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Are 3000 Mile Oil Changes really Necessary?

Brought to you by Detroit, Michigan Truck and Automotive Engineers and Lubrication Specialists. We have 23 years experience engineering cars and trucks right here in the heart of the car and truck engineering and manufacturing capital of the world and we will put our extensive knowledge to use for you.

We are also longstanding Professional Grade members of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). This prestigious position is ONLY granted to degreed engineers with documented work experience in the automotive engineering industry.

We have packed this website with useful information that will help you to make an informed decision regarding your choice of lubrication and filtration products for your vehicles and equipment. 

AMSOIL Regency Platinum 6 Star Direct Jobber, Mr. Dave Mann, has spent his entire career engineering and testing vehicles while employed at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn Mich. and  is available to assist you with all your detailed lubrication, filtration and vehicle engine, powertrain and chassis questions.

If you’re like most people you have been brought up being taught that it is necessary to change your oil every 3000 miles.  Many people that have been doing this since they first started driving and believe they are doing the right thing because that is what many automotive manufacturers recommend (depending on the severity of operating conditions) as well as the constant bombardment of TV, radio and magazine and newspaper advertising from the major petroleum oil manufacturers. With all that “positive” reinforcement I can see why it’s easy to think that 3000 miles oil changes are required and considered normal. 

That is far from the case and is also one of the reasons why I waited to the latter part of my motor oil book to discuss this controversial topic. I wanted you to have a solid understanding of what is covered in the preceding sections so you have a basis for the facts disputing the validity of the 3000-mile oil change “requirements” for all vehicles and supporting extended drain intervals with premium quality synthetic motor oil. Based on what you have read in the previous sections you should easily be able to formulate your own conclusions supported by the engineering and scientific/chemistry facts presented.   

When looked at from an engineering and chemistry standpoint there is absolutely no way an arbitrary number such as 3000 miles can be recommended and specified for all cars and light trucks. That’s why I say the 3000-mile oil change is more of a marketing program headed up by the major oil and quick lube companies fighting to retain the 3000-mile oil change. 

Every year in the U.S., this too-short drain interval results in the unneeded production of 300-400 million gallons of engine oil; excess consumer expenditures of around $1.5 billion; and tens of millions of unnecessary oil changes, not to mention the millions of gallons of waste oil improperly disposed of . For the last 30 years petroleum oil companies have recommended 2000-3000 miles oil changes in spite of the drastic increases in engine and lubrication technology.  In the last decade alone the U.S. oil classification system has produced three major oil upgrades, with a fourth in 2004. Despite these quality improvements there has been no meaningful improvement in the U.S. average gasoline engine drain interval. 

Recently, owners of Mercedes-Benz vehicles received a $32 million class-action settlement by a U.S. District Court Judge in Philadelphia for the company’s failure to specify the use of synthetic motor oils with its Flexible Service System ( FSS). Through the FSS motorists extended their drain intervals from 12,000 up to 20,000 miles using petroleum oil, as specified in their owners manual.  The problem was that petroleum oil could not maintain protection or performance throughout the extended drain intervals. At no time during the case did Mercedes-Benz dispute that the drain intervals were too long for conventional oils, however Mercedes-Benz felt that the case was not that big of a problem and did not warrant a class-action suit.

There are wide variances in the quality and additive package of motor oils and wide variances in vehicle operating conditions.  Certainly an average quality petroleum oil can require changing at 3000 miles because the base oil and additive package is also average, however a premium quality petroleum oil with a superior additive package can be suitable for continued service for longer than 3000 miles.  The oil and air filtration system are also very important to the suitability of any motor oil for continued service. Properly formulated premium quality synthetic lubricants are also capable of extended drain intervals far beyond 3000 miles. 

As I have stated previously and will restate again because of its critical importance the only way to accurately determine the suitability of any motor oil, including “3000-mile oil”, for continued service is to perform oil analysis testing. Based on the results of laboratory chemical trend analysis of your particular motor oil used in your vehicles and operating under your driving conditions it is easily determined as to what the change interval should be. It certainly is not going to be 3000 miles for everybody and in many cases can be well beyond 3000 miles, even with petroleum oil.  

