Changing your oil???
 

Ok, got a good one. My dad has been an ASE certified mechanic for over 35 years and has always taught me that the oil should be changed in a car every 3000 miles or 3 months. I have always followed this and every once in a while, would let it go to 4000.

My dad has been receiving bulletins at work from GM for the technicians not to change the oil that often, and to follow the "Oil Life" indicator if on the car. Their reason to this is that the oil today is alot better and the Oil Life indicator adjusts to the driving. Also, the posts are going out because of todays growing oil shortage.

My question is: What do you guys do? Follow the indicator or change on a specific mileage. I am just worried that GM is wanting their cars to die quicker so us consumers have to buy new cars more often.

3000 miles was a benchmark created for old dinosaur juice in 'older' cars. Ours are designed to create less friction, and have better cooling and circulation. 3000 miles would be for extreme conditions. Short trips in 100°+ weather.

4-5000 is more reasonable, especially if you're running premium oil or synthetic.

I always change mine at 3000, just because I am anal about proper engine care. It could go over easily, but I still do it every 3000.

I watch my oil life monitor, when it reads 30% I usually schedule a change. Luckily the oil comes out pretty decent. Its just a nice way to celebrate another 5000kms, a fresh batch of oil for getting me around safely.

for the SSEi we change the oil once we get to about 25% on the oil life monitor. My car doesn't have one, so I just change it between 3,000 and 5,000 miles.

Usually get about 8000 miles out of the indicator using Mobil 1. The last change was after 8600 miles and the oil still looked like honey.

Same here about 5000kms, with the use of a block heater and cold winters I like to change it often.

I just use the oil ife monitor, while using Mobil 1, and a Purolater Plus oil filter.

Good Oil, Great filter, and then I'm comfortable with the computers estimate based on my driving style. (moderate to slightly agressive depending on how nice it is :D )

My '92 Bonne SSE is the first car I've owned that I strictly follow 3K oil change and 6K oil filter change interval. Typically I look for least expensive 10w-40 I can find that meets GM specs. As for oil filters, I know guys on this site rag on Frams but I've run many Fram filters on this little beauty.

It may be just this "venerable" old soldier of an engine but, by far, it has given me the best service of any car I have ever owned. Just turned 204K and she uses no oil between changes. Just changed the oil pan gasket at 200K. The cylinder walls (that I could see from underneath) showed no appreciable wear, scratches, etc. She pulls in almost the same gas mileage as when I first purchased her with 30K on the odo (23mpg in town and 31mph highway. Also the inside of the valve covers look as good as my '95 Vette with 24K. Oh, by the way, I change the oil and filter in that one every 5K, but then again, I'm using Mobil 1 in that puppy!

PS - Still have the '92 (just hate to part with her), but I just bought '01 SSEi. Hope she treats me as well.

I'm with "W" I wait till it hits about 30% and look/sniff it see. Mobil 1 is good stuff. I use the bigger 3980 Fram for more a little extra oil in the system.