Oil Changes: Date or Mileage?

[lordrashmi]

Hey everyone, I have a question regarding oil changes. Before I moved, I used to always put plenty of miles on the Max and got the oil changed ever 3K miles. However, now I moved right by work and put about 5 miles a day between home, work & the gym. At this rate, I have hit the recomended date for the oil change before I hit 3k miles. Is it important to get it changed every 3 months or should I just stick to mileage?

Thanks!

[swedish]

I generally go by whatever comes first, 'cause i figure if you don't put many miles on it, it's probably stop 'n go, which would make up for the distance traveled.

[97wvmax]

where u live that u put like 5 miles on ur car a day? geeze i have to change the oil like every month or 2

[Lordrandall]

The 3K miles/3 month thing is mostly BS and marketing. Unless you live in a very harsh climate, or are VERY hard on your car, there is no reason to change the oil that frequently.

I had my oil analyzed after 5500 miles (Castrol GTX), and it was still going strong.

If it makes you nervous, change every 3K miles, but I'd say go longer. Then have your oil tested, http://www.blackstone-labs.com and see how it's doing.

You'll save some money.

[MaximusGTR]

I personally play it safe and change it every 3000 miles .
Hey, you can't go wrong

[lordrashmi]

Thanks for all the responses guys. I think I am going to just stick with 3000 miles and see how it all goes. I am not very hard on my car, the only time I push it is when I am pissed or some little shit who's Daddy bought him a $50K car for his 16th birthday wants to mix it up...

And in reponse to 97wvmax, I live in a suburb of Houston, TX. It is maily residential, but luckily the company I work for is here as well. Thank god they didn't want to have the office downtown... I HATE the city.....