Posted on 10/24/2025
Fresh oil is cheap insurance. Still, a lot of drivers follow old advice that no longer fits modern engines or today’s oils. Some myths waste money. Others quietly increase wear, thicken deposits, or shorten the life of timing components and turbos. Here are the most common oil change myths we hear in the bay and what to do instead if you want your engine to stay healthy for the long haul. “You must change oil every 3,000 miles” That rule came from older engines and conventional oils. Most late model vehicles on full synthetic can safely run longer intervals when driven under normal conditions. The key is not to guess. Use the interval in your owner manual or the maintenance minder on the dash. If your driving is mostly short trips, hot-weather idling, towing, or dusty roads, shorten the interval. A time limit matters too, since oil ages even when miles are low. Many cars do well with six months if the mileage is light. “Thicker oil p ... read more