A question for the car geeks

[giza]

When I worked in the suburbs, I would put around 2,500 miles on my car every 3 months, so I would get an oil change every 3 months.

Now that I work in Center City, I'm lucky if I drive my car once a WEEK, so that means I'm going to be getting far less than 2,500 miles per 3 months. In fact, I suspect I'll be seeing less than 1,000 miles per 3 months.

So, my question for the car geeks out there is: do I still need to go in for an oil change every 3 months? Or can I stretch that out for a long period of time? Keep in mind that I'm not much of a car geek, so I don't do any maintenance on the car myself.

Comments appreciated.

Comments

[silverscalenaga.livejournal.com]

3K miles ~ 3 months generally is how i understand its done. whichever is sooner.

[thefoxes.livejournal.com]

I forget how old your car is, but your warranty / easycare requires you to get regular maintenance, whether or not you think you need it. It's also easier (adinistratively) to get it all done at the dealership. If your engine explodes and you've "neglected" your oil changes, they have a legal excuse to not pay for your new engine.

As for outside your warranty, I have no idea how healthy it is to postpone oil changes. :)

[giza.livejournal.com]

Oh crap, good point.

I may have to go read the fine print and/or contact the warranty company for more details.

[giza.livejournal.com]

So... I just checked my owner's manual and my warranty contract.

Owner's manual requires oil changes at least once a year, and major maintenance every 25k miles. My contract considers the requirement met if maintenance occurs within 1,000 miles or 30 days of the required interval. So that's pretty liberal to me!

[megadog.livejournal.com]

What does the manufacturer's service-recommendation say?

Most modern cars are 12,000 miles/12 months, whichever comes sooner.

Does it have a "service due" light? If so, trust it - these things monitor each cold/hot-start, each minute of idling or running, each time the engine is taken up to sensible RPM - and can compute service-intervals a hell of a lot more accurately than anything calculated on a simple time/mileage basis.

[redrob.livejournal.com]

While not a car geek, my general rule has been (and it's worked well for me) is every 3K miles or 6 months, which ever is sooner. And you can stretch that to 5K miles and 12 months fairly safely (I've used this for a personal safety cushion myself).

Alex

[firedhusky.livejournal.com]

When it reaches 3k miles. Considering you ll run your car at least once a week, 3k miles seems to be ok.


FDH

[zorinlynx.livejournal.com]

My car's manual says every 7500 miles or every year, whichever comes first. So I normally go by that.

My dealership, on the other hand, wants me to come in every 2000 miles. This is a bit ridiculous, and they make money every time I bring it in, so I think I'll trust the manual before the dealer, since the dealer has a profit motive.

Probably the same deal in your case.

-Z

[patchoblack.livejournal.com]

You work in Central City? WOW! Say hi to The Flash for me! =^_^=

[ryvex.livejournal.com]

3000 miles or 6 months; whichever comes first.

Pretty simple?

[ionotter.livejournal.com]

New car under warranty: follow the instructions in your user manual.

Used car with over 50K: every 3000 miles. Religiously.

I do my own oil changes, since it's so easy to do. I just hit WalMart and pick up the highest grade oil filter I can get, along with a 5-quart jug of non-synthetic oil, simply because it's more expensive.

You'll never hurt yourself by learning how to change your own fluids and filters. Well...not unless the car falls on you, that is...

[delphi-of-clf.livejournal.com]

You've probably got a good answer by now anyhow, but here's my nickle ninty five. If your car sits idle for long periods of time, the gas in it would eventually loose its potency. I'd say the same for about any other fluid in it, oil included.

Since you aren't going to be driving a thousand miles a month or so, I'd say you should still change your oil every four months, twice a year if you really wanted to stretch it. But at least once or twice a month, take it out of the barn and let it know ya still love it :). Go drive around somewhere, do whatever. It's still got to be taken care of on occassion.

But yeah, that's about all I've got.