Oil changes: How often do you need them? (Marketplace)
How often should you change your engine oil? In a hidden camera investigation, we test what you're told at the dealership and then actually test your engine oil in a lab to see who's right.
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For anyone that’s thinking “oh hey I don’t have to change my oil for a year” please do not forget to check your oil level between intervals
Yep. Even in an engine that burns little oil, it will still burn enough in that timespan.
Especially if you've got a Subaru or an Audi with an oil consumption problem.
@@miketonon7946 in my experience, have a '06 Ion that's received full synthetic since day 1 (exact brands though I couldn't say as the service receipts don't mention it) and after 5K miles the oil will still be in the safe zone, but there will be rather apparent oil burn still, especially if you know where the dipstick was at on the fill-up
There’s a light for that too 🙃
that's what the car engine oil indicator is for. In case you use your car more often or drive in a hotter environment that burns oils faster. Of course, it helps keep your car in prime condition with a manual check, as you really have to change the oil immediately after the indicator light is on.
“The oil they use in the beginning is so pure” lol
that cracks me up!!
zhuoqun xu .... must be baby oil.
blackdaan lmao
brilliant
I think they use extra virgin oil.
What the owners manual also states is that the oil change intervals is based on ideal driving conditions.
exactly here in toronto with frigid winters, hot humid summers and terrible stop and go traffic i would change every 6 months or 8000km.
It us a scientific fact that most people don't drive in ideal conditions when commuting into most cities. Toyota cut their ti.e to 5k .Iles fro. 10k miles due to the seals failing. Weak seals and light oil. Helps gas mileage, but not on wear
@@christopherjoyce9788 VW states 15,000 km, but I change mine at 7-8,000 km which I think is close to 5,000 miles.
GM always said to wait for the oil light to come. I waited like it says and it never came on until 11k miles each time and then, I immediately got the oil changed. Come to find out, it ruined the timing chain on my Chevrolet Cruze because the oil needed to be changed more often. Cost me $2790! What is cheaper, an oil change every 5,000 miles or $2790 for a timing change? You do the math! Waiting that long always gummed up the engine! I’ll stick to every 5,000 miles!
Those lights are bull crap there’s no way the computer can tell the state of the oil. It turns the light on by guessing your driving habits. The best way to check your oil is to pull the dip stick it’s that simple.
The light on my wifes Honda Accord tells her to change the oil. The oil is still like new. I took over her Pontiac Torrent I dont plan on draining the oil. It has 65.000 miles and 7 years since the last oil drain. It has a Australian Jackmaster Classic on it. I gave up dirty oil and oil drains in 1963. I dont sell the Jackmaster Classic.
Chevy Cruze have a turbo the number one rule with turbos is clean oil.
For everyone who thinks that oil lasts 20k miles or once a year needs to remember - oil is cheap, engines are not
straight fact...
Exactly!!!
depends on the car
i know that in some european cars like mercedes it’s recommended that it’s changed every 20k miles
pc master apek thats why its not reliable
It also depends on the type of driving you mostly doing. If it’s mostly short journeys there’s more cold starts than mostly long journeys so the oil will degrade quicker.
A sure way to determine that, is to base oil change intervals on the fuel burned. Once you've used 200 times more fuel than the amount of oil in the crank case and filter, it's time to change oil and filter. In severe conditions, that may be only 5~6,000 Km, under ideal driving conditions, it could stretch beyond 15,000 Km. Fuel consumption is a much more accurate indicator than distance.(50 gallons of gas per quart of crank case and filter capacity) That applies to just about ANY engine equipped with an oil filter!
@George L - right
Short trips mean lower mileage....
@George L True. Longer trips especially highway miles will help burn off water and fuel contamination due to heating your oil.
Both Elmo and Richard are right.
The manufacturer does NOT have your best interest in mind. They just want it to last to the end of the warranty period. Extended oil changes and lifetime transmission fluids were all about lowering the "cost of ownership" I had a 2004 Toyota Camry and was following the maintenance schedule. Then at the 90,000 mile service, some services like transmission fluid change were now check fluid. When I questioned the change, they said to lower the "cost of ownership." Probably because Toyota's appeared expensive to maintain. Manufacturers really don't want you to keep your car 300,000 miles. They need to sell you a new car. 😅
2:42, "the oil they use at the beginning is so pure." Lmao. You should be fired sir.
Oil is cheap. Engine costs a ton. The choice is yours. Quoted from scotty kilmer
Frans filters are the go.
I watch Scotty Kilmer for advice about cars.
Or I will recommend Eric the Car Guy for advice.
Not exactly the most logical thing ever. Why spend money when you dont have to? Oils have only gotten better. The real debate is how much better synthetic is vs conventional. Probably not much. Go spend $20 on a conventional oil change at Walmart when your car needs it.
Yeah, I wouldn't listen to a guy who gets his oil changed at a shopping store like Walmart on the cheap. Go to a reliable place or do it yourself..Ive had 3 vehicles in my lifetime..all have made it past 200k without ANY engine problems..why? Because I change my oil EVERY 3000 miles...simple as that.
I change my own engine oil - fraction of the price. It's really not hard folks.
I wait until a synthetic one come in special. You are not hurry so waiting for deal make you save more. Filter I choose the middle price one.
Video Leak Police or u can buy it from Walmart for a fraction of the price
Homedepot and walmart sell oil for $18 and filters for $8
Realizing my kia optima is 8 years old now and not new I started doing my own changes again. Switched to walmart brand 10w-30 full synthetic. 5qt jug and walmart brand filter all for $18 and change, dont get cheaper than that. I set 5000 mile intervals but i am thinkijg about doing it every 7000 especially since I went full synthetic.
Not really, Hybrid oil change over 50$ full synthetic.
There is NOTHING wrong with changing oil more often than needed. Clean, fresh oil will always help protect against wear better than filthy, carbon laden oil.
Sure there is, wasteful use of a finite resource
It's not an "oil change monitoring system". There's no sensor measuring the oil. It's just the computer calculating when it should be changed.
