General Motors, the California Environmental Protection Agency
(Cal/EPA), and the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB)
are joining forces to encourage drivers to follow their vehicle
manufacturer's recommendations on oil changes, which for many vehicles
could be much longer than the decades-old standard of every 3000 miles.
This
summer, General Motors will support public outreach efforts by the
Cal/EPA and the CIWMB to help motorists understand how frequently they
need to change their engine oil, and the proper methods of doing so.
"Used
oil is so much of a problem in California that if you can change your
oil in less-frequent intervals, you not only save yourself money, you
help save the environment," said Jamie Cameron-Harley, a spokeswoman
for the California Integrated Waste Management Board, sponsor of "The
3000-Mile Myth" campaign.
The campaign -- which intends to reduce waste and keep used oil out of
landfills, water bodies, and groundwater -- recently launched its Web
site, www.3000milemyth.org,
after research discovered that more than 70 percent of Californians
change their oil more frequently than recommended by the manufacturers
of their vehicles - most of them at 3000 miles.
The
traditional 3000-mile oil change recommendation was based on engine and
oil technologies of the past. Today's more modern engines are built to
strict tolerances using advanced technology, reducing or eliminating
contaminants that might enter the engine. In-vehicle technologies such
as General Motors' Oil Life System can also reduce the frequency
between oil changes by actively determining each engine's oil "life."
"Driving conditions vary from one driver to another," said Peter Lord,
executive director of GM Service Operations. "The GM Oil Life System
is a sophisticated technology that determines the ideal time to change
your oil. A driver whose fuel tank is still half full wouldn't empty
the tank just to refill it. This same logic applies to oil changes. We
should not waste motor oil that still has life."
"Needing
to change your car's oil at 3000 miles is a myth," the
www.3000milemyth.org Web site says. "Many cars today can go longer
without affecting engine wear. Automakers are regularly recommending
oil changes at 5000, 7000, or even 10,000 miles based on driving
conditions."
The American Petroleum Institute states that more
than 1 billion gallons of motor oil are sold each year in the U.S. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 185 million
gallons of used motor oil are improperly disposed of each year - dumped
into the ground, tossed into the trash, or poured down the drain.
According
to research conducted for the state of California, the need to reduce
waste oil is significant. "Today California generates more than 150
million gallons of used oil. If that oil isn't recycled it can find its
way into our lakes, streams, and oceans," said CIWMB Chair Margo Reid
Brown. "And just one gallon of oil can contaminate a million gallons of
drinking water."
While motorists cannot solve this problem on
their own, they can help prevent the unnecessary use of motor oil in
the first place by following their own automaker's recommendations for
oil change intervals. Because people drive differently, and under
different operating conditions, the rate of oil breakdown will vary
from vehicle to vehicle. For drivers of cars equipped with active
systems like the GM Oil Life System, your car or truck can tell you
when it's time to change the oil.
These systems can extend oil change intervals significantly compared to
the former 3000-mile recommendation depending on the vehicle/engine
combination and other factors. These systems -- found in many newer
cars manufactured by BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, General Motors,
Mercedes-Benz, Mini, and others -- use sophisticated algorithms that
measure key engine functions such as start-up cycles, engine rpm
levels, temperatures, and run time, to determine the ideal time for an
oil change.
"In
California alone, more than 2.5 million GM vehicles are equipped with
the GM Oil Life System," said Ron Strayhorn, regional service manager,
GM's Western Region. "Owners of these vehicles can reduce the amount
of oil they consume simply by following their GM Oil Life System, which
for many drivers can be thousands of miles further than the old
standard recommendation."
When equipped with the GM Oil Life
System, the average GM vehicle typically needs oil changes half as
often as the popularly advertised 3000-mile recommendation. Based on
driving 15,000 miles per year, this could mean between two and three
less oil changes annually. If used as intended simply by drivers of GM
vehicles equipped with the system in the state of California, that
would equal more than 8 million fewer gallons of motor oil would be
consumed annually, compared to a 3000-mile interval. That would help
reduce the environmental impact and help the pocketbook as well.
For
vehicles not equipped with the these active oil-life monitoring
systems, motorists should follow the recommended maintenance schedules
and waste oil recycling recommendations in their owner's manual. Older
cars driven under harsh use may still require 3000-mile oil changes as
stated in their manufacturer-issued manuals, especially if driven under
more strenuous conditions such as extremely hot weather, frequent short
trips, driving off-road, towing vehicles, carrying heavy loads, or when
driven in dusty areas.
Even respected sources such as Consumer
Reports say "Although oil companies and quick-lube shops like to
promote this idea [that engine oil should be changed every 3,000
miles], it's usually not necessary." An article in its December, 2006,
issue recommends "Go by the recommended oil-change schedule in your
vehicle's owner's manual. Most vehicles driven under normal conditions
can go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes. Some models now come
with a monitoring system that alerts the driver when the oil needs
changing. Depending on driving conditions, these can extend change
intervals to 10,000 or 15,000 miles."
Not sure what is recommended for your vehicle? Check the list of more than 150 vehicles at www.3000milemyth.org/fulllisting
to see what the manufacturer recommends. For instance, did you know
that Honda recommends changing the oil of a 2006 and 2007 Accord or
Civic only once a year? And Jaguar recommends changing the oil of their
newer vehicles at 10,000 miles. Or, if your vehicle is not listed
there, and you don't already have one, you might be able to buy a
manual at www.books4cars.com.
www.3000milemyth.org
urges drivers to do their part to help keep California green, and
recommends that you "Always check your vehicle's user manual for
guidelines on when to change your oil. It will save you money, time and
help the environment too. And that's a change we can all get behind."
By Brandy Schaffels
AskPatty.com Editor
Creative commons photo courtesy JeffWilcox via flickr
3000 mile myth
