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View Poll Results: How often do you change the oil in your car? | |||
3000 miles -- I am a tool of Firestone | 16 | 25.00% | |
4000 miles | 13 | 20.31% | |
5000 miles -- run it 'till it's dry! | 35 | 54.69% | |
Voters: 64. You may not vote on this poll |
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Thread Tools |
05-19-2005, 10:33 AM | #1 | ||
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Big Ten Country
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How often do you change your oil?
Just curious.
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05-19-2005, 10:34 AM | #2 |
Pro Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Berkley, MI: The Hotbed of FOFC!
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I got a new car a couple months back and they told me I only need to get it changed about every 7500 miles or so.
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05-19-2005, 10:36 AM | #3 |
Death Herald
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas
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My uncle runs an oil change center, so I let him change the oil every 5K.
__________________
Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint |
05-19-2005, 10:38 AM | #4 |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: In Absentia
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I treat oil changes like getting a new toothbrush - since the people who are telling me when to buy them have a vested interest in my repeat business, I automatically double whatever they tell me. So it's 6K miles for an oil change, and 6 months for a new toothbrush.
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
05-19-2005, 10:53 AM | #5 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New Jersey
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Maybe, I'm the lone sucker so far, but I change my car's oil every 3,000 miles. However, I'm not fanatical about it. I'll sometimes go up to 300 miles over 3,000 before changing it if I'm in a really busy period at work.
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05-19-2005, 10:56 AM | #6 |
General Manager
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: The Town of Flower Mound
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I usually go between 4 and 5k between changes. My girlfriend gives me hell about it, though. And the car is approaching 100,000 miles, so I really should be taking better care of it now...
__________________
UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO |
05-19-2005, 10:59 AM | #7 |
General Manager
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: New Mexico
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It's my understanding that in Europe they change their oil once a year, although I don't fully understand the reasons why. I think part of it is less driving, and maybe their cars are engineered differently (or perhaps their oil is). I go with 3000 miles on the theory that better safe than sorry.
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05-19-2005, 11:00 AM | #8 |
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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on our 160k miles old Dodge Colt, it's every 3000 miles or about (5000km) and on the 2005 Matrix, it's the factory recommended every 5000 miles (8000km)
FM
__________________
A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
05-19-2005, 11:05 AM | #9 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: the yo'
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I just changed mine the other day for the first time in about 10 months. I dont really drive all that much tho.
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05-19-2005, 11:08 AM | #10 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Seattle WA
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The only people who tell you to change your oil every 3000 miles are the people whose income is based upon you buying more oil. Every independent study has shown that there is no difference between changeing it after 3000 or 6000 miles.
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05-19-2005, 11:13 AM | #11 |
High School Varsity
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Here
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Our Trailblazer has a meter that measures oil life. We were told not to change it before the meter got below 20%. That works out to about 4,000 miles.
__________________
Now while I wasn't able to cut everyone I wanted to, I have cut a lot of you. - H.J.S. |
05-19-2005, 11:17 AM | #12 | |
College Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: The DMV
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Quote:
I used to do it religiously at 3000, but I'm closer to 5000-6000 these days. My manual says that you could even wait up to 7500 if you drive it under mostly "ideal" conditions. I've done it at 7500 a couple times, but I think you're pushing it at that point--I definitely notice a difference after a 7500 mi oil change... |
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05-19-2005, 11:17 AM | #13 |
Death Herald
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Le stelle la notte sono grandi e luminose nel cuore profondo del Texas
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The only time I change the oil less than 3000 miles is after I've done an engine rebuilt. I'll change it at 500, 1000, and 3000 miles right after a rebuild, to catch any of the crud that might be left over from the work.