GM oil indicators are very accurate. I've done oil analysis on my Buick Regal Turbo when the indicator showed 10% left at the 1 year point. The oil analysis showed the oil was still good.
Yep and that's actually quite easy to do, as the computer knows exactly at what RPM and how long with how much load at what temps and how much idle time the engine was operated. The computer knows basically ALL factors which age the oil.
Don’t trust a mechanic that drives a dodge nitro
That was my first thought! I had to do a double take.
WHY ! ? I DRIVE A DODGE NITRO & A DODGE CHARGER THAT HAS NOX !! BE MORE CLEAR ! YOUR STATEMENT IS USELESS WITHOUT CLARIFICATION !!
Hahahaha, but ya never know, maybe he just likes changing head gaskets 🤷🏻♂️😂
👍real talk , scotty Kilmer would not approve.
@@vulcanpilot-go7dj yess
I have never seen an engine have a catastrophic failure because the car’s owner overcharged the oil. The opposite in not true. Change your oil based on mileage not time.
Not if youre in a traffic congested city.
You’re the mechanic shepherd pie especially in NY or LA lol. Good luck with 10k miles after 24 months! Deep pocket!
@@TheEvoxTurbo 24 months? If the engine not driven over 10K, there is no reason to change the oil until that time. Wasteful.
That's not entirely true - just going off mileage. I drive my RV 2 k miles a year, sometimes less. I still change it every year. This is especially true if it just sits majority of the time, humid weather and oxidization breaks down oil.
@@markusallport1276 No, Stop and go short trip driving is hard on oils. Ans if just let the car sit for months condensation will form in the oil. This is not good
You can tell a difference in performance and fuel use when you change the oil. Huge difference. I’m a self employed truck driver and I can tell a difference on my rig. And using the right oil on your vehicle matters
waaaay cooler temperatures, even on my 14 mustang gt, an entire 20 degrees c, cooler for first 2000 miles before it starts to gradually drop, or if i push the vehicle to its limits often itll go down after 1k. changing at 3k-4k miles really does make a difference in increasing the longevity of the engines life span
Extended oil change intervals are due to government regulations imposed on new car manufactures and are driven by the environmental concerns and not the wear concerns. So, of course the owner's manual will reflect that. The new car dealerships are branded independent businesses and can recommend what they feel is best for the engine.
BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@@flycatchful I remember another video comment section where someone thought that Subaru's PZEV actually meant partially zero emission, as in out the tailpipe. When I informed him that it only referred to the evaporative emission system's superior quality that allowed them to legally "market" it as a partially zero emission vehicle, he told me I was spreading misinformation. So may folks don't realize just how much bureaucracy is happening with our government agencies.
Depends on how the car is driven. Can be anywhere from 3,000-10,000 miles. Stop n go delivery cars change at 3,000 miles, whereas everyday highway driving cars change at 10,000 miles. Also depends on which kinda oil and filter.
nonturbo car on highway can go 15k miles with full synthetic. city turbo cars 7k miles synthetic, 3k cheap conventional oil. Refill every 3 months, Change 12 months or expired oil gauge.
When u're NOT from Canada but still watch because they're more informative than where u live...
SAME!
MeMe O. Yesssss 🙀💋
Lol let me guess your where Trump is
Not from Canada, but just watched "What Happens Whe You Don't Change Your Oil?" from EricTheCarGuy, video is 2 min 55 secs. Pretty informative.
You guys should watch all the marketplace episodes. They are good!
I am a bit old school when I went synthetic I went all the way up to 4000 miles. I know it cost me quite a bit over the life of the vehicle and I am good with that. Currently I have a small local mechanic doing the work. If he finds something wrong we fix it. The chain establishment I went to before had a lot of recommendations for service. You kind of had to sort through them. My hemi engine has small oil galleries and is known for burning out lifter rollers and eating cans. $1500 over the life of my truck seems cheap.
Yes so you would change oil at a max of 5000 miles the engine will last alot longer.
As a mechanic, all I can say is.. IT DEPENDS. If you do alot of extended highway driving you can go longer on oil changes(no more than 10000 miles) If you short trip or do alot of in town driving then definitely change sooner(3000 miles). You also have to keep in mind the quality of the oil filter which is just as important if not MORE important than the oil. Oil is tightly regulated and tested and most oils perform really well, filters not so much .Do not put quality oil in your car with a cheap filter. Filter quality roughly matches price so its difficult to go wrong. The goal is to change the oil when it reaches below an optimum performance level. Better to change sooner than later. Why risk pushing the oil past its limit?
I have a 2013 Camry 2.5 liter 4 cylinder. The manual says every 10k with 0w20. I change it every 7k. I drive about 80% highway miles and very easy on the pedal. In your professional opinion is there any reason that would hurt the car in the long run? I’ve heard some mechanics say I should change every 5k just to be safe but 7k seems to work well for me so far. I plan to drive it til the wheels fall off
@@scottg429 nah ur doing good. If h like slamming the pedal once in a while it’s still good even at that 7k interval. I only did 3k miles in 7 months on my Mazda 6 and I like to floor the pedal here and there to feel the performance or just to avoid thick carbon build ups since it’s a gdi engine but I always run 87 from Mobil it’s more expensive than bp and stuff but I noticed with my car mobil doesn’t give off a burning smell through my vents when I floor it while bp shell and others do. I was actually kinda disappointed shell wasn’t as good in my car since they have a good reputation with v8 cars and stuff
@@scottg429 youre asking a COMPLETE stranger on the INTERNET a question ... he may or may not even be a mechanic, ask around in person for these types of questions
I am in south of Europe and only oil filter Mann or Knecht. Oil fully syntetic. Changing every 12 months
@@t.r.8386these filter brands does not mean they present OEM quality. Aftermarket products usually do not meet OEM standards.
The manufacturer only warranties the powertrain for 60,000 miles. Following the oil life monitor will ensure the powertrain at least makes it this far. I could not say how many engines I've seen have an internal lubricated part failure at about 100k. When quizzing the customer about oil changes, "when the car told me to". Keep your oil clean it's less expensive than a new engine.
