California Urges Drivers To Change The Oil Less Often

A California agency is campaigning to get car owners to change their motor oil at a longer interval, claiming that the time-honored practice of switching the oil every 3,000 miles is financially wasteful, detrimental to the environment, and unwarranted.

A survey conducted in August of 2011 by New American Dimensions (a marketing research company) of 1,000 car owners with vehicles registered in California found that about half changed their oil every 3,000 miles or less, although very few automakers call for such frequent intervals. It also found that less than ten percent consulted their car manuals for recommended oil-change schedules.

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, the agency that commissioned the survey, began the Check Your Number campaign last month to encourage motorists to determine what vehicle manufacturers advise.

"It’s been built up in the consciousness of people over generations that 3,000 miles is the standard, and they’ve accepted that with such certainty that they check their manuals for everything but that," said Jeff Danzinger, an agency spokesman. "They don’t check it because they know it’s 3,000 because that’s all they’ve ever heard."

Brett Smith, a Senior Analyst for the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, MI, said that advancements in engine oil made frequent changes unnecessary. "Oils have gotten so much better as have engines, which are much more refined and well controlled in the sense that they don’t have the leaks and the ways in and out for dirt and other things," he said. "The tolerances and seals are so much better."

General Motors vehicles have an oil-monitor light that alerts owners when it is time to change the oil, usually every 6,000 to 7,500 miles, said Alan Adler, a spokesman. For its new vehicles, Chrysler recommends oil changes every 8,000 miles or every six months, whichever comes first. "However, with different vehicles with different engines, owners should always check their manuals for specific maintenance requirements, as they will vary," said Bryan Zvibleman, a Chrysler spokesman. Honda has an on-board alert system called Maintenance Minder, which considers a motorist’s driving habits and other factors.

"For modern cars, every 3,000 miles is too often. It’s wasting time, money, and petroleum," said Steve Mazor, Manager of the Automotive Research Center at the Auto Club of Southern California, a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association. "In owner manuals in many cases there are two schedules, one for people who drive under normal conditions and another for severe. For many people in Southern California the conditions are severe because it’s hot and there’s a lot of stop and go. But even with that, 3,000 miles is too often."

Changing motor oil according to manufacturer recommendations would lower California motor-oil demand by around ten million gallons annually, Mr. Danzinger said. "If you’re changing your oil too soon, you’re needlessly creating waste oil and putting a strain on the system and supply," he added.

Mr. Danzinger said some quick-oil change establishments have informally joined the campaign. "But with others, they put that little sticker in the windshield, and it doesn’t matter what the owner’s manual said; it’s the next 3,000 miles," he said.

Tom Kirk, Service Manager at Don-A-Vee Chrysler Jeep in Placentia, CA, near Anaheim, opposes the agency’s effort. "Taking into account that people don’t check their oil anymore, and there are no full-service stations, I think the recommendations are too long," he said. "It should still be around every 3,500 miles, because the standard vehicle will burn about a quart of oil every 2,000 to 2,500 miles. Every 8,000 miles, you could end up several quarts low." He said that most of his customers came in for changes every 3,000 to 4,000 miles.

Ultimately, Mr. Danzinger said, the agency’s campaign was about empowerment. "Our focus here is driver responsibility," he said. "Owners don’t have to call Jiffy Lube or even check our Web site, they just need to check their manuals. It’s not rocket science."

NAFA Fleet Management Association
125 Village Blvd., Suite 200
Princeton, NJ 08540

Telephone: 609.720.0882 Fax: 609.452.8004