__________________
Thinkin' of a master plan 'Cuz ain't nuthin' but sweat inside my hand So I dig into my pocket, all my money is spent So I dig deeper but still comin' up with lint Last edited by cartman : 05-19-2005 at 11:18 AM. |
05-19-2005, 11:19 AM | #14 | |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Newbury, England
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Quote:
I don;t think there's any engineering differences, it's just that most people don't bother changing the oil until a light comes on the dash to tell you you probably should start thinking about it. Admittedly mine's a company car - the oil gets topped up if low, but only gets changed when it gets serviced, which is every 12,000 miles, which lasts about 5-6 months now (used to be about 3-4, but I've changed jobs and my area is more localised now, cutting my milage from 45,000 miles a year to about 25-30,000) I don't work on the 'better safe than sorry' theory, rather the 'it's not my car so who gives a rat's ass' theory! (Edit: actually not entirely true - I don't thrash it, and do pay attention to the running temperature and sound - it's just that it has to be either a high temperature, strange noise or warning light for me to do anything outside of the standard service)
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'A song is a beautiful lie', Idlewild, Self Healer. When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. Sports! Last edited by AlexB : 05-19-2005 at 11:22 AM. |
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05-19-2005, 11:28 AM | #15 |
College Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Little Rock, AR
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The only time i ever change my oil is when i have to drive home to Texas, or if I am home, when I have to drive back to Mississippi. I've gone 10,000 miles without changing my oil before and nothing happened, I couldn't tell the difference, other than the fact my boyfriend kept bitching to me about it.
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05-19-2005, 11:38 AM | #16 |
Go Reds
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Bloodbuzz Ohio
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i get free toothbrushes and oil changes - what now Ksyrup??!
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05-19-2005, 12:07 PM | #17 |
College Prospect
Join Date: Dec 2003
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Currently I have a nice 40K Truck, so to be on the safe side I change it every 5-6K.
However when I was younger, poorer, and frankly didn't think about these types of things I once ran my used Ford Ranger that I bought for 2 grand and I had for 5 years. It finally died at 245,000 miles - I had a job where I had to drive to grocery stores all over the state and drove easily 2,000 miles a week and I NEVER CHANGED THE OIL NOT ONCE!!! Lucky maybe, who knows - but I never tuned it up, changed the tires nothin - now sure it was an eyesore and I wouldn't let my kids now within 100 yards of the thing but certainly the "recommendations" of when to change your oil are obviously a little biased. |
05-19-2005, 12:19 PM | #18 | |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: In Absentia
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Quote:
You still need a lube job.
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
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05-19-2005, 12:22 PM | #19 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Placerville, CA
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I go 6000-8000 miles between changes, but I run full synthetic in all my cars.
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05-19-2005, 12:24 PM | #20 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: North Carolina
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At 3,000 miles, I'll think, "I need to get an oil change when I get a chance." Then it is probably a few hundred more miles before I notice that I have some time to kill or will be around a jiffy lube or whatever and get around to it.
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05-19-2005, 12:25 PM | #21 |
Stadium Announcer
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Burke, VA
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my matrix has a light that comes on every 4500 miles to let you know it's time to change the oil.
__________________
I don't want the world. I just want your half. |
05-19-2005, 12:28 PM | #22 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: New York
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I haven't changed oil in 6 or 7 years...
More importantly, who here just dumps it down the sewer?
__________________
In the immortal words of a great alcoholic, "Can't we all just get along?" |
05-19-2005, 12:44 PM | #23 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
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i had a friend who bought a new car, and for 3 years he didnt change the Oil. we told him many times to change the oil and he said its a new car and new car dont need oil.
guess what happen, he blew up his engine and it made a hole the size of a half dollar coin. |
05-19-2005, 01:05 PM | #24 | |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Placerville, CA
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Quote:
I live out in the sticks... I've got 10 acres, and another 100+ of BLM land bordering my property. Recycling oil hasn't exactly caught on around my place. |
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05-19-2005, 01:05 PM | #25 |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Edinburg,TX
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4,000 miles is fine by me.
My '93 Blazer hasn't had the oil changed in over 3 years. But, I am only at 3,000 miles since the last change so I'm fine. My work truck is about every 35,000 miles, which breaks down to about every 6 weeks. Has anyone used AMSOIL Synthetics? I have been reading about this some lately. This is one of their claims... The only 25,000 mile/one- year and 35,000/one- year motor oil in the world.
__________________
You Stole Fizzy Lifting drinks! You bumped into the ceiling which now has to be washed and steralized, so you get NOTHING! You lose! |
05-19-2005, 01:08 PM | #26 |
Pro Starter
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Fairfax, VA
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I don't pay much attention to the mileage. The one car we drive a lot, get's an oil change about every 3-4 months. The other car gets one about every 5-6 months.
