Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
How many miles can you go over on an oil change?
I'm supposed to drive home to see my family this weekend - about 400 or so miles round trip.
I realized today that my car is about 200-300 miles over the 3000 mile mark where you need an oil change. I routinely go a few hundred miles over but usually avoid taking longer trips when I'm at that point and try to get in ASAP.
I'm insanely busy this week at work and can't make an appointment for an oil change at my regular place. Last time I was there, I prepaid for 5 oil changes at a discounted rate so I won't pay anything if I go there, but they only take appointments during work hours and that doesn't work for me this week.
Do you think it will be ok if I go 800-1000 miles over the 3k mark? My car only has 18k miles on it and is a 2010 Jeep if that makes a difference.
I can take it to Jiffy Lube or something in the evening or Saturday morning if needed but that means I have to pay for it so I'd rather not if it doesn't really matter.
Re: How many miles can you go over on an oil change?
I wouldn't do it regularly, but I wouldn't worry about it.
And if it's a newer car, you really don't have to go every 3,000 miles.
ETA: I see that you included that info. We have a 2011 GMC Terrain and it says 5000 miles. I'd check your manual, you're probably doing them too often if you do them every 3000.
Look at your car's manual, but the 3000 mile thing is usually way more often than necessary. It varies by car though so you should do what your particular make/model requires.
http://moneyland.time.com/2011/12/19/stop-changing-the-oil-every-3000-miles-already/
I think the number for some cars is way higher than that even:
"Although the average car?s oil change interval is around 7,800 miles ? and as high as 20,000 miles in some cars ? this wasteful cycle continues largely because the automotive service industry, while fully aware of the technological advances, continues to preach the 3,000-mile gospel as a way to keep the service bays busy. As a result, even the most cautious owners are dumping their engine oil twice as often as their service manuals recommend."
Read more: http://moneyland.time.com/2011/06/14/now-even-jiffy-lube-says-you-dont-have-to-get-an-oil-change-every-3000-miles/#ixzz1kOUDi2mx
I just went 7k miles between oil changes (just had it done this weekend). The 7k is the longest I ever went between oil changes I am usually in there about every 5k. I really abuse my car and somehow I have never needed to put any money into repairs on it and have 150k miles on it. It is a 2006 Mazda. My dad would be so disappointed in how I take care of my car?LOL
Ditto checking your manual. 3k miles is really frequent.
Also, find out (or do you know?) whether you have synthetic oil? I believe if you're using synthetic, you can go longer between changes.
http://pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=mm
Ditto this. Just check to make sure you have oil in the car before you head out. Since its newer you should be fine. The big problems don't happen from a extending some oil changes... They happen when there is no oil in the engine. Not good!
My Forester (2011) is due every 7.5k after the first two changes (3k and 7.5k). Full synthetic. I've stuck with this schedule due to the warranty, I was a little over on the 3k one.
My old explorer (2002) was every 5k, unless you were towing. The issues with that beast were never with the engine. That one got done when I had time when I first got it, most were highway miles. Then done by time towards the end of the time I had it, as I wasn't driving it.
DH's 2005 Civic is every 10k (he is at 190k) without any major mechanical repairs only maintance and wear and tear items (wipers/brakes/belts/tires). His gets in when he has time, we've been over 1.5k miles. They are at temp highway miles. Not a lot of short trips.
Explorer I had in HS was lucky if it got done seasonally. That one then went through my brother and sister learning to drive. It needed a transmission at 225k, it finally died after my parents sold it, it met a tree the hard way.
I thought Jeeps had a reminder light. Has that come on?
Cancer sucks.
Our car uses full synthetic oil, which gets changed every 10k miles.
It appears as though 2010 Jeeps can go 6k miles
http://www.checkyournumber.org/
I have synthetic oil and go 5k between changes. I also don't drive a lot, so that evens out to about every 6 months.
Wives Unscripted
You know what's weird? When the car was brand new, the oil change light came on at like 2500 miles. I thought there was a problem so I stopped in at the dealership and they told me that it is standard for them to start showing that light at 2500 miles after the oil change. I think it came on at that point 1 other time and I haven't seen the light come on since.
So the moral of this story is that I find that light useless
)
I have no idea if it is synthetic or not. I know there is something called "morpar" involved but I don't know what that means (I guess I could google, huh?)
Given the responses so far, I don't think I'm going to worry about it this week since it doesn't sound necessary. Thanks!
If you have a Jeep, you can change how frequently the reminder light comes on. In the controls there is a way to set the reminder...I think I have mine on my Jeep set at 4,500 miles. Without having that light come on, I don't think I would ever remember to set it.
You'll be fine as long as your car has sufficient oil left in it.
3k-5k is recommended to keep the engine running optimally but it's not required. Over time oil gets gunky and chunky and gross, so you want to change it regularly, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't reach the chunky gross stage until you go way way over the recommended limits.
You'll be fine. Check your oil level and add some if needed and then go on your merry way.
We try not to bump/comment on 2+ year old posts. None of those people are here any more, and a majority of us just don't care. If you have a question you can always search and read old posts- but don't comment.
Dip stick check - if there is clean oil - you are good to drive home and then schedule your oil change.