Exactly.
Kyle Cubel ok you believe constructors want bad name GeForce their brand! Very wisely
"Keep your oil clean it's less expensive than a new engine. "BINGO!!
The oil in the beginning is so pure. Lol.
Always loved Market Place Thanks for your great work to help the average guy
I owned a 1972 442 with a 455 that had dual exhausts and the W-31 camshaft. I changed the oil every 3 months. I ran it from 1971 to 2000. It eventually actually fell apart because of rust, But the engine was running just as good at that point as the day I got it.
Have changed my own oil every 3,000 miles. I just retired my 1999 GMC Safari van with the 4.3 ltr. V6 with the odometer reading of 538K miles. I did switch oil over to 'high mileage full synthetic' about 10 years ago. The internals of the engine have never been serviced or rebuilt, except a distributor replacement 4 years ago.
I check the oil everytime I gas up and learned how to do my own oil change.
That's pretty often. Is yours leaking? Mine doesn't perceptibly go down between changes.
You must fill once a month
Or just do it yourself and save a ton
Pinhead Larry you don’t save that much
It costs me the same as the dealership charges to chg the oil, $20 bucks. And the dealership tops off all the fluids for that price.
@@BmwMe-uh9sy Oh contrare; My local mechanic (not a dealership) charges about $50 for an oil change using conventional oil and a standard (not synthetic media) filter. If I do it myself I can put in synthetic oil for around $10 (3.6 qts) and around $8 for a Wix filter. So it's around 1/3 the price for a better oil change...
You do save a lot, and you can look at the color of the oil and determine when it needs to be changed, change it when its turning black. This is the proper way to do it, its literally one bolt and screw the filter on.
Bmw M3 e46 about half. I'll take that
The oil change recommendation from the manufacturer is their best engineered estimate when they design and build that particular engine. After some time, inherent issues with particular engines sometimes become apparent to dealers and mechanics. My 2014 Ford 5.4 Liter Triton V8 engine is now known to have a number of issues related to oil condition. The engine is known to have excellent longevity if oil is changed more frequently than recommended. It's also known to destroy itself if oil changes are pushed beyond the manufacturer's recommended change period.
Every 3,000 miles engine oil, 30,000 gear oil for our Alaska vehicles. They don't use salt (too cold) so vehicles can last many decades. DYI and it is inexpensive and our vehicles all run over 200,000 miles.
… I grew-up with the 3-months/3000-miles change intervals, and it’s taken me awhile to “believe”in the new intervals … it’s absolutely true that I’m not driving my dad’s car with his oil in it any more - engines and motor oils have both improved tremendously … but I can tell you that it’s all I can do to prolong oil changes in my Hondas out to 6 months/7500 miles ! Even though my yearly mileage has drastically reduced these last few years to around 8000 to 10000 miles, I start losing sleep after I pass the 4-month/4000-miles mark ! … my wife says I need therapy … 🙄😖🤣👍
F everyone else what they gotta say apparently all people think the same dumb f...s. I'm on your side fine gentlemen. I used Pennzoil ULTRA and Amsoil Premium only and I change mine by my self every 2k Miles. People say your wasting your money LOL I'm sure they burn more money on a daily basis on some useless bull sh.t like smoking, drinking, clubbing and so on you get the point, let alone their valuable car hmm maybe they drive junk cars that's why they don't care lol anyways have a good one gentlemen.
Hahaha. Longer Oil change interval trauma disorder
Follow your owners manual and if you use your car in traffic or dusty roads follow the "severe duty" or "severe conditions" oil change interval.
zhbvenkhoReload stop and go traffic is a severe condition.
Extreme temps, stop and go, dusty conditions, frequent trips under 10 kms, hard driving, etc. are all severe duty. Definitely don't go a full year on an oil change if you're driving in these types of conditions.
mario torres Yes , but not traffic condition How much used,consumed fuels.
I think also would be driving only 5 miles to work,,,,,,,,,
For me it just feels good to change my own oil! I know it was done right at a reasonable price. I use the oil and filter that I want to use. If I use any shady tactics, I'm only cheating myself. There's no driving away from the oil change wondering if they REALLY changed your oil or just charged you for it. I've always changed it based on the what the car manual says with no problems.
Had the same feeling when I would pay to get my oil changed. Now I do it myself and use a fumoto valve which almost makes it enjoyable. On my GX460 the manual states oil change at 10,000 miles or every year. I do it every 6 months or every 4500 because I drive mostly street and I plan on keeping it till long term. With good maintenance the GX is known to get 400k before its done. It will probably out live me.
I have never spent a nickel having someone else change my oil. I've changed oil on about 60 vehicles that I've driven in my 52 years of driving. I know it was done right. in fact I've never spent more than $400.00 total having someone else repair these vehicles (Cars trucks, tractors, combines, swathers etc.)
@@alm7707 dude this isn’t a pissing contest lol
I agree. Currently on 150.000 miles. Change the oil every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.
it's not hard is it!
Very interesting. However, something about swapping out the black oil for amber oil makes me feel good inside even though my vehicle is low mileage. I do it myself so it's not a big expense. Keep up the great work!
i was surprised to see so many older cars at the gas station. good to see people actually using things longer for once
Sorry but having owned or leased at least 30 vehicles over 45 years I still say changing oil is one of the most single beneficial things you can do to your vehicle no matter what the owners manual says. Maybe since I do it myself it makes it easy and much cheaper than taking it in to the shop. They quote $100 to change oil ?? I do it for $20 with filter and good quality oil. I still change oil and filter around 6-7 thousand miles. Years ago I used to change it every 3000 as suggested. My oldest car is a 1992 Honda Prelude.
@@MrDoccus I agree. At the end of the day, if someone plans to keep the car until the wheels fall off, just change the oil regularly. Oil is cheap compared to the cost of an engine...
