Are 3,000-mile oil changes really necessary?

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Yahoo! Finance - From car maintenance to warehouse clubs, see if it's worth spending your money on these 10 services.



Is It Worth It?

provided by Kiplinger.com



Is it worth the cost? Or should you save your money?



Should you pay a little extra upfront in hopes of saving money -- or hassle -- in the future? Or are you better off spending less and pocketing the savings now?



From warehouse clubs to home and car maintenance, we present you with ten situations.



Worth the Cost



Getting an annual furnace checkup. An efficiently running system will cut your utility bill and lessen the odds of your furnace breaking down at an inconvenient moment. Besides, faulty heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires in the winter months, and a cracked heat exchanger or clogged flue can threaten your family with toxic carbon-monoxide gas. It's worth the money to pay a pro to look it over every year.



Hiring a lawyer to draw up your will. This is not a time to take shortcuts in the hope of saving a few bucks. It makes sense to pay a competent lawyer a reasonable fee to write a document that will lay out your wishes and stand up later to scrutiny by the probate court, your beneficiaries and anyone you choose not to make a beneficiary. The lawyer's fee can range from $300 or so for a simple will to $200 an hour for a complex estate. But that's cheaper than a costly court battle later.



Joining a warehouse club. Warehouse clubs aren't just about 5-gallon jars of pickle relish. They also have great deals on grocery staples such as eggs, butter, milk, cereal and cheese. (Clubs limit their margins to between 11% and 14%, compared with 25% to 30% at supermarkets and mass merchants.) Plus, the savings on big-ticket items like furniture and electronics can more than pay for the annual membership fee of $40 to $50. But use your membership wisely: Only buy what you will use. If you throw away half the food because it expired before you could eat it, you wasted your money.



Buying renter's insurance for your apartment. A renter's insurance policy can be worth the $150 to $250 a year (that's only $12 to $21 a month). Without it, you'd have to pay to replace everything you own in case of a fire, theft or other disaster. You may not think you own much of value, but add up your clothes, furniture, computer, entertainment system, books, movies, microwave, etc., and you could be out thousands of dollars.



Save Your Money



Changing your car's oil every 3,000 miles. Check your owner's manual. Three months or 3,000 miles is the oft-spouted guideline, but in reality, manufacturers typically suggest an oil change every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Cutting two unnecessary oil changes per year could save you between $50 and $80. And you won't waste time sitting at the car shop.



Taking the brand-name prescription drug instead of the generic. There's generally no difference in quality or effectiveness between brand-name drugs and their generic counterparts, yet the generics cost significantly less.



Investing in a mutual fund with a sales load instead of a no-load fund. Selecting no-load funds can save you more than 5% in sales charges. No matter how well a fund has done in the past, you can't be sure how it will perform in the future. But if you pay a load, you've guaranteed that you've begun the performance derby in the hole to the tune of the load.



Buying an extended warranty for your car. Usually, an extended warranty isn't worth the price. You can typically wait until just before your regular warranty expires before buying an extended warranty. If you've been having trouble with your car, you'll know by then if you need more protection.



Getting accidental death insurance. Your money would be better spent on a life insurance policy. Accidental death insurance pays only if you die in an accident -- which only about 5% of people do. A life insurance policy, however, pays regardless of the cause of death.



Buying premium gasoline when your owner's manual says regular is fine. If your owner's manual doesn't recommend premium, you're wasting your money if you use it. In fact, because it's harder to ignite, the higher-octane gas could make your car harder to start and cause it to run less smoothly, especially in cold weather.



Copyrighted, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc.

 
I have never done the every 3000 mile thing, mine is more in line with every 5000 miles. I have not had any problems ever with any of my past or present vehicles that were associated with not changing my oil 2000 miles earlier.



I usually get the Generic drugs over the Brand name, they really do work just as well at least for me.



I like going unloaded



I own a Ford so I don't use the standard warranty that much there is no reason for me to get the extended warranty.



I have to stay out of the Premium versus Regular debate

 
With Synthetic oil 5000 miles between changes fine but 3000 with conventional oil.

Is it worth it? It depends on the driver. If you beat the hell out of you car, if you are in constant bumper to bumper traffic if you have a small engine then...yes. I've own air cooled bikes VWs & Porsches where oil is not only the lubrican but the lifes blood of them. 3000 or 3 months miles is a must.

When I moved to VA I sold my 1965 Mercedes 220 Seb with 467000 mile. Oils changes done every 3k or 3 month. & I never replaced a non maintentence part on that engine!



Worth it....yeah!
 
With Synthetic oil 5000 miles between changes fine but 3000 with conventional oil.

Is it worth it? It depends on the driver. If you beat the hell out of you car, if you are in constant bumper to bumper traffic if you have a small engine then...yes. I've own air cooled bikes VWs & Porsches where oil is not only the lubrican but the lifes blood of them. 3000 or 3 months miles is a must.

When I moved to VA I sold my 1965 Mercedes 220 Seb with 467000 mile. Oils changes done every 3k or 3 month. & I never replaced a non maintentence part on that engine!



40 year old cars needed to have the oil changed every 3000 miles. Today's cars, it's a big waste of money...
 
Generically, the answer is no, the 3000 miles thing is not crucial.



However, as pointed out above, MUCH of it depends on both the driver and the driving application.



If you drive only 5 miles to work and never really let the engine heat up, you better be changing the oil as it will have moisture as well as some fuel dilution in it.



Driving 20 miles to work virtually eliminates the moisture and fuel dilution issue. However, if it is bumper to bumper traffic the entire way, then the importance returns again as this is a bit more harsh environment then cruising down the highway.



I believe the application is what will determine the answer.



Synthetic oils allow for longer intervals in most cases as well. Plus, they are MUCH easier on your engine in the winter time as at startup, they are not as heavy and flow at a much easier rate than traditional oils.
 
3000 mile oil changes were conceived by and sold to us by oil companies so they could sell us more of that commodity they have duped us into believing is in such short supply. Changing your oil every 3000 miles is about like draining out the rest of your gas after using half a tank and throwing it away and getting a new tank full.



Just my opinion and 70 years of experience.



Jim
 
Bottom line. What is the key to keeping your oil clean between extended oil changes, "dino" or "synth"? Forget the magnets, toilet paper, etc.

Buy a good filter before spending big $$$ on your next oil change.
 
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