By Crystal Childs and Dan Elmer
Why should follow the manufacturer’s requirements?
Oil change intervals have steadily risen over the years, from 500 miles, 1000 miles, 2000 miles, 3000 miles, up to today’s 10,000 mile intervals on some models. There are numerous reasons why intervals continue to expand:
1. Improved Oils – Today’s oils are better than ever, and include expensive additives that control oil flow under all typical temperatures, while providing superior lubrication over a long life cycle. Auto manufacturers ensure today’s oils meet these extended intervals, by specifying that oil companies meet stringent requirements for extended oil use. Today’s GF-4 long-life standard, the only type oil we use, includes self-cleaning detergents which help keep the oil clean throughout the time it is utilized.
2. Improved Gasoline – Until recent years, gasoline contained lead, a major contaminator of engine oils. Today’s gasoline burns very clean, and it contains additives that help scrub the engine.
3. Improved Fuel Systems – Today’s engines are effectively controlled by computerized fuel injection, a vast improvement over old-time carburetors, which regularly allowed excess fuel to contaminate the engine oil. Lean burning engine designs run clean by burning most of the regulated fuel mixture in the cylinder chamber, unlike outdated methods no longer utilized.
4. Improved Engine Technology – The engine designs of today include micro fitting in all phases of design and construction, which are important for keeping the engine oil clean longer. Piston ring blow-by, a problem in the past, has nearly been eliminated through these advances.
5. Temperature Controls – Under hood temperatures after engine shut-off are closely controlled by electric fans to eliminate excess temperature buildup, a former source of engine sludge creation.
6. Manufacturer Oil and Air Filters – Original equipment oil and air filters contain tightly wound and laced filtering and absorption materials, which are designed to function effectively up to two oil changes. Unlike some cheap aftermarket filters, these filters clean ultra-fine wear particles to 18 microns, far extending the life of engine oil.
When is it necessary to change your oil more often than the required mileages?
Under certain conditions, it may be necessary to change the engine oil more often. Manufacturers request that you change the oil between required service intervals if you have driven your vehicle more than half the time in one or more of these conditions:
A. Most trips are less than 10 miles, and the temperature outside is below freezing each day.
B. Most trips are less than 5 miles, regardless of outside temperature.
C. The vehicle is driven on a lengthy dusty (dirt) road during most trips.
D. Regular trips include heavy traffic, stop and go driving, with long periods of idling (such as taxi usage).
E. Continuous driving in over 90 degree temperatures.
As you can see, most vehicle owners waste time and money changing oil more often than the manufacturer required intervals. Unnecessary oil changes also squander the earth’s natural resources, and create additional hazardous waste. Oil companies regularly promote 3,000 mile oil changes strictly to drive their own profits, not to benefit the consumer.
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