Hey, you have it exactly right, and yes it may pollute more. But which is cheaper, $20 bucks worth of oil and filter, or $5,000 for a replacement engine? Some dealerships put a sticker on your car and don't do the work!
That's not data. There are people who have done real tests and found that synthetic oil lubricates just fine after more than 12 months of use.
@@stevenpdxedu And how often does that really happen? I'm not talking about someone leaving the same oil in an engine for decades, but those who change it say every two years or 15,000 km. Where is the actual data showing that those people are having to replace engines?
If you spend an excessive amount of time idling (especially with a cold engine) or drive a lot of short trips without hitting full engine temperature you should definitely change the oil more frequently.
Thank you for this video. It's an eye opener.
This is rather funny! Being a heavy line tech for almost 30 years I’ve changed a LOT of engines in all makes and models …majority of the time due to longer than normal oil change intervals! As most engines get older and miles accumulate , the engines wear out slowly. I’ve always stated it’s better to change the oil sooner than later because you don’t want to wait till the oil is broken down to a point to cause excessive engine wear. Most engine wear happens on cold start up, when the oil is its thickest, as the oil breaks down it will tend to to gel up (sludge) and be difficult for the oil to flow to critical parts of the engine etc damaging engine parts. Even my own vehicles I’ve seen the affects of going extended periods without changing the oil…..oil consumption, engine rattles on start up and so on! Your not polluting the earth if you recycle the oil properly and your saving money by extending engine life! Every engine is different and driving habits can affect oil life. Short trips need more frequent oil changes vs highway driving ….a cold engine runs a little more rich with fuel than at operating temps …in which diluting the oil slowly…..contaminating the engine faster with shorter trips. Synthetic oils have helped extend oil change intervals cause they don’t tend to sludge but can still get very contaminated and cause engine damage with extended intervals. Imo it’s not worth the expense waiting to get that very last mile out of an oil change …..like the oil analysis expert said there’s no way to no how much more time on the oil they were testing. 5000 miles or 6 months is a good baseline to go by for the average person.
Absolutely. 💯
Thank you for the well reasoned nuanced response... Much respect...
it depends on the driving environment too. if you live in a hot & dusty place w/ continuous stop and go traffic day in and day out (like i do), then you need to replace your oil more frequently.
If you live in a cold & snowy place you need to change it more frequently too!
the oil they use in the beginning is so pure , lol
I change my own oil every 3000-3500 miles regardless of what the manual says and ALWAYS get a sample of the oil and always comes back fine.
Absolutely helpful! Thank you!
I change the oil in my tesla every 3 months....runs great!
I hate Teslas, and the snooty jerks behind their wheels. You aren't saving the world, because the lithium has to be mined, then shipped overseas in a ship that uses oil for fuel.
i change my battery every 3000 miles
Premium gas too. Purrs like a kitten.
J G Frakes ohh so bitter. Lithium can be recycled. Once gas is burnt it’s gone
John Valles and it goes into clouds as carbon monoxide,poisoning the environment. It's Genius.
"change oil once a year, the manufacturer knows best" -- warranties the car for 80k only.
There's alot of things that often go faulty with a car before the engine has problems.
Lolololol
I glad someone pointed this out 😂😂😂😂
Ahmed Mansoor change oil filter every 5000 use synthetic ,change transmission fluid annually and power steering ,brake fluid . If you live in rust belt get oil undercoating annually the cars last great . Parts are dirt cheap especially after market just did my brakes $ 27.99 for front pads and alignment kit rear $17 .99+ 2 rotors $ 29 each very cheap try that on a foreign car especially European lolololol
I recently took my Honda CR-V into the dealership for an oil change. They looked and told me I was wasting my money, and to go at least another 2,000 miles before I had it changed. I did. The service writer took the time to reassure me that changing every 5,000 miles was unnecessary. That's why I get stuff done there.
Right, because dealers don't make money when they aren't fixing engines.
I'd still change it every 5000 miles or 6 months no matter what the say.
burn up your piston rings with oil changes over 5000miles, dealerships want it to blow up.
It depends on the driving conditions. If a person only drives 10k miles per year and takes frequent short trips (less than 5 miles)? You're going to destroy the engine doing 10k oil changes.
I change every 4k. Better to err on the side of caution ⚠️ Take care of your car and it will take care of you.
I love this show. I've learned so much from it. well done Marketplace.
Every 3000-5000 miles. Oil is cheap. Filters are cheap. Engines are not cheap. Do not use FRAM filters!
Some dealers and manufacturers say you can go 1 or 2 oil changes without changing the filter. I always change the filter every time though. Mixing a dirty filter with clean oil never made sense to me.
@@kalijasin agreed. especially when the filter is less than $10
3000 to 5000?!?! This isn't 1972 oil has come a long way. While a 3K oil change interval might have been necessary with the original group 3 oils. Group 4 and group 5 full synthetic can easily go five to seven thousand miles or more before significant oil degradation occurs.
Why not use FRAM filters ??
No need for chaning so often. Use synthetic oil and you can go 10,000 miles easily between changes.
I change the oil myself, not for the car's benifit, but it gives me a warm, fuzzy feelings
There is an advantage: you know that the drain plug was left out long enough, to drip out the last little bit of dirty oil, so you're not just contaminating the new oil with the debris in the bottom of the oil pan. It really helps, if you can let it finish dripping out, before putting the plug back in, and filling with new oil. Another trick, is to pour 1/2 liter of clean oil in, just to flush the last little bit of dirty oil out of the bottom of the oil pan.
@@vincentrobinette1507 And of course use a high quality oil filter every change.
@@nelzelpher2088 Another overlooked thing, is the benefit of using the best quality AIR filter possible, as well!(OEM or better)
I love how they show the normal maintenance when we are in a severe climate in Canada. There are 2 schedules in the manual
If you are driving anything with variable timing you should change it every 3000 miles. The manufacturer recommendation is to get it out of the warranty period and to keep the advertised annual cost of ownership low. All three of the domestic manufacturers have gone through this issue with their variable timing engines. Massive expensive repairs to engines just out of warranty, but well short of their expected life. Same issue with their lifetime transmission fluid. It gets the car out of the warranty period, but gets very marginal after that.
