Finding the right timing for your vehicle maintenance can be difficult, particularly when it comes to changing your oil. You’ve probably heard the old rule that you should change your oil every 3000 miles, but is it true?
You want to do the best you can for your vehicle to keep it running properly, and we want you to be well-informed so you can.
Read on to learn why 3000 miles may not be the best oil change frequency and how that affects how you take care of your vehicle.
The 3000-Mile Rule
Back when motor oil wasn’t as advanced as it is now, it was recommended that you change your oil every 3000 miles. This became ingrained in the public consciousness to the point where nearly everyone just knew it, and it still lasts in many people today.
However, the times (and motor oil) have changed. Today’s motor oils do not break down as quickly as older oils did. This is where the old rule comes from, it used to be that if you left your oil in the crankcase for much longer than 3000 miles, it would start to break down and cause sludge buildup.
Today we have synthetic oils, some of which can last up to 25000 miles if driving conditions are ideal. That’s just an ideal though, your best bet is to shoot for an oil change frequency of every 5000 miles or more.
The GM OLM And Why It’s Important
The invention of synthetic oil is not the only factor in why you should reduce your oil change frequency, however. Another important invention was General Motors’ Oil Life Monitor (GM OLM).
The GM OLM is the light or alert in your vehicle that indicates that it’s time to change your oil. The invention of this light removed the need to guess if your vehicle needed a change, and instead allowed the vehicle itself to tell you.
According to Autoblog, there are three criteria that determine your oil life: crankcase temperature, combustion chamber events, and moisture. Once your OLM has analyzed these factors, it is able to determine your engine oil life within 5 percent.
The engineers behind the GM OLM have made sure that you can trust your vehicle to tell you the right time to change its oil.
Advancements in vehicle technologies have removed the need to rely on old adages to know how to maintain your car. Today you can simply trust your vehicle to tell you what it needs and when it needs it.
What Is Your Oil Change Frequency?
Have you been following the 3000-mile rule? Why or why not? If not, how often do you typically change your oil? We want to hear from you!
Feel free to contact us about any oil change questions or any other vehicle maintenance issues. Also, stay tuned to our blog to get timely updates an all matters motoring.