Oil Changes - Too Frequently or Not Often Enough?

There was an article in the Los Angeles Times in December, 2011 about the frequency of oil changes.  The State of California hopes to break car owner's habit of changing the oil too often. California has launched a campaign against the widespread notion that oil changes are needed every 3,000 miles. Officials say the practice wastes millions of gallons of oil a year.

Even auto manufacturers are printing in owner's manuals that oil changes are not due until 7,500 or even every 10,000 miles. But, what is best for your vehicle? 

Vehicles are lasting longer. Why? Because when the oil and filter are changed every 3,000 miles or every 5,000 miles with synthetic oil, the engines last longer.  Automakers are in the market to sell vehicles. They don't want us driving our vehicles for 8-10 years or longer.  If you wait until 7,500 or 10,000 miles between oil changes, the engines will not last as long as they could if the oil is changed more frequently.

So, what is best for the vehicle?  If you want to continue to drive your vehicle for years to come without engine failure or oil burning issues, change the oil every 3,000 miles or every 5,000 miles with synthetic oil. When the oil life percentage is 50% left, you have driven about 3,000 miles. Do not wait until the oil life left is 0% before changing the oil. 

Bottom line:  We may save millions of gallons of oil by driving the vehicles longer between oil changes but you will be replacing that vehicle sooner than later.

Manufacturer Recalls

Honda is recalling 974 2012 Honda Accord, Civic and Crosstour vehicles to inspect and repair a potential problem with the side curtain airbag system.  Certain of these vehicles may contain an incorrect mixture of propellant in the side airbag system. An incorrect mixture of propellant in the initiator component of the system could result in a partial failure of the side curtain airbag system in the event of a crash. Dealers will inspect and replace one or both airbags as necessary.

2012 Honda Civic

Toyota announced that it will conduct safety recall involving certain 2009 Camry and 2009 to certain 2011 Venza vehicles to replace the stop lamp switch. Approximately 70,500 Camry and 116,000 Venza vehicles are covered by this recall. Silicon grease may have reached the inside of the switch and caused an increase in electrical resistance. If this occurs, warning lamps on the instrument panel may be illuminated, the vehicle may not start, or the shift lever may not shift from the "Park" position. In some cases, the vehicle stop lamps may become inoperative.