The manual on my new Spec5 calls for 7500 mile oil changes. I could see it for synthetic oil maybe, but for regular oil? Now, I'm 64 yrs. old and have had cars for years and have always held to 3000-4000 miles between changes. Old habits die hard. Are things so much better that 7500 miles is reasonable?
"Paul O." wrote in news:pB%ei.6804$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net:
For as long as I can remember, car manuals have specified 7500 mile oil changes. The "standard" 3000 mile oil change is simply what the oil companies have beat into the consumer's consciousness over the decades until it is taken as fact. It's a matter of who do you want to believe; the car company that wants to sell you a new car when your engine wears out or the oil company that wants to sell you more much oil than you need? Personally, I split it and change around 5000.
Jeff
P.S. Why do the instructions on shampoo bottles say "lather, rinse and REPEAT? Hint: it's not because they don't clean your hair the first time. ;)
Dunno why the USA should have such short oil change intervals - in Europe
10,000 miles is standard for a diesel engine, with petrol versions generally requiring an oil change at anything between 12,000 - 20,000 miles, depending on the car manufacturer (Vauxhall [GM] have some that don't see an oil change for the first 30,000 miles - not good cars to buy second-hand ;)I agree, though, there's nothing as good for an engine as frequent oil changes - 6000 mile intervals tend to keep them going for a long time.
Most European engines spec synthetic oil, plus they have larger sumps. The latter is how OTR diesel engines go 20k miles between oil changes.
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