How often do you change your oil

[IROCanSS]

Originally Posted by Revo1

When the car tells me to do it. If you're changing Mobil1 every 3k, you're throwing money out the window.

(and probably feeling quite smug about it. )

BEST REPLY.... PERIOD!

I change mine when the car tells me. It's about as clean as when I put it in.

[VTXrider]

Originally Posted by bill2129

You trust GM Technology to tell you when your oil should come out?! They cant even make proper power windows!

umm.... ok.. So what's wrong with the power windows?

[CUPRA]

In my experience (being a Brit, living here in the USA), I feel (and this is my personal opinion), that the whole 'change your oil' at 3k or else is a big misnomer.

Any car I owned back in the UK, be it new or used, the scheduled manufacturer oil change intervals were at 10k or once a year. My father's last car (a 2009 Peugeot 406SW) had a manufacturer indicated 20k oil change service interval.

The manufacturers put a lot of time, effort and money into developing their products and offer warranties based on the way that product will work over time.

If they were concerned about the life of their product, GM would have had an OLM that suggested that you come in for an oil change at 3k no matter what. But in this instance, they have an OLM that determines when the oil should be changed based on various factors. If that system was useless, makes me wonder why GM would develop it and put it on our Camaros.

It's my belief (and again, only my opinion), that the '3K oil change' here in the USA came about back in the day when oil was very plentiful, and it didn't matter if you were 'wasting oil' because there is plenty of it. It became a form of habit to change oil at 3K no matter what. So then, generation to generation, old school to new school, the info passed on from father to son, from back in the 40's, 50's and 60's is that you should change your oil every 3K no matter what, even tho oil, engines, technology has all moved on, meaning we can change oil at 10K or 20K miles without detriment.

So to answer the question, I've changed my oil at 3K miles, as GM recommended after buying my Camaro, then my 1st 'real' oil change came at 8400 miles or so, just under a year of ownership. My next 'scheduled' change is at 16300 miles, with me currently at 13200 miles on the car. So that will work out (not including the first oil change after break in) that I'll be changing my oil about once a year.

I also have the extended warranty on my Camaro, so of course, I am doing all the maintenance as requested per GM.

A month after buying my Camaro in July 2010, we bought my wife a brand new 2010 VW Jetta Limited Edition. The Jetta comes with 3 years, 36000 miles of scheduled maintenance, and guess what, the oil changes are at every 10K miles, synthetic oil change, just like the Camaro.

As I say, this is just my opinion, but also based on my experience of owning many cars in different parts of the world, and I believe that the auto manufacturers out there know what they are doing when they build these cars and recommend their maintenance schedule.

I'm not saying it's wrong to change your oil every 3K if you so choose to, and I wouldn't stop someone doing that either, but I feel the 'have to change my oil at 3K or else my engine will forever fail me', as I've mentioned is very much a misnomer these days.

[DuhKoDuh]

every 3k

[AngelSpeedFreak]

About to do my first one at 3K miles.... why risk it?

[jrisebo]

when GM says, figure that will keep me in warrenty if anything happens.

[angie7]

Every 5k.

[PIPE]

I change mine every 2000. What the manufacturer says on all products is only a recomendation. I do what makes me feel comfortable. These monitors are great and all however its still a computer that can fail. Also anyone ever stop to think maybe the suggestions by the manufacturer are just enough to get past the alotted warranty period? These manufacturers are in business to sell and move vehicles period. You dont think they wanna build some product that it lasts forever do ya? If they did hard;y any would still be in business. Ill stick with my own maintenance schedule. This is all just my honest opinion on this.

[SM0KE]

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186072

[Nessal]

Every 5k or about twice a year.

[Fightinfire921]

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=65

[scythezo6]

Originally Posted by Travis64

when the car tells me to 10-20%

This. I primarily drive on the freeway so the oil really doesnt get all that dirty. I changed last time at 4% and the oil still looked clean.

[NavyDood]

Originally Posted by bill2129

No matter what car 3k or 3months. It's not that I don't trust syn oil to hold up. I don't trust the filters. You ever crack one open after 3k? There shot.

Far from shot unless you are running a Orange Can Of Death (a.k.a... Fram) or equivalent. There are plenty of filters that can go the distance of the OLM now. IMO, filters like (not limited to) ACDelco, Fram, STP, WIX, Motorcraft, SuperTech and anything OEM should not be left on for extended OCI's. Filters like Amsoil, Donaldson Endurance, Mobil M1, Royal Purple, Bosch Distance+ and Napa Platinum can easily go the distance of the OLM. I have cut quite a few open. The last one I cut open from my truck had 25,000 miles on it. Yes, you read that right, 25,000 miles on the same filter. Guess what, it was far from shot and the oil was far from shot also. How do I know? I did a UOA on it. I have the Wix from the Camaro sitting in the garage to cut open. It was on the car from 50% to a smidge beyond 0% which was 6584 miles.

Originally Posted by SS_Los

+1 but might drop it down to 3K. I got extended warranty when I purchased my car and had services (oil changes) included. So technically I can change the oil whenever I please. Dealership always tries to say I have to wait till is about 5% before they can . I think they're full of crap. Time to switch dealerships!

Seriously? You are frowning upon a dealer for actually doing their job the way GM intended and doesn't try to rob the consumer? Wow, shame on them.

Originally Posted by Revo1

When the car tells me to do it. If you're changing Mobil1 every 3k, you're throwing money out the window.

(and probably feeling quite smug about it. )

Exactly. I'd take that oil and put it in my Camaro and run it another 7,000 miles minimum. At the rate ppl prematurely change their oil on C5 I'd have enough oil to last me five lifetimes.

Originally Posted by gelboy1015

Every 3500 or so for me, mainly because Im always taking my car back and forth from TX to OK. I bring my own oil to the dealership, when I cant do it, and have them change it so I have service records for it.

Your driving habits are almost text book in why you should follow the OLM.

Originally Posted by scythezo6

This. I primarily drive on the freeway so the oil really doesnt get all that dirty. I changed last time at 4% and the oil still looked clean.

My last oil change I went past 0% 50 miles or so. The oil had 13,504 miles on it and I haven't lost a second of sleep over it.

[SlingShot]

All three of my cars, 1st. change at 1K, 2nd. at 5K and every 5K after that ...