I would think oil changes would partly depend on how harsh the driving conditions are. Also there's different types of oil.
which is why you follow your indictor, which monitors all of that, speed, temps, starts and stops, ect......
I agree. If you know how much oil there is in the crank case and filter, multiply that by 200. When you've burned 200 times the volume of fuel as the volume of oil, that's when to change. If the engine does a lot of idling, or, heavy towing, it definitely needs more frequent changing, than an engine that runs on the highway smooth and easy. Distance doesn't matter, it's work, which is closely related to the amount of fuel the engine consumes.(much more accurate!)
Most engines now days are GDI, the pressure in the cylinders of GDI engines is 50-100x greater than port injected engines. I don’t care what the manual says, take apart an engine at 150k miles that has had the oil changed once a year with regular driving, and compare it to a motor with oil changed ever 5k, trust me you will see a difference.
Agreed. There are two types of driving normal and severe. Google weather you drive insevere conditions and generally should be changing it every 3000 miles.
@@travis3889 not all indicators monitor that. if you do city driving oil degrades much faster than highway
This oil argument is like asking.....should I bath once or twice a day? Or none at all? Lol.
If bathing cost 60-140$ then yea
Good one:)
100% Agree. Thank you for the info. This a contentious issue with some people. Always follow the Manufacturers Manual 🚗
The problem with oil analysis is that it will tell you that even after, say, 8000 miles the oil quality is still good to go for another couple thousand miles. But let’s see how long the engine lasts with these extended oil change intervals.
Just wanted to point out that manufacturers usually have a different oil change interval specified for those who drive under "severe" conditions. These recommendations are usually specified by miles/kilometers and should be followed regardless of what the oil life monitor tells you. Many more people's driving qualifies as "severe" driving than you'd think. If you idle a lot, drive in stop-and-go traffic, drive like a taxi (Uber / Lyft drivers), or sometimes even drive in dusty conditions, there's a possibility your driving qualifies as "severe" in your owner's manual. If your driving style comes anywhere close to being "severe," you'll want to use that schedule (especially if the car is under warranty) or at least shift your interval closer to it.
If you have an oil life monitoring system(xx% oil life remaining), it will recommend a shorter interval if you're driving in more severe conditions(based on engine revs & temperature). If you have a milage-based indicator(xxxx miles to oil change), you will need to keep track of the oil change interval yourself.
By the way, my oil life monitor would have had me changing mu oil at 2,500 Miles last winter. I changed it sooner, around 2k. At 1k miles after a change the monitor was showing 60%. I'm fully aware of driving conditions in relation to oil life and the various contaminations that exists.
dusty conditions just means change the air filters twice as often really.
Best thing to do is learn to change it yourself.
Cars1999 saved about $60 doing it myself
Totally
I almost crushed myself trying to do it. The blody Jack and stands collapsed
Airport Documentaries I just drive up with one side of the car on a curb, works well enough and I doubt the curb will collapse
I use 1 jack stand on each side and 1 jack per side (touching but not supporting) as a backup. I also shake the crap out of the car before I get under to make sure it's not shifting on me.
The real problem is that many people dont check oil levels between services.
Consider idling time if for some reason you need to do this or if your vehicle does not consider idling time... good program. Thank you for making it. Learn alot, cheers. Maurice :)
While I already knew this, I have always changed mine more often than needed. It saves problems in the long run and I often put 500,000 to 800,000 km on my engines before changing vehicals.
My daily driver is a 1987 Toyota with it's original engine with over 1.5million km on it and it still drives without any problems as I change my oil every 7500km with full synthetic oils, cost me $20 to change the oil, 15 for the oil and 4 for the filter.
Greg Droder what kind of vehicles do you drive
My records are 900 000km on a saturn, and 500 000km on a chevy malibu. Now we have 2 volvos and we know more about maintenance so these beauts are going to break 1 million i'm sure of it. I also change oil more often than needed.
+Big Bick Wow, that is the record. How did you do that - I want some insight on this one. My friend did over 700k km on Matrix driving as a courier - 400, 600 km a day. 1.5 mln km - when most fail to do 300k km.
@@ainzooalgown7589 WHAT OIL BRAND YOU USE? I HAVE 98 4 RUNNER 3.4 ENGINE AND I WOULD USE SYNTHETIC OIL TO KEEP IT IN GOOD CONDITION THANKS IN ADVANCE ✌
You can look at it either way. The mechanics want you to come into the shop more often so they will tell you to change the oil more often. The car companies on the side of selling more cars are going to want you to drive as long as possible so you ruin your engine and need a new car sooner. Also, I'm sure car companies get incentives for being more "environmentally friendly" by using oil more efficiently. Are they actually making the engines more efficient or just stretching the length of time that they recommend oil changes?
Not rly as they own the dealearships as well
Thanks for the useful content. What about cars that are parked most of the time and used for short intervals. The Oil is recommended to change after 10,000KM but actually, this car makes this distance in about 2-3 years. Is there also a time interval after which the oil and other parts should be replaced no matter the mileage? What's recommended in that case for the Oil, filter, and other spare parts replacement?
every 6 months no matter what. Oil is cheap. Lots of people I know have engines that are burning oil - and that's the beginning of the end for an engine. It's NOT normal to burn oil, and it's a sign that your engine is toast.
lets not forget that the location, driving habit, to the quality and what oil you use depends on the interval.
Y’all really expected to get different advice between a Honda dealership and an Acura dealership? They’re the same manufacturer and company 🙄🙄
Madeline dont come here with your smartass facts
Madeline Yeah but those dealers aren’t owned by the manufacturers so they can say whatever they want.
