Myth or hoax: you should change your car’s oil every 3,000 miles? It has been an article of faith for car fanciers for years, but it might be just an old folk tale, like don’t swim within an hour after eating, or an itchy nose means you’re going to kiss Tom Cruise. In fact, given new data from a major car manufacturer, the 3,000-mile oil change may be a thing of the past.
flic.kr/p/6xWJwA
If there’s one automotive truism car owners have been force-fed over the years, it’s the necessity of a 3,000-mile oil change. Now, General Motors, the world’s largest automaker, says it could be unnecessary. The GM Oil Life System, which monitors engine conditions and driver use, tells the driver when the oil needs changing.
“Most GM drivers don’t have to worry when the best time is to change their oil because our cars and trucks adapt to their driving habits and engine conditions to determine the right interval for them,” said GM Goodwrench’s Peter Lord. “This technology now lets us offer a simplified maintenance schedule on most 2004 models, which tailors vehicle maintenance to each customer. So it’s more convenient, it protects the environment by eliminating unnecessary oil changes, and it could save customers money.” [European drivers know this, and know that the oil companies are the ones profiting, while wasting hundreds of millions of barrels of oil. Thus European drivers never change oil at the silly 3,000 mile mark.]
Of course, a 3,000-mile oil-change interval has not been recommended by GM or most other auto manufacturers for years. Now, instead of a complicated list of different services to be performed at different mileage intervals, the new simplified maintenance schedule makes it easy for customers to have their vehicle’s oil changed and all routine maintenance performed during the same service visit. The automaker recommends checking your owner’s manual to see if the system is on your vehicle.
Tagged with: maintenance tips • service schedules
Filed under: Car Maintenance