What does it mean if the oil was changed every 3000 miles?

[nomadicdogg]

Originally Posted by 90503

if you think thats bad, I've read some posts where they think they don't even have to check their dipstick (if they know where it is or what its for)until the oil life percent reads zero...lol

these people should own yugo's
wow.

[nomadicdogg]

Originally Posted by suplex

My car will be one year old on 04/29/2012. It won't even have 3,000 miles on it once it is a year old. I haven't changed the oil yet...at all...due to the mileage. I have even heard that the very first oil change, of a brand new car, shouldn't be done before 3,000 miles as they put some special kind of "starter" oil in the car from the factory, and changing that oil before 3,000 miles could hurt your car.

I'd love to hear comments on that though...not 100% sure about the "starter" oil.

Here is a question I would like to ask the forum. Due to my very low mileage driving, is it OK to bring a car in for an oil change once a year? The car I had before my Camaro was a 2005 Monte Carlo that at 6 years old, when I traded it in for the Camaro, it had 11,800 miles on it (1,966/year) and I changed the oil in that car every 6 months. I'm really thinking once a year would actually be OK for my Camaro...unless i wind up driving it more on a regular basis (I only live 3 miles from where I work).

Thoughts, suggestions, opinions anyone? Oh, and I know I should drive it more.

I am in a very similar boat as you. I put about 5000 miles on my car a season. I plan to change the oil this spring... I think I will switch to changing it before the fall storage so its fresh while its in storage... but once a year in this case should be fine

[SixGracing]

Originally Posted by suplex

My car will be one year old on 04/29/2012. It won't even have 3,000 miles on it once it is a year old. I haven't changed the oil yet...at all...due to the mileage. I have even heard that the very first oil change, of a brand new car, shouldn't be done before 3,000 miles as they put some special kind of "starter" oil in the car from the factory, and changing that oil before 3,000 miles could hurt your car.

I'd love to hear comments on that though...not 100% sure about the "starter" oil.

Here is a question I would like to ask the forum. Due to my very low mileage driving, is it OK to bring a car in for an oil change once a year? The car I had before my Camaro was a 2005 Monte Carlo that at 6 years old, when I traded it in for the Camaro, it had 11,800 miles on it (1,966/year) and I changed the oil in that car every 6 months. I'm really thinking once a year would actually be OK for my Camaro...unless i wind up driving it more on a regular basis (I only live 3 miles from where I work).

Thoughts, suggestions, opinions anyone? Oh, and I know I should drive it more.

I am in the same situation. I have a 2010 which I bought in May of 10' brand new. So it will be 2 years old in 2 months. I'm sure it was built weeks before I bought it so i might be 2 years old now. I would change the oil at least once a year too because oil can oxidize just sitting. So whether you use it or not the life of the oil is still ticking. Synthetic I'm not sure of the oxidation properties but would still go with a year to be safe. With a $40K investment, I think a $40 oil change is a good risk considering it's only .01% of your total investment.

[Heaven_is_inferno_orange]

Originally Posted by jd10013

when the change oil light come on or at least once a year is what the manual, at least for 2012, says.

anyhow, as others have said, 3000k is a complete waste of money unless your racing it at the track every day. 3 months or 3k is a standard that was set in '70s back when oil did not have all the additives it does not, blocks were made of cast iron, and cars in general burned much dirtier than now. it's simply a standard shops hold on to in order to make more money. some states have even begun ad campaigns to get people to stop wasting oil by changing it at the 40 year old standard.

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/17...e-oil-changes/

of course at the end of the day it's your money and certainly doesn't hurt.

With the brand new synthetics and additives Oil lasts far longer than it use to.


OP- Unless the oil being used didn't meet OEM requirements than you have nothing to worry about other than the owner before you wasted alot of his money.

[BowtieBelle]

Originally Posted by dekan513

means someone care about their car imo , does the car look to be beat todeath with gravel and rocks on the rear quarter panels good indicator to tell if it has been drove hard

Not necessarily true. The paint on these cars sucks. I baby mine and she's got rock chips.

[JimE]

never mind...