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05-19-2005, 01:15 PM | #27 | |
College Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Thunderdome
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Quote:
The way that I understand it is that they there are two reasons for this: 1. Nobody in Europe drives their cars in Europe as much as we do in America. Therefore, 1 year worth of driving may equal 10,000 miles instead of the 15,000 to 17,000 that we usually pull here in the states every year. 2. The "Big Oil" lobby isn't that big in Europe and thus use of synthetic oil seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Synthetic oils don't require being changed as frequently. Therefore, you can get 10,000 miles on one oil change. Guess what? That's how far you drive in a year. |
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05-19-2005, 01:42 PM | #28 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: The Black Hole
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It depends.
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05-19-2005, 01:44 PM | #29 |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: In Absentia
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I am shocked - SHOCKED - no one has attempted a, "How often do you change your underwear?" thread yet.
Perhaps all of the brow-beating about parody threads is starting to work...
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." Last edited by Ksyrup : 05-19-2005 at 01:44 PM. |
05-19-2005, 02:10 PM | #30 |
Pro Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Los Angeles
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ive made it to 154,000 on a freakin dodge neon.
how? well, i have an oil leak, so i just fill er up when the oil light comes on. i change it all out after about 5k or so, though, for filters and whatnot, and whatever else they do (magic pixie dust? i have no idea) |
05-19-2005, 02:12 PM | #31 |
H.S. Freshman Team
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Richmond, VA
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Usually somewhere between 4000 to 5000 miles. I drive a Buick LeSabre with 190K miles on it and still no problems (knocks on wood).
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05-19-2005, 02:14 PM | #32 | |
Hattrick Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Pintendre, Qc, Canada
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Quote:
I've made it so far to 160k with my 1994 Dodge Colt, which is the old sister of the Neon. Same as you, I check the oil level regularly and I add some when it needs some and I change the oil every 3000 miles. While it's not running as smoothly as it was when it was new, it still starts every morning, even in temperatures as cold as -20F this past Winter. Never changed the engine. FM
__________________
A Black Belt is a White Belt who refused to give up... follow my story: The real life story of a running frog... |
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05-19-2005, 02:16 PM | #33 |
High School JV
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Florida Swampland
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With my Mazda 6 the dealer recommends every 3k miles, the owner's manual recommends every 5k miles, and the Mazda web site recommends every 7.5k miles. Cracks me up that the car company can't even give me a straight answer.
I usually change it every 5-7k miles. My Ram 1500 with 40k miles gets changed every 3-5k. |
05-19-2005, 02:21 PM | #34 |
College Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Beantown
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When my average miles per gallon falls below 28 I take it in. This usually occurs around 4,000 miles
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Boston Bashers - III.14 - (8347) |
05-19-2005, 08:59 PM | #36 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: East Anglia
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I remember when the standard was to change oil every 8,000 miles. I have had more than one mechanic confirm to me that 3K is a BS number made to sell oil and oil changes and 5K is more than suitable to keep the car running.
__________________
Molon labe |
05-19-2005, 09:06 PM | #37 |
College Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Chula Vista, CA
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VW always had a every 5K oil change policy, so I pretty much do mine every 5K. Of course, I'll always use full syntec -- the last thing I need is for my turbo to go kaput.
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05-19-2005, 09:07 PM | #38 | |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: East Anglia
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Quote:
If you are using Syntec you should be able to go more like 20K between changes. That stuff is sweet.
__________________
Molon labe |
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05-19-2005, 09:10 PM | #39 | |
College Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Chula Vista, CA
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Quote:
Always using full Syntec. I'm just used to getting my oil changed every 5K. I wouldn't worry so much if I had a turbo timer installed, however.
__________________
...what we have here is a man who looks like Tarzan, but fights like Jane! My VG collection | Xbox 360 Gamertag: ManThol | PS3 Network ID: hukarez Doce Pares International - San Diego Council Filipino Martial Arts Digest tweet tweet twitter |
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05-19-2005, 10:03 PM | #40 |
High School Varsity
Join Date: Aug 2003
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A few years ago, Consumer Reports did a study on oil, and they concluded that there is no benefit to changing it less than every 7500 miles.
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