Now, normal average everyday drivers are not likely to go to these extents to determine when their motor oil needs changing so they tend to go for the 3000-mile oil change.  They pull into the quick lube and pop the hood, while the service tech pulls the dipstick out, wipes it on a clean cloth and goes to the window of the driver and shows them their black “dirty oil”. This is a common practice I have seen used many times.  They know very little, if anything at all, about oil analysis testing and do not utilize oil analysis testing in determining drain interval requirements. 

I’ve seen them do the same thing with certain synthetic oils also. They charge the customer a lot more money, for the added protection and performance of the synthetic, but tell them to come back in 3000 miles to change it. However, statistics show that most customers do not come back in 3000 miles. Some do consistently but others stretch it out to the 4000-mile range for both petroleum oil and synthetic oil. The quick lubes attempt to do their best to convince customers that they should come back in 3000 miles, however many just do not for a variety of reasons from busy schedules to stretching their dollars by traveling beyond 3000 miles on the oil. It makes sense as a business owner that if they can see their customers more often they can make more money. I attempt to show them how they can charge more money for a premium quality synthetic, see their regular customers less often, and free up their service bays so they can see more new customers. This is a win/win situation for both the business owner and the customer.  

In a recent interview the president of one of the largest quick lube chains, owned by a major oil company, stated if they can get customers to shorten their drain intervals by 100 miles it would mean an additional $20 million in revenue for the company per year and if they can get consumers to do one more oil change per year it would mean $294 million for the oil change alone and $441 million in revenue when they include ancillary products and services that go along with the oil change. In fact, he openly admits that the bottom line is profits. The shorter the drain interval, the more money for the quick lube chain and parent company. 

Many of these quick lubes and petroleum oil companies attempt to debunk extending drain intervals with a premium quality synthetic based on information which does not pertain to synthetic oils. Such information includes that the additive package wears out and that the oil becomes contaminated with the by-products of combustion, which necessitate frequent oil changes. 

The notion that synthetics cannot extend drain intervals because the additives wear out as they do in conventional oil is a myth. Additives last longer in synthetic lubricants. It is documented through oil analysis that this is the truth.  Let me say it again: extended drain intervals with synthetics are a reality and additive packages last longer in synthetic oil.  These are facts.. 

With regard to the by-products of combustion, it is also a fact that engines run cleaner with synthetic lubricants.  Unlike petroleum, the by-products of combustion do not hinder the ability of synthetic lubricants to provide protection during extended drain intervals.  The limitations of petroleum based oil, and the two problems cited are the primary reasons why oil companies appear so adamant about the 3000-mile drain interval requirement. Neither one of these reasons interfere with the ability of properly formulated synthetics to provide service for extended drains. 

It is also important to note that in Europe manufacturers recommend significantly longer drain intervals using synthetic lubricants as well as with petroleum oils.  In fact, Europe’s target is to achieve 30,000-mile oil change intervals with synthetic lubricants in the near future. Many manufacturers are also beginning to recommend extended drain intervals in the U.S, well beyond 3000 miles, but still not approaching where Europe is at.  These differences in oil change interval recommendations cannot be explained by superior engineering of the European vehicles. There may be significant cost, quality and performance differences between the European vehicles and U.S. vehicles but the fact still remains that they are both internal combustion engines operating on the same engineering principles with similar engine designs and materials. 

Synthetic lubricants will provide for improved wear protection under all operating conditions and especially under high and low temperature extremes. Synthetics will provide for immediate start-up wear protection and faster warm-up wear protection that a petroleum oil simply cannot come close to providing. 

Synthetic lubricants will also provide for improved deposit control such as reduced piston deposits, intake valve deposits, turbocharger deposits, combustion chamber deposits and oil system deposits such as sludge and varnish. 

Synthetic lubricants have also been proven to provide for improved fuel economy and energy conservation as well as reduced oil consumption and extended engine life as well as maintaining the engine at peak performance, which assists in reducing emissions.  Extended drain intervals also reduces the quantity of oil used and the quantity of used oil that must be disposed of. 

