Ford Motor Company issued an “automotive maintenance myths” statement last month that both debunked the traditional 3,000-mile oil change and promoted the use of synthetic motor oil.
MYTH: Cars need oil changes every three months or 3,000 miles.
False: That used to be true, but not with newer cars. Because of synthetic oils that don’t break down as quickly, consumers actually don’t need oil changes as often – more like every 5,000 to 7,500 miles – or even 10,000 on the new 2011 Mustang depending on your driving habits. (There may be two recommendations for oil-change intervals: one for normal driving and one for hard use. Check your maintenance guide to be sure.)
SAVE: Either way, there’s a considerable savings here: Let’s say you’re an average consumer who drives 12,000 miles a year, which means you would need about four oil changes a year under the old formula. With the new extended mileage, consumers need only about two oil changes a year, cutting their bill for oil changes in half – you could pocket upward of $50 a year or $650 in the lifetime of your car and do something to help the environment by saving oil.
General Motors has previously stated that traditional 3,000-mile oil change recommendations are outdated. In June 2008, the company teamed with the California Environmental Protection Agency and its Integrated Waste Management board to promote the state’s “3,000 Mile Myth” campaign encouraging drivers to follow auto manufacturers’ recommended drain intervals.
AMSOIL developed the first extended drain motor oil and is the leader in extended drain technology. As an increasing number of automotive manufacturers follow that lead, drain interval recommendations will continue to climb.
For more information about AMSOIL synthetic lubricants and performance filtration products contact Anthony Garner at Competition Synthetics. Anthony is an Amsoil T-1 Certified Independent Dealer. E-mail Anthony at compsyn@live.com, or visithttp://competitionsynthetics.com
Do you hold the view that it is important to change your vehicles motor oil every 3,000-miles?
Read on and consider how the antiquated 3000-mile oil change recommendation is based on old technology and is outdated by many of today’s standards.
Compiled below is information provided by General Motors, California Integrated Waste Management Board, and Amsoil, Inc.
The standard 3,000-mile oil change interval is under attack. Promoted for years by most motor oil companies and quick lube businesses as an essential part of proper vehicle maintenance, the public has become much more skeptical in recent years. In fact, searches for “3,000 mile oil change” in top Internet search engines such as Google and Yahoo! primarily yield articles and blog postings that challenge the practice and refer to it as a “scam” or “myth.”
Note: The video below is helpful in the debate because it demonstrates how it is impossible to tell when motor oil needs to be changed based on the color of the oil alone.
AMSOIL synthetic motor oil was introduced in 1972 as the only motor oil on the market recommended for 25,000-mile/one year drain intervals, and the company has spent much of the last 37 years as the lone voice promoting the benefits of extended drain intervals. However, AMSOIL has recently welcomed an increasing number of companies and organizations to the party. Although they still don’t recommend drain intervals as long as AMSOIL recommendations, the momentum is growing.
Vehicle manufacturers have mostly recommended oil change intervals exceeding 3,000 miles in recent years. In fact, most recommend intervals of 5,000 miles or more. Ford Motor Company recommends drain intervals of 7,500 miles in its model year 2007 and newer vehicles, while other manufacturers incorporate oil monitoring systems in their newer vehicles that allow motorists to extend drain intervals even further.
In its December 2006 issue, Consumer Reports encourages drivers to follow the longer oil change recommendations of vehicle manufacturers, saying, “Although oil companies and quick-lube shops like to promote this idea [that engine oil should be changed every 3,000 miles], it's usually not necessary. Go by the recommended oil-change schedule in your vehicle's owner's manual. Most vehicles driven under normal conditions can go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes. Some models now come with a monitoring system that alerts the driver when the oil needs changing. Depending on driving conditions, these can extend change intervals to 10,000 or 15,000 miles.”
Steve Ritter, senior editor of Chemical & Engineering News, writes, “Conventional wisdom has held that the oil should be changed about every 3,000 miles. This notion has been ingrained into people's heads for decades, in part as a marketing ploy by oil companies. The 3,000-mile interval made sense when engines used single-grade nondetergent oils. But with the latest oils and car designs, it's no longer necessary to change oil that often under normal driving conditions.”
