When you get your oil changed, they put that little sticker on your windshield to remind you when it’s time to get your next. The sticker always gives you a mileage of 3,000 miles or 3 months into the future, whichever comes first. 3,000 miles used to be the standard, but they’re making cars better than ever now. Do you really have to have an oil change every 3,000 miles?
Most automakers now recommend getting an oil change every 7,500 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. However, they recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles if you drive in “severe” conditions.What is “severe” driving? If you do a lot of city driving, make a lot of short trips, live in a hot or cold climate or near the ocean or in dusty conditions, or tow a trailer, then your car experiences “severe” driving. A lot of cars fall into that category!
They say that over-maintaining your car is a waste of money and I agree, but oil changes are very inexpensive. You should be able to get your oil changed for about . If you drive under any of these “severe” conditions, it’s definitely worth the extra a year. The alternative is that your car might not last as long or will need costly repairs. With proper maintenance, newer cars will easily last 200,000 miles or even more. The longer you can go without buying a new car, the more money you’ll save. Wouldn’t it be great if you could pay your car off and then save the money that you’re no longer using for car payments. You’d be able to pay for your next car with cash!
Because of the inconvenience of being without your car, many of us fail to get regular maintenance done. But an oil change should take less than an hour if you go when the shop isn’t busy. Since an oil change is such a simple matter, every repair shop does them. You can get an oil change at your local car dealership, service station, or even WalMart. If you can get an oil change done while you’re shopping, you’ll save time. There are even specialty shops that will guarantee to have you out in less than an hour! And many shops are trying to make their waiting areas more pleasant and convenient. Many offer free wifi, snacks and tv to make the wait go by faster.
I think it’s wise for most of us to get an oil change every 3,000 miles. It’s cost effective, easy and a very good idea. So find the shop that’s convenient for you and get into the habit of changing your oil regularly. When your car has 200,000 miles and is still going, you’ll be glad you did.
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