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Many people are scared away by the high cost of synthetic lubricants. However, this is simply not the case when the facts are numbers are reviewed. Here’s why: 

Fuel Prices are Sky High- AMSOIL Synthetic Oil Saves You Money- An average of $299-$379 Saved Per Year

With fuel prices hovering around $2.50-$3.00 per gallon nationwide consumers are searching for methods to save money without a major investment in a smaller more fuel efficient vehicle. The major oilcompanies are pulling in huge profits, yet I have not seen them aggressively promoting synthetic oil and the major fuel economy savings that it can provide. AMSOIL has 33 years experience of producing the world's finest PAO based synthetic motor oil and has countless testimonials and documented tests that show fuel savings of 3-5% up to 8-10%, or more in some cases.

Some people say AMSOIL is expensive. I say it's FREE

Here's why: Say you pay $29.95 to get your oil changed every 3000 miles.
That's 8 oil changes to travel 24,000 miles at a cost of $239.60, not
including your time, for 8 trips to the quick lube. If you change it
yourself at a cost of $20.00 per change for the oil/filter then your total
cost is $160.00

Now, do it yourself using AMSOIL's 5W-30 or 10W-30 25,000 mile/1-year oil at a retail cost of $6.15 per quart times 8 quarts (enough oil for the
initial change, and enough to add as it is used during the course of the 25,000 miles) plus one AMSOIL Absolute Efficiency 25,000 mile/1-year oil filter at a cost of $10.00. Your total cost is $49.20 plus $10.00 = $59.20.

AMSOIL saves you $180.40 over the quick lube cost and $100.80 over the do-it-yourself cost on the oil and filter change alone. Additionally, if you
drive 25,000 miles per year and get an average of 17 MPG you would use 1470 gallons of fuel per year. With an average conservative estimate of 5% fuel economy improvement with AMSOIL you would now only use 1396.50 gallons of fuel per year, which saves you 73.50 gallons of fuel per year times $2.70 per gallon = $198.45 fuel savings.

With AMSOIL, your total savings now increase to $378.85 over the quick lube cost and $299.25 over the do-it-yourself cost. Therefore AMSOIL pays for itself and saves you time.

Even if you don't drive 25,000 miles in a year and do less than 8 oil
changes per year, you are still saving money. If you become a Dealer or
Preferred Customer you save even more money by purchasing AMSOIL at
wholesale prices (prices used in these calculations are retail prices). This
generally will save you an additional 25% or more off the cost of the oil
and filters.

With savings like this how can you afford not to use AMSOIL?

If you drive more than 25,000 miles in a year AMSOIL also manufactures a
Series 2000 0W-30 Severe Service synthetic motor oil which is a 35,000
mile/1-year oil and a Series 3000 5W-30 HDD which is a 25,000 mile/1-year oil in gas and diesel engine vehicles. AMSOIL Absolute Efficiency Oil Filters are specified as 25,000 mile/1-year oil filters.

The bottom line is you are getting a superior product for a lower overall
cost while saving yourself time and increasing the performance and life of
your engine.

Take a look at the 20 Performance Comparisons below and you'll see exactly why, when you compare…there is simply no comparison.

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil improves cold weather starting, provides excellent cold weather pumpability and circulation, smoother engine performance, reduced exhaust emissions, superior wear protection, improved fuel economy, extended engine life, extended started and battery life, excellent engine cleanliness, long drain capability, longer spark plug
life, reduced engine temperatures, reduced oil consumption, excellent resistance to sludge, coke, varnish (thermal stability), reduced piston groove sticking, reduced valve sticking, superior shear stability, superior resistance to viscosity increase (volatility increase), superior film strength.

The bottom line is you are getting a superior product for a lower overall cost while saving yourself time and increasing the performance and life of your engine. 

In summary, when you look at the data and facts comparing petroleum oil to a premium quality extended drain interval synthetic lubricant there is simply no comparison. The synthetic product comes out on top in every single parameter. Read and understand the data and facts presented in this book, become an informed consumer and utilize the absolute best quality synthetic lubricants in your vehicle.

If you would like a FREE comprehensive packet of technical, information, catalogs, specifications, retail and wholesale prices, dealer application and other crucial information regarding AMSOIL Ultra Premium Synthetic Motor Oils and Filtration Products plus much, much more please e-mail us at dave@performanceoiltechnology.com with your postal mailing address and your packet will be shipped promptly. Your name and address will be held strictly confidential.

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