Loading…
27
Can we talk about how the 3,000 mile oil change is a waste of money for most drivers?
My mechanic buddy Dave said something to me a few months back that I can't stop thinking about. I was at his place in Phoenix helping him swap a water pump on his truck, and I mentioned I was due for an oil change at 3k miles like always. He just laughed and said I was burning cash for no reason.
He pulled out his owners manual for his 2019 Civic and showed me it says every 7,500 miles or once a year. I've been doing 3k religiously for like 15 years because that's what my dad always did and what the quick lube place always tells you. Dave said that number is a leftover from the 70s when oils were way worse and engines weren't built as tight.
I looked it up after and he's right. Most newer cars with full synthetic can go 7,500 to 10,000 no problem. I've been spending like $60 every couple months when I could be doing it twice a year instead. That's a few hundred bucks a year I could put toward actual repairs.
I know some people will say its cheap insurance and I get that. But if the manual says 7,500 why am I second guessing the people who built the engine? Anyone else switched to longer intervals and had it bite them later? Or is Dave right and I've just been throwing money away this whole time?
1 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In1 Comment
elliotellis11h ago
Used to change mine every 3k too until my manual said 7,500, never going back.
5