Madeline dealerships are franchises
Honda europe says 10.000km or 6 months in all service manuals, and thats for hondas 0w20 and 0w30 oils we use here
Jeep and fiat dodge also lol
I think it's more accurate to change the oil based on the quantity of fuel used, divided by the number of quarts/liters the crank case holds. When you've burned 200 times more fuel than the volume of oil in the crank case, that's when to change. The reason for this is, how the engine is used. If you're pulling a horse trailer up hills, the engine is doing much more work, burning more fuel, than if you're just cruising smooth and easy down a motorway. In the winter, the oil has much more of a tendency to condense water, than in the summer, just because it's cold. However, your fuel efficiency is much less, than in the summer, prompting more frequent oil changes, which, under those conditions is actually necessary! If you have a hybrid, which gets~21 Kilometers per liter(~50 MPG), because it holds ~4 liters of oil, you can actually go about 10,000 miles,(16,000 Kilometers) between changes. In winter conditions, or heavy in-town driving, the mileage is considerably less, putting the oil change interval closer to 10,000 Km(6,250 miles). the "Maintenance required" light comes on every 5,000 miles(8,000 Km). If the car is used for a taxi or other ride service, this is a very reasonable interval, but not a panic, if the light comes on while on a road trip. Just finish the trip, and change as soon as possible, the engine will be fine. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE OIL LEVEL REGULARLY!!! The same holds true, for a four wheel drive truck, which with it's big-block V-8 engine, may only get 15 miles per gallon.(6.3 Km per liter). The crank case holds approximately 6 liters. That puts the oil change interval close to 7,560 Km.(4,725 miles). very reasonable for a heavy duty engine. If run hard, less distance between changes, more, if driven smooth and easy. no matter what, the thing contaminating the oil, is the quantity of fuel consumed by the engine, no matter what kind of engine it is, and it doesn't really matter how it's run, it will get the necessary maintenance, without spending too much on oil changes.
This is for Normal maintenance schedule, the owner's manual also has a section for special circumstances which states that it should be about every 6 months ... one of those special circumstances could be you only use your car on very short trips less than 8KM or you're often in stop/go situations.
Thank you for your information
Also depends on whether it's mineral, semi or full synthetic.
nudibanches i was waiting for someone to mention that but nothing came up
...crude oil refined is what they are generally calling synthetic. Pennzoil Ultra really is made from natural gas. It gets fuzzy when then breakdown the molecules and reform hydrocarbons.
The most you should go on any oil, even including Full synthetic Pennzoil and Valvoline is about 8,000 miles. If its not Full synthetic I would not suggest going over 5,000. That isn't just my opinion but pretty much every reputable mechanic everywhere.
Well obviously use the oil that the manufacturer recommends
@@squirtlejim8727 that’s false though look at oil analysis. It shows the amount of particles in the oil and safe levels that won’t damage the engine far beyond 8000 miles
After driving 6000km my oil is already dark, and I usually change it, can't imagine driving up to 16,000km on the same oil.. And I use high mileage full synthetic oil. 202,000km on my 2007 Lexus IS250 AWD, still running strong.
Your engine has low tension rings. You're getting a lot of blow-by that is contaminating the oil. It's a well known problem with that engine. Often has premature failure.
With the new ILSAC GF-6A certification oils on the shelves, synthetic oils are 25% better than before and can definitely be used longer. Just ask your dealership if they're still using IL GF-5.
For me, checking dip stick level and oil quality is crucial.
Remember your warranty only lasts so long and once that time has elapsed you're on your own
Who the heck pays $100 for an oil change? You're getting ripped off
PJ Monster that's the price now in Canada at a typical dealership. Remember, that dealers have high overheads and lots of service bays to operate. They need to pay the electricity, rent, pay the secretary , employees, etc. All of those costs are included in your oil change. That's why your always better off saving money and doing it yourself.
Except when there is warranty or recall and you are not included as they have no records of the work being done.
I get mine done at a local mechanic for about $30. No overhead costs.
PJ Monster no they still have overheads..but very minimal compared to dealers. $30 is a fair price
Let’s say your vehicle takes 8 L of full synthetic to meet manufacturers spec. Plus oil filter and labour then environmental fee and taxes. That’s $150. in my world and a bargain at that.
I do it every 4 months regardless their milage. 187k miles later and the engine revs as smooth as the day I got it
My brother is a red sealed mechanic and has been working on vehicles for over 7 years straight to this point. He told me change the oil every 5000-6000km even if it’s synthetic. The filter stops working after 5000 even if the oil is still good for a bit the filter stops
This is why our State Attorney Generals MUST conduct repair shop investigations and ARREST THESE FRAUDS!
5,000 miles with full synthetic oil and a QUALITY oil filter (Mobil 1, etc) Don’t forget to change transmission fluid and coolant. Trans fluid every 30,000 miles or so, coolant every 50,000
The oil change intervals really depends on the type of engine. If you have a GDI engine (Direct Injection) you'll likely want to change the oil every 5000 miles or 6 months if you take frequent short trips in the car. Fuel dilution is a real issue in these engines and it can cause real problems long term. Fuel dilution is when you drive short trips frequently and the GDI engine doesn't warm up enough to burn off the excess fuel getting into the oil via blow by in the cylinders. When a GDI engine is cold, fuel seeps into the oil from blow by during combustion. Fuel in the oil can destroy the effectiveness of even the best Full Synthetic oil in a relatively short period of time. One way to help remedy this issue is to drive the car for more than 30-40 min to give the engine time to burn off the excess fuel in the motor oil.
Some GDI engines like the new Toyota Dynamic force and the newer VAG TSI engines have both port and direct injectors to solve this issue
All are gdi now a day.
Thank You 😄 for all the information . It was very helpful. Ouestion , what is the best oil to buy. Also is the cheap oil good for your engine ? Thanks again. Stay Safe and God Bless.😘
Depends on the car, not every car takes the same oil.
I change my oil after every trip. Every day.
Euro Buses NO same never has a problem
perfect
Lol
and twice on sundays!
your engine must be super clean. you can just reuse the same oil.
In my opinion, i think oil change requires depend on how often or far distance you drive your vehicle daily.
