Does Your Car Need More Oil Changes than the Manufacturer Recommends?
When you get your oil changed, they put that little sticker on your windshield to remind you when it’s time to get your next. The sticker always gives you a mileage of 3,000 miles or 3 months into the future, whichever comes first.The old standard was 3,000 miles, but cars are now built better than ever before. Do you really have to have an every 3,000 miles?
Most automakers now recommend getting an oil change every 7,500 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. However, they recommend oil changes every 3,000 miles or 3 months if you drive in “severe” conditions. What’s “severe” driving? Hot, cold, dusty, and ocean-side environments, towing a trailer, making many short trips and city driving are all considered “severe” conditions. That’s a large percentage of the drivers out there!
We all know that over-maintaining your car is a waste of money, but oil change are cheap. An oil change only costs about . It’s certainly worth an extra per year if you drive under any of these “severe” conditions. If you err on the side of under-maintaining your car, it’s more likely to need expensive repairs later. If you take good care of your car, it can easily last 200,000 miles or more. The longer you can go without buying a new car, the more money you’ll save. What if you could pay your car off and then save the money that you’re no longer using for car payments. You could buy your next car for cash!
Because of the inconvenience of being without your car, many of us fail to get regular maintenance done. But an oil change should take less than an hour if you go when the shop isn’t busy. Since an oil change is such a simple matter, every repair shop does them. Oil changes are readily available at many convenient locations, including the corner service station and even Wal Mart. If you can get an oil change done while you’re shopping, you’ll save time. There are even specialty shops that will guarantee to have you out in less than an hour! And shops are increasingly offering convenient and pleasant environments for waiting. Many make the wait time seem shorter with amenties like coffee and snacks and free wi-fi.
Most of us should follow the old standard of 3,000 miles. It’s inexpensive, easy and smart. So find a mechanic or shop and get into the habit of regular oil changes. When your car is long since paid off and still running well, you’ll be glad you did.
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