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Posted on 01/06/2012 3:07:32 PM PST by Michael.SF.
When was the last time state tax dollars went toward telling you not to do something?
Ads against drunk driving, certainly. Perhaps ads against smoking cigarettes.
But now, California is embarking on a campaign to persuade its citizens not to change their oil so much.
More modern motor oils, better control of the combustion process through vastly more powerful electronic circuitry, and the persistence of generations-old auto advice have combined to lengthen oil-change intervals.
Yet many of us change our oil more often than we need to.
In California, in fact, roughly half of all drivers change their oil every 3,000 miles—or even more often!—despite manufacturers' recommended intervals for new cars that may be a multiple of that number.
And that, says California's Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery, wastes oil that could potentially have a far longer life.
According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, the department has launched an ad campaign to encourage owners to be aware of the recommended oil-change interval for their car.
The tagline "Check Your Number," is also the domain name for a website that links owners to a website that gives the the carmaker's recommended interval—these days, often 7,500 to 15,000 miles—for their specific vehicle.
That links to some general advice about what the number means, along descriptions of unusual driving patterns that might require more frequent oil changes. Other more standard advice: Keep your tires properly inflated and switch off the engine if the car is stopped for more than a few seconds.
If every driver moved to the recommended oil-change interval, says a department spokesman, 10 million gallons of engine oil could be saved each year.
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
Newer cars say 6000 miles. Places that sell oil changes say 3000. I get a traditional (not synthetic) good quality oil change every 5000 miles in the moderate climate of PA. I change the air filter every other time and I regularly get 100k+ trouble free miles from an engine. As a matter of fact, the decision to get a different car happens despite the fact that the engine works great.
.
I agree, there's no way 50% of Californians change their oil at the 3000 mile mark.
10 million gallons of engine oil could be saved each year.
Saved? This author is grade A, 100% stupid.
As long as it’s collected and sent to recycler (and not dumped in the yard, down a drain.. yadda yadda yadda) waste oil is RECYCLED.
They make chainsaw bar oil out of it, tar, hell, Valvoline is making motor oil out of it.
It can also be burned for heating.
Trust me, not a drop is “wasted”
There is alot of calling BS on the FR threads today. I do agree with you because many people rack up 2 to 3ooo miles per month. You know they do not change the oil every month or month and a half.
Was not intended to be an "oil thread", more of a "Big Brother" thread as another example of government intrusion in our lives.
We still have a 1992 Escort LX we bought new. I changed the oil when I got around to it, but I did use synthetic or synthetic blends in it. It now has 322,000 miles on it and it’s the original engine. Other than a puff of smoke when starting and burning a quart of oil every couple of months, the engine runs great. But I think this may be the year we part with it.
I change the oil on my '09 Toyota Sienna every 5000 miles. That's what it calls for and the vehicle is under warranty. I don't want to screw that up.
I had an '89 Ford Ranger that I drove the wheels off of. I never changed the oil in it. I only added oil when it was low. It was beat-up as you can imagine, a perfect A to B work truck. Ran like a champ. Had to sell it when I moved. Sure miss that truck!
Years and years ago, I had an uncle who towed a travel trailer. He pulled it with a 1968 Buick LeSabre with the 455 cubic inch V8.
He changed his oil every 1000 miles. I laughed at him one time and said; “you’re throwing away perfectly good oil!”
He said no, he really wasn’t. Back in them days, it was common for a power plant like that to burn a quart every thousand miles. And what with towing a trailer, it was recommended that oil be changed every 1000 miles. At least.
I was like “Wow!”
My 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid’s owners manual recommends 10,000 miles. I {panic} around 8000 miles and break down and get it changed. I hope to get a quarter million miles on her.
My 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid’s owners manual recommends 10,000 miles. I {panic} around 8000 miles and break down and get it changed. I hope to get a quarter million miles on her.
The battery will crap out before the gas engine does.
We really need to charge are state legislators every 3000 words of legislation or 3 months.
Both of my vehicles (Jeep Liberty, PT Cruiser) use Mobil 1 and Fram extended range filter, change every 10k miles. Cheaper than regular oil. And it’s still clean inside after 10k miles. Mobil 1 says theoretically it could go 50k miles.
Not much at all. Maybe a few quarts the life of the car. I only sold it because the heater core, tie rods and brakes needed repair all at the same time. I couldn’t see putting more $ in repairs that the car was worth.
When I had a mechanic change the oil at 65K during NYS Safety Inspection and asked him if the oil looked right. He said it looked normal. When I told him how old it was, his jaw dropped.
Meanwhile a guy I worked with at the time bought the same model and new was going through a quart every 750 miles. He was not happy when the dealer told him it was normal. Fortunately that dealer is now out of business.
I smell a plan to start charging money for oil recycling.
Oil is cheeper than engines.
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