• Home
  • Denver Auto Repair Services
    • Full Service Oil Change
    • Automatic Transmission
    • Fuel System Cleaning
    • Radiator Flush Service
    • Wiper Blades
    • Air Filter
    • Cabin Air Filter
    • Gearbox Service
    • Brake Repair
    • Clutches
    • CV Boots
    • Tune-Up
    • Steering & Suspension
    • Tires
  • Auto Diagnostic
  • Contact Us
    • About Us
  • Shop Specials
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • 303-691-2760

Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

  • Brake Service
  • Car Maintenance
    • Heating-Air Conditioning
    • Suspension
    • Transmission
    • Engine
    • Tires
  • Oil Change
  • Tips & Tricks

Oil Change Intervals

April 23, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Quick lube businesses and their employees have often been accused of recommending “unneeded” oil changes so they can make more money.  That may be true for some businesses, but when we service a car, we only recommend services that we believe are necessary to keep your car running at its best.  Here are some of the reasons why we encourage an oil change interval of 3,000 miles or every three months.

In recent years, many vehicle manufacturers have extended their recommended oil change intervals to 7,500 or 10,000 miles.  They have good intentions of trying to help reduce the maintenance costs for car owners, but they have run into trouble.  The Center for Auto Safety has gotten thousands of complaints from drivers who thought they were following the correct oil change  intervals in their owners manuals but ended up with a crankcase full of sludge.  Motor oil does more than just lubricate the engine.  It also forms a film on surfaces that separates moving parts so they don’t rub against one another, reducing friction and wear.  Oil also serves as a coolant for critical engine parts like the crankshaft and valve train.  It also helps to prevent rust and corrosion from building up inside the engine and keeps surfaces clean by dissolving and carrying away dirt and deposits.

Extended oil change intervals of 7,500 to 10,000 miles are based on “ideal” operating conditions, not stop and go driving, or driving our cars for several short trips, like the majority of drivers do each day.  So most drivers should be following a severe service schedule rather than a normal schedule to better protect their engines.  Most experts still consider a 3,000 mile or six month oil change interval the best for “severe” drivers.

Customers at our shop have also told us that they think because motor oils are of a higher quality than they once were, they don’t need to change the oil as often.  This would be a valid argument if oil filters had also improved in quality as well, but unfortunately they haven’t.  An engines main line of defense against abrasion and the wear caused by it,  is the oil filter.  The oil filter’s job is to remove solid contaminants like dirt, carbon, and metal particles from the oil before they can damage surfaces in the engine.  If your oil filter is clogged, it can’t do its job and unfiltered oil will enter the engine.  Contaminants  that find their way into the crankcase will be pumped through the engine and accelerate wear.

Although motor oils have been improved and are continuing to be improved, there hasn’t been much done to improve oil filters.  The majority of oil filters still need to be replaced every 3,000 miles, so until the oil filters have been improved as well, we will continue to recommend a 3,000 mile or three month oil change interval.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care.  Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

Filed Under: Car Maintenance, Oil Change Tagged With: Oil Change Intervals

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Express Car Care
4200 E. Evans Ave. Denver, CO (map)
Phone: (303) 691-2760
Located just southeast of the Colorado Light Rail station

Follow Us Today!

  • Facebook
  • RSS

Shop Hours

Monday: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Tuesday: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Wednesday: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Thursday: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Friday: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Saturday: Closed – A note from the owner
Sunday: Closed

Click for the BBB Business Review of this Auto Repair & Service in Denver CO

Recent Articles

What a Muffler Does and Why It May Be Rattling

What a Muffler Does and Why It May Be Rattling

The purpose of a muffler is revealed in its name. To muffle means to cover or wrap up to quiet or hide the sound. A muffler, therefore, is designed to reduce sound, and it does it quite well. But what … [Read More...]

  • Growling that Grates
  • Is It Time To Replace The Brake Fluid?
  • What If A Car Repair Shop Doesn’t Fix The Problem?
  • What Cheap Gas Does To Your Car
  • Should I Replace a Damaged Wheel?

Search Our Site

Brakes Service

Is It Time To Replace The Brake Fluid?

Brake Shoes – Here’s What You Need To Know

Why Your Pickup Truck Should Have Good Brakes

Oil Change

Do You Really Need To Change Motor Oil Every 3,000 Miles?

What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Car’s Motor Oil

Simple Answers: Check Engine Light

Suspension

Growling that Grates

A Guide To Power Steering

Are Suspension Systems Different In Pickup Trucks Than In Cars?

Transmision Service

Is a Manual Transmission Easier To Maintain Than an Automatic?

Why You Change Your Transmission Fluid

All-Wheel, Front-Wheel, Rear-Wheel – What’s The Difference?

Engine Service

What Cheap Gas Does To Your Car

Does Your Vehicle Have a Blown Head Gasket?

What Is A Turbocharger and How Does It Work?

Auto Tips & Tricks

What Cheap Gas Does To Your Car

Horsepower or Torque – What’s The Difference?

Your Nose Knows Gasoline

"Denvers Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube" - Copyright © 2021 - 4200 E. Evans Ave. Denver, CO 303-691-2760