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 oil change. The sticker always tells you to get your next oil change at the earlier of 3 months or 3,000 miles.The old standard used to be 3,000 miles, but newer cars are built to need less maintenance. Do you really have to have an oil change every 3,000 miles?
Most car manufacturers now recommend changing your oil every 7,500 miles or six months. However, they recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles 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 lot of us!
We all know that over-maintaining your car is a waste of money, but oil change are cheap. It should only cost about $25 to get an oil change. If your car experiences any of these “severe” conditions, it’s well worth the extra $50 a year. If you err on the side of under-maintaining your car, it’s less likely to last as long as it could. With proper maintenance, newer cars will easily last 200,000 miles or even 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’d be able to pay for your next car with cash!
Some people fail to get oil changes because it’s inconvenient to be without your car. 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 combine this chore with shopping for instance, 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 offer free wifi, snacks and tv to make the wait go by faster.
I think it’s wise for most of us to get an oil change every 3,000 miles. It’s cost effective, easy and a very good idea. So find a mechanic or shop and get into the habit of regular oil changes. When your car has 200,000 miles and is still going, you’ll be glad you did.
Tags: car maintainence, oil change