Cheaper to change engine oil & filter than engine repairs. Oil maybe good, but no mention of contamination from by products of combustion & engine wear.
So glad I saw this. Saved me some bucks for sure
Synthetic oil can last a very long time. The 3k mile rule was when older vehicles used conventional. Dealers and shops are all about money and they will always recommend an oil change. Buy a tool set and do the oil changes yourself every 4-7k miles.
Makes sense
6.2k for me (10k km). Don't feel comfortable pushing it past 7k miles.
TRUE.
Also add to that the oil today in engineered to be better and additives are added to help keep the engine cleaner that back in the 70's, 80's and before. Synthetic oils today are so advanced and keep your engine running way better than expected and dealerships don't like using it for the simple fact that you CAN go longer between changes as before, and they bawk when you request it. I change my own oil and have never had a problem.
I'll tell my mother, from now on, change your own oil! At 70 years of age, she should of known this.
I've been working as a mechanic for over 20 years and without question keeping your oil clean by changing it at least every 5000 miles will drastically extend the life of your engine and avoid all types of related problems that can occur from running dirty oil that can cost you thousands in repairs. I actually use some great car management software www.lonewolf-software.com/automotivewolf.htm to track the maintenance schedules on my own personal vehicles so I don;t forget myself to change the oil, filters and and inspect certain components periodically. Change your oil regularly and you will avoid needless problems.
I'm a mechanic as well, running a family shop with 3 mechanics in our family, with over a hundred years experience combined , and I couldn't agree more! I just replaced an engine last week where the customer forgot to change his oil. He spent $6k.
No need to change oil often. I have a 96 corolla I've owned from new with 532,000kms. I have changed my oil only 5x in its life once every 100,000kms. Had no issues whatsoever. I have saved thousands on oil and filters!
Nah, I use Amsoil and change mine every 25K. I do change the filter every year. 201,000 on my Tundra and its running like new.
@@sameuljones5496 haha now I understand. A 90's Corolla is probably one of the most solid and reliable cars ever built. No modern vehicle would last with 100K oil changes......
I'm a mechanic also, and totally agree with you. My vehicle has a few hundred thousand miles (and 19 years old) . You other mechanics probably have something similar. People just don't like spending money on having their car run good, but have no problem paying for leather, radios and rims.
Depends on the type of oil you use synthetic you can go longer then conventional oil. Conventional oil starts to break down after a certain mile and a certain period of time. Just like fuel in your cars fuel tank starts to go bad and break down the longer it sits there.
Synthetic is exposed to the same acidic products of combustion blow-by, these properties attack the gaskets and seals in your engine no matter what oil you are using.
as a general rule I never go over 5,000 miles on my oil changes. modern oils today yes they can go up to a year or up to 20,000 miles whichever comes first but I can tell you from first hand experience I've seen the inside of engines that have had these extended OCIs they're usually caked with sludge and varnish and are very dark on the inside. Engines that have their oil changed more frequently are very clean on the inside and these extended oil change intervals are a big reason why most modern vehicles the engines usually can't go over 150,000 miles before they need major repair. things you need to consider when you do extended oil changes is over time your motor oil gets contaminated with fuel and over time it gets contaminated with moisture from condensation. these two things lower the engine oils total Base number and over time it can make your oil become acidic and it can lose its ability to lubricate your engine. a new engine is roughly $10,000 versus between 60 to $100 every 3 to 5 months for an oil change which one is worth it to you?
I wouldn't believe either one. Manufacturers don't want you driving the same vehicle for a decade and dealerships give false information to see you more often to sell you more crap plus make a little on the frequent oil changes. I would change it every 5-6k miles. Oil filters even the great ones I can't imagine how effective they can be for that long. Especially your oil.
You're 100% correct I have a clean 1998 Toyota Camry le and every time I go to the Toyota dealership for parts I get the impression that they don't like it when I tell them how good the car runs and that I'm planning to keep it for another 20 years this 4th generation Camry's can go for at least 400 thousand miles if you know how to do the preventive maintenance yourself and changing the oil every 4 months or 4 thousand miles only cost 40 dollars and that includes a genuine Toyota oil filter and quality full synthetic oil and no worries about oil leaks this is the easiest car to work on easy access to anything you need to repair I keep all my fluids clean engine oil, transmission fluid , power steering fluid, brake fluid, and the anti freeze. All this simple preventive maintenance is the key my car has 119 thousand miles and it still runs like brand new. And as much as I like my Toyota Camry le I know they're not making them like they used too.
I figure they want to change your oil so you'll walk around the showroom while you're waiting and look at the new cars!
I taught Automotive Technology for 17 years and I currently work at a dealership as a service writer. I wouldn't tell you to do anything other than what the owner's manual tells you. If you're changing your oil more often, good for you. You're doing your part in keeping the economy going. Keep it up. I'll keep the money that would be spent on your oil change interval for extra parts on my project car.
@@tomhill106 You are one the few good men out there my friend. I can't tell you how many times dealerships have told me something needs to be replaced when there wasn't anything wrong with what they said needed to be repaired. I change my oil at those intervals not before or after. Not everything is in the owners manual tho. Thats the problem I have... I know it's a no-no to change your transmission fluid on a mechanical transmission. But i heard you are supposed to change mine in my Honda Civic CVT after 45,000? Does that sound, right? I know enough about cars to fix, repair and replace but not the science behind it all, especially that.
@@awakeandalive4248 My 14 Honda Civic is at 52,000 miles now. Runs great. The only thing I had to do is replace the stock battery, and do an alignment, which I heard isn't surprising. Other than that it's all good.
the owner's manual is designed to get you out of warranty and have your vehicle blow up so you purchase a new one. so changing your oil once a year every 16,000 with conventional will get you to 160000 but after that your engines extremely worn out.but now it's in the best interest of the manufacturer of your vehicles going and you're looking at them to buy a new one.
