How far before each oil change? The local Chevy dealership offers a 5k oil change with tire rotation and all kinds of mess. I'm use to changing my own oil every 3k. Does it matter anymore? I'm not sure if that is natural or synthetic oil.

around here they use synthetic if it is 5k. But I change my own every 5k with mobile 1 full synthetic along with there expensive @$$ filter. It cost about 60 bucks an oil change. Does it help? I dont know 70,000 miles no problems no wierd noises.

With the advancements in oil technologies over the years, I think it is safe to say that you can increase your interval to at least 5000 miles. The oils of today do a better job at lubrication and suspending contaminants. Plus if more people adopted a longer oil change interval ( at least going from 3 to 5000 miles, ) that would cut back on total consumption and our dependency on foreign oil. Add to that the amount of oil waste (from changing oil) would be decreased and there would be less to recycle/dispose of.
Another key to increasing your oil change interval is to make sure you have a good oil filter to remove the contaminants and byproducts of combustion out of the oil.
I've adopted a longer oil change interval on my vehicles that use conventional oils to at least 5000 miles and some I change between 6 and 7500 miles depending on how much I use the vehicle.
I also use synthetic on some vehicles I own and keep that oil in my engine for about 1 year or 12000 miles (which ever comes first.) During the time I have the synthetic in my engine (about halfway through the life cycle of the oil) I change just the filter and top off the oil level to compensate any loss due to the filter change.

3,000 is mostly the oil change interchange.You can mix regualr oil with synthetic,use the same name brand oil.I know a couple of my father's friends that do this with no problems at all.Also check the fluid levels in the front and rear end,transfer case.This takes at least 15 minutes to do.Most oil change places do not do this at all.I have seen it,one burned up rear end resulting in a $600.00 repair bill and one manual transmission burned up in a full size Ford.

http://www.3000milemyth.org/
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/04/16/aa.oil.change/index.html
http://autorepair.about.com/b/2007/04/01/fewer-oil-changes-on-the-horizon.htm
http://ask.metafilter.com/29850/Is-the-3000mile-oil-change-a-scam
http://www.autospies.com/news/Hogwash-Oil-Change-Every-3000-Miles-11692/

How far before each oil change? The local Chevy dealership offers a 5k oil change with tire rotation and all kinds of mess. I'm use to changing my own oil every 3k. Does it matter anymore? I'm not sure if that is natural or synthetic oil.

dude, if your truck is not taking oil excessively or burning it too much, switch to Amsoil and enjoy 15 000 miles between changes easy. matter of fact, Amsoil is warranted to 25 000. :naughty:

of course, takes some mental bravery to do so, he-he. plus, I flush with flush oil every time i change. your call, buddy, your call. :evillol:

on a serious note - 15 000 miles here.

How far before each oil change? The local Chevy dealership offers a 5k oil change with tire rotation and all kinds of mess. I'm use to changing my own oil every 3k. Does it matter anymore? I'm not sure if that is natural or synthetic oil.

If you use conventional oil 3-4,ooo mi is good...but it should be done with the oil hot...also when you have a shop do it they will not let it drain for 10-15 minutes..also no cheap oil filters...

I use synthetic mobil 1 5-30wt.. I replace the oil every 8,ooomi..I replace the oil filter [purolator pure 1 ] at the 4,ooomi point..at 120,000mi. the 5.3L uses about 1/4quart of oil...and it is so clean is hard to find the level...but I do let it drain for 1/2 hour while I check all fluids/condition...grease ETC...

having a shop do it it is a gamble,,,

What is the factory recommended service interval. Follow that and you will be fine. The oil manufacturer doesn't set the oil change interval the Vehicle manufacturer does. So if you vehicle is under any kind of factory warranty that you will be much better off following the factory service intervals rather than the oil manufacturers service interval.

Most new cars are on a 5k service interval, and they are using conventional oil. Why are places still using the 3k rule of thumb? Simple economics. for one it generates more frequent return of the vehicles and the other big one is covering there Backsides. Nobody checks there own oil anymore. We get cars in everyday with litterally a shot glass of oil in the pan and over 5k since the last service. Imagine a shop starts doing the 5k service and motors start locking up from the lack of lubrication. The customer is going to fault the shop immediately because they have no concept of resposibility and don't realize that keeping the oil full is there problem once the vehicle leaves the shop. So we keep the 3k interval, save a few engines from certain disaster, and everyone is happy.

Personnally the new Tundra gets the factory recommended 5k conventional oil service!

What is the factory recommended service interval. Follow that and you will be fine. The oil manufacturer doesn't set the oil change interval the Vehicle manufacturer does. So if you vehicle is under any kind of factory warranty that you will be much better off following the factory service intervals rather than the oil manufacturers service interval.
Personnally the new Tundra gets the factory recommended 5k conventional oil service!

On this vehicle the computer will display a message to service engine oil when it determines that the engine based on use , enviroment etc, is in need of the oil being replaced...

I never reset my service oil light when I change the oil...so I find the light comes on around 5500mi...but this is my usage period ...others may find this will be more or less in miles...its the operating environment/use that determines this..also this is computed with the use of conventional oil....being the oil used....

I can't add to much here. The other replies to your question are really on the mark. My advice at the 3k mark change the filter, check the underside of the vehicle. Grease the suspension if needed. Keep a visual check on the oil. Use mobil 1 in my silverado 86 & 84 caprice. Caprice has 330k on the odometer. Truck 80k. No oil usage to speak of. Just keep an eye on eveything.

John in belton
novaz27

I change mine every 3K with Mobil 1 5-W30 conventional. The way I see it: oil's cheap, engines aren't.

I use regular in my car and go 3k but I run mobil 1 in the truck so I let that run to 4.5k and buy the oil so I can change it the next chance I have any time.

Has anybody heard anything good/bad about napa filters? That is what we use at our shop and is what I have on my truck. The stock A/C delco is too short for comfort going to 5k miles.

Hello. Which ac filter # are you writing about? If it is a #47 you can substitute a #51 or #52 ac. For it. These are the taller/longer filters.
Hope this helps.