of letting you know when it's a good time to get the oil changed. The actual mileage can vary depending on a number of factors, including the ambient temperature and how hard you've been working the engine. If your car or truck doesn't have this type of system, here are some guidelines:

With a new engine with little or no wear, you may be able to get away with 7,500 mile oil changes (or even longer, as some manufacturers say). But as an engine gets older, "blow-by" increases. This is because the rings and valves are not as tight as when new. More unburned fuel gets by into the crankcase, and this dilutes the oil, causing the oil to break down sooner. So if the oil isn't changed often enough, you can end up with accelerated wear in your engine.

 SO... we recommend changing the oil every 5,000 miles if you're using conventional oil, and every 7,500 miles* with full synthetic oil. For older engines, 5,000 mile intervals are still OK, but if you want the engine to last a long time, you can change to "High Mileage" oil, which includes additives that help prevent and rid the engine of small leaks, deposits and sludge. High Mileage oil also usually includes special anti-friction additives which newer engines do not need as much.

*Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes and others have started to use only synthetic oils in their new cars, and they recommend changing the oil every 10,000 to 12,000 miles, depending on the car manufacturer. BMW recommends 15,000 miles, but we have photos of BMW engines that had their oil changed at 15,000 mile intervals, and there is too much sludge build-up. Toyota is now using and recommending synthetic oil in many of their new vehicles, and they recommend changing the oil every 10,000 miles.

There are still guys out there who change their oil every 3,000 miles "because that's what my dad did, and his cars ran forever". Actually, modern oils are far superior to what Dad used, as are modern oil filters. Also, today's engines are a result of much better engineering, with tighter clearances between parts, and are made from improved materials (metals and alloys). So they do not need the oil changed at 3,000 miles anymore.

In summary, for most vehicles we recommend changing conventional oil every 5,000 miles and synthetic oil every 7,500 miles. The oil filter should be changed at the same time the oil is changed.

Employee Groups love this!

We're doing oil changes now for all the employees at the University of Phoenix. We can do this at your place of business, too! These folks no longer have to go sit at an oil change shop on their personal time.

At OnSite OilChange, we are not really about "changing oil". We are about helping people to have a little more time on their hands, about making their lives a little easier and maybe just a little bit better.

The work we do is a reflection of who we are. If we're sloppy at it, it's because we're sloppy inside... How we do our work becomes a mirror of how we are inside... In the process, the work you do becomes you. And you become the force that breathes life into the idea behind the work. You become the creator of the impact on the world of the work you do. - from The E Myth, by Michael E. Gerber

OnSite OilChange now has a promotional video:

OnSite OilChange YouTube Video!

Enjoy it and share it.

OnSite OilChange is now properly equipped to re-set the oil life monitor in your Audi, BMW, or Mercedes. Also... Land Rover, Volkswagen and others.

The Story of Digger and Bob

A friend of mine (I'll call him Bob) recently told me about how, when he was a boy, he got into a lot of fights. One day the opponent that skinny little Bob dreaded most challenged him in front of all Bob's friends. The challenge came from a big kid named Digger, who had been held back in school several times because he couldn't progress to the next grade levels very well. Folks called him Digger because they thought all he'd be good for was digging ditches, and that's pretty much what Digger thought of himself, too.

I can't remember why Digger wanted to fight Bob. Anyway, Bob and Digger tussled, and Bob was taking a beating. Then Digger got Bob in a choke hold that spelled doom for Bob, but in desperation, Bob bit into Digger's arm as hard as he could. Sure enough, Digger wailed in pain, let Bob loose, and went running off to the school infirmary to get patched up. Bob had won the fight.

The next day, Digger waited outside at the end of the school day, and when Bob walked out he expected Digger to pounce. But Digger just looked at him and said, "I learned something from you yesterday". Bob sheepishly asked him what that was, and Digger said, "I learned that anybody can win".

That was a valuable lesson for Digger, who had always thought of himself as a loser. But he proved himself to be pretty smart that day, because he learned that anybody can win.

NEVER GIVE UP!

Bill Lear never finished high school but went on to earn over 100 patents. Learjet, 8-track tapes, the car radio, Motorola, and many others. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do this or that. Go for it; chase your dream until it becomes reality.
One of my best friends was thrown out of church when he was a teenager, but ended up with over 300 churches around the world. He listened to God and simply did was God told him to do.