Concerned about the effects of used oil on the environment and responding to research that indicates 73 percent of California drivers change motor oil more often than their vehicle’s manufacturer recommends, the California Environmental Protection Agency and its Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) have emerged as another strong opponent of the 3,000-mile oil change. The group recently launched a public information program and website (www.3000milemyth.org) designed to “bust the 3,000-mile myth” and encourage drivers to reduce used oil volume by following the longer oil drain recommendations of vehicle manufacturers.
“Used motor oil poses a great risk to the environment,” said CIWMB Chair Margo Reid Brown. “With better made cars and the rise of synthetic oils, the 3,000-mile standard is not always recommended.”
Most recently, General Motors announced its support of the CIWMB program to educate drivers about oil change intervals. According to GM, standard 3,000-mile oil change recommendations are based on outdated engine and oil technology, and the company instead recommends changing oil based on its Oil Life System. Currently included on over 97 percent of all GM vehicles sold in the U.S., the GM Oil Life System typically allows drivers to extend drain intervals up to 10,000 miles through use of a computer-based software algorhythm that measures vehicle operating conditions. With 31 million vehicles on the road equipped with the Oil Life System, GM spokesman Tom Henderson claims following its recommendations rather than the 3,000-mile rule could save 100 million gallons of oil annually.
In addition to the environmental benefits associated with less waste oil, extended drain intervals save consumers money. For example, customers who purchase conventional oil at $3 or more per quart, drive 25,000 miles per year and follow 3,000-mile oil change recommendations spend at least $120 per year on oil alone (assuming a five-quart sump capacity). AMSOIL customers who pay $9.15 per quart under the same conditions pay only $61.75 per year.
“When it comes to oil changes, less is more,” claims the CIWMB. “You’ll have more money in your wallet by changing your oil less, and fewer oil changes mean less oil that needs to be safely managed and recycled.”
Premium AMSOIL synthetic motor oils offer the longest drain intervals on the market, unsurpassed protection and performance that effectively extends equipment life and improved fuel economy, saving customers money at the pump and reducing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.
For more information about AMSOIL synthetic lubricants and performance filtration products contact Anthony Garner at Competition Synthetics. Anthony is an Amsoil T-1 Certified Independent Dealer. E-mail Anthony at compsyn@live.com, or visithttp://competitionsynthetics.com
AMSOIL offers three levels of high quality synthetic motor oil to suite the individual needs of each customer. The three levels are referred to as PERFORMANCE, PERFORMANCE PLUS and MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE.
PERFORMANCE
AMSOIL OE 0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30, 15W-40 Synthetic Motor Oils
Formulated for Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)-recommended drain intervals AMSOIL OE Synthetic Motor Oils help provide better wear control, highand low-temperature protection and increased fuel economy compared to conventional oils. The oil drain recommendations for many of today’s vehicles extend well beyond the traditional 3,000-mile interval, some up to 12,000 miles with electronic oil monitoring systems. AMSOIL OE Oils provide excellent protection and performance for the entire length of the original equipment manufacturer’s recommended drain interval.
PERFORMANCE PLUS
AMSOIL XL Extended Life 0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30 and 10W-40 Synthetic Motor Oils
Formulated for up to 10,000-mile/six-month drain intervals, or longer when recommended in owners’ manuals or indicated by oil monitoring systems. AMSOIL XL Extended Life Synthetic Motor Oils provide better wear control, high- and low-temperature protection and increased fuel economy compared to conventional oils. Formulated with extended-drain boost technology, AMSOIL XL Synthetic Motor Oils provide superior performance for up to 10,000-miles/six months, or longer when recommended in owners’ manuals or indicated by electronic oil life monitoring systems.
MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE
AMSOIL 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-30, 5W-30 and 10W-30 Top-Tier Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oils
Formulated for up to 25,000-mile/one-year drain intervals. The top-tier Signature Series AMSOIL synthetic motor oils deliver extraordinary lubrication in all types of automotive gasoline engines. Combining the industry-premier synthetic technology with AMSOIL premium additives, AMSOIL synthetic motor oils exceed the higher performance demands of modern engines, withstanding the stress of higher horsepower, higher heat and complicated emission control systems. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are engineered to outperform competitive conventional and synthetic motor oils and deliver long-lasting performance and protection for up to 25,000- mile/one-year drain intervals.
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