OB mechanic opinions.

A lot of new vehicle dealerships go as far as 7500 miles.

I have always maintained my vehicles myself and change the oil and rotate the tires at 5k miles. That is a good even number and given me good longevity out of my tires and vehicles.

I bought a Honda accord in 2009 that my daughter now drives. It has 200k on it and runs like a champ. I did have the larger maintenance items done, timing belt, etc.....but I would get in that car and drive it to California. It has had oil change and tire rotations every 5k miles.

Changing at 3000 is wasting money and oil. If considering synthetic you are wasting more money and good oil.

My father in law was telling me that one of his friends has a 2006 Silverado 4.8L with over 200k miles. Apparently the guy uses synthetic and changes his oil every 20k miles.

Only use Mobil 1 synthetic and change every 10K miles, use Mobil 1 filter as well. My 4Runner has 230K and I just sold an Accord with 250K....I change on the major roll overs 30K, 40K, etc

Also do all other routine maintenance on schedule.

Thanks for all the input. 3k change is just what I've always done and it's served me well, but I'm always open something better. Perhaps I'll switch to synthetic and try 10k.

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Is it worth it to use a synthetic with such short intervals?

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Hell no.......you should go 5K minimum with conventional oil but yearly changes with synthetic is the GOAT.....AMSOIL for the win

2002 Chevy 5.3 here. Mobil 1 synthetic every 10k miles for first 200k miles. Lifters started tapping at 200k so switched to Shell Rotella Diesel engine oil every 5k miles. Currently at 285k miles and no issues.

I was skeptical about Mobil 1’s 15k mile claim for their extended performance oil until I saw this lab sheet from a fellow OB’er:



A Sierra with a 5.3 and over 100k miles on 12k mile intervals... and the lab says it can do 14k.

Personally I follow what my oil life meter says in my 2010 Yukon Denali. It typically starts yelling at me around 10k miles and that’s where I’m comfortable. My fiancee’s 2016 Jeep usually says to change the oil around 8k. I figure if the engineers put the oil life meter in the car that I should follow it. Plus the lab sheet proof was a big one for me - if they were impressed with the oil I am as well.

3000 mile recommendation is an oil company driven directive. If we all did that over the standard 5000 miles back in the 70's 80's and early 90's Oil companies could sell about 35% more motor oil in a year on avg. Basically driving up sales and profits. Oil tests on modern natural oil compounds are showing your high end motor oils like Castrol, Pennzoil, etc. types do not start to show any beginnings of break down before about 7500-8500 miles. And most all of your synthetics show absolutely no breakdown or loss of viscosity before 10K-12.5K miles. I have never changed oil in any vehicle I owned before 7500 miles. Never any motor issues and traded in or sold many vehicles with more than 250K to 350K miles.