3,000 Mile Motor Oil Changes…Are They Ridiculous?
Where did the magic number “3,000″ come from that determines when we’re supposed to change our motor oil? That number has been around for at least 50 years. There has to be someone out there who made that number the standard for these oil change intervals.
Well, it’s not 1960 anymore…times are much different now. It isn’t impractical and certainly not unheard of to live a fairly good distance from the workplace these days. More and more people are moving out of the hustle and bustle of the city seeking solace, in exchange for a long commute to work. A longer commute means additional miles and more oil consumption.
Well gone are the days of traveling mostly on dirt and gravel roads. Today’s daily commute is virtually free of dust in comparison to a couple decades ago. Dirt and dust are an engine’s enemy. Dust and dirt make for wicked conditions to operate an engine…and engine oil has a tough time of it too. With most of the dirty driving behind us as more and more roads are paved gone is the need to change oil as frequently.
Can you remember a time when you got all fired up, thrilled that your odometer hit the 70,000 mile mark? This is a recent change but seems like it was only the 1980s when vehicle longevity improved. The advancements of engine materials and manufacturing tolerances resulted in an increased capacity of extending oil changes, provided the right motor oil is used.
That 3,000 mile oil change, where is it now? I certainly couldn’t tell you since I can’t find it in any of my vehicles’ manuals. I do see a lot of quart bottles of oil but none with “3,000″ on them; their numbers are all higher. I’d like to know who could possibly still be spreading that 3,000 mile oil change rumor.
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