Save Cash: Oil Changes
October 31, 2011, By Jack Heffron 0 comments
Conscientious dads try to keep up with vehicle upkeep. Most of us have been taught the importance of regular car maintenance since we were young—even before we could drive. The Most Cardinal of Rules: Change the oil every 3,000 miles. Your engine will last longer and will run smoother, we were told. And just so you won't forget when your car is due for the next one, the boys at your nearby quickie-lube post a sticker in the corner of your windshield.
Well, with today's efficient, well-made cars, it's really not necessary. In fact, it's harmful—not so much to your vehicle as to the environment and to your wallet. The experts at Edmunds.com state unequivocally that you should follow your owner's manual's recommendation on how often to change your oil. And that recommendation is probably going to be more like every 7,000 or 8,000 miles than 3,000. In a recent article they say, "Failing to heed the service interval in your owner's manual wastes oil and money, while compounding the environmental impact of illicit waste-oil dumping."
If the average person drives approximately 15,000 miles per year, he'll need only two oil changes rather than five, a savings of more than $100. He'll also avoid putting all that wasted oil into the environment.