Very true...... These people are full of` BS........ If you change your oil at 6200 miles or once a year, you will buy more vehicles in the long run..... The manufacture is in the business of selling vehicles, if you change your oil every 3000 to 4000 miles, you will buy fewer cars and the one's you buy will last longer... Oil changes are the cheapest maint you can do for longevity of the engine.... I do my own full synthetic oil and filter changes every 3000 miles, I have 339,971 miles on my 1995 F150 with 5.0 V8.... I got 200,000 miles out of the automatic by changing its oil every 25,000 miles.... Now its rebuilt with 139,971 miles on it.....
This is a fact. Modern engines with thin oil (for fuel efficiency and not engine longevity pushed by the EU and other anticonsumer groups) will not last long unless u check and change your oil every 5K miles or 6 months. The 10K miles is a bean counter number made up for low cost of ownership to make it look like your car never needs service and creates really lazy car owners and angry owners when they find out that their engine burns oil after the warranty expires.
Exactly, from all over the world it seems modern vehicles are orientated towards fuel efficiency rather then anything else, even with individual regulation of different countries are the car manufactures are pushing towards this tend more and more. Even when I go visit my local mechanic his also stating the amount of new cars that are out of warranty is high, nearly exceeding the older models of vehicles that he has to fix that did not have these regulations in force.
For my car, a 2017 Versa, they recommend changing the full synthetic oil every 5000 miles or six months, whichever comes first. I change mine between 5k and 6k miles, which is roughly 3 months, with my driving. I have a 35 minute commute to work.
8,000km for me according to my owner's manual (and the oil service indicator on the dashboard), but I still get it changed before 7,500km has passed.
Every car I have owned,changed the oil every 5000 kms. I have always got 350,000 kms plus out engines,good gas mileage for the life of engine,and no major break down. PLUS I DO THEM MYSELF FOR QUARTER THE PRICE
canadian welder Good 350,00km is like brand new Just started
must be a welder thing! I am the same 5000km or when I get bored whichever comes first,
What a waste of money and oil.
i know having a F150 original gas engine with 650,000km is such a waste of money
I know having a Volkswagen Golf with 410,000 km on the original engine with oil changed half as many times as yours is a waste of money. The original engine which is still running smoothly and efficiently.
When you put your employees on commission, of course they are going to do everything from upselling to outright lying
Life bharti axa life insurance, worth mentioning.
Actually there are a few of us who are honest.
Great show!
BMW - and Audi - are sometimes criticized by diligent mechanics and owners for putting up 10,000 mils OCI. Many owners who care about their cars change it every 5k-6k.
Not gonna trust the life of my $48k car to an 8min "research" segment by CBC. Whether I'm overspending at 5000km oil changes...I'd sooner do that than face expensive repair bills farther down the road. It's called peace of mind. I worked 12yrs for the City and noticed they change the oil in their entire fleet every 5000kms - and I know for fact their 4cyl Ford Escapes went 300,000kms of city driving without major motor work.
If you fall for the 5,000 km every change your real chump, you can go at least 7500 or 8000 km or more, but keep being a corporate tool
kzhead.info/sun/o719mrqRi2dnfZ8/bejne.html
@TheMarsBus How do you change the filter without having to replace the oil? That I would like to know...
@@Eric-tq3vn well just take off the filter and put a new one on and top of the lost oil I've done it on my Nissan Titan mainly because I have the filter off a Honda Civic literally.
Fram Filters are GARBAGE !
Not the ultra synthetic filter by fram it’s expensive for a reason . One of the best on the market . But rest of fram tough guard , high mileage and e core are trash paper end caps 🧢
better than toilet paper lol Ive used the top tier ULTRA frame and they are on par with the best. cut one open, its well built
@@FranklinHicks-qs4gs Toilet paper rolls are actually a very good bypass filter.(Frantz)The rolls won't allow enough flow, to replace the normal filter. it is only used as a micron filter, to supplement the spin-on filter.
Thank U guys, you illuminated us somehow.
great program!
I have been changing my engine oil and filter once a year regardless of mileage since 2004.
Mechanic here. It depends on the oil that's used conventional is good for 6k-8k(kms) or 6 months and synthetic can be 10k-24k(kms) or 1 year. Oil filter also must be taken into account as cheap filters are only rated for 8k while premium filters can go up to 24k When a customer wants synthetic put in but only wants a cheap filter I go by the weakest link and make it as 8k-10k.
Korrupted The myth that you can extend oil change intervals with synthetic oil is not true.
freeride202 What are you basing this on? Do you have any source. I know Mobil one extended performance is rated for 24k with the corresponding filter. Once I hit around 20k I'll send my own oil in to Blackstone labs to see for myself.
Korrupted many manufacturers list synthetic and conventional oils for the same engine but no mention of extending oil change intervals. Only oil companies make this claim not engine manufacturers. After 20 years in the repair industry, I have seen the trend to extended oil changes in an attempt to reduce the carbon foot print of a vehicle. With more complex engines include variable valve timing, cylinder deactivation and turbochargers, extending oil changes is causing more and more issues. I have very little faith in getting oil tested to determine if you can run it longer. It’s good, it’s good, oops there metal in your oil, you went too far.
really? 5w/40 goes black after 10,000km so i doubt every 24000km thats bad for the engine!!
@ freeride202 I get where you're coming from. I'd say the primary cause is the driver has more to do with it than anything ie driving the vehicle hard when its not at operating temperature, especially if its turbo charged add in if it's winter. Better safe than sorry is the case with oil I do agree. More often than not when I do oil changes on customer cars it is well over double the mileage since the last oil change and the oil is low and black as all hell.
I always look at the maintenance guide to see when I should get maintenance done or get an oil change. Toyota recommends every 8,000 km for the RAV-4 in terms of maintenance and up to 16,000 km for oil changes, and that's always what we should do. Like he said, the people who built, assembled, engineered the vehicle know the it best, and they know when you should get your oil changed for the safety of your engine. I barely go to a dealership and always go to a mechanic my mom trusts a lot when something goes wrong with our RAV-4.
You guys are great. Please investigate if tires manufacturered date has an effect on tire performance. I.e if tires manufactured more than one to two years ago.