Why Your Mechanic Has Told You 3,000 Lies. Again and Again.

I don't know this for sure. But in my imagination it's clear as can be.

The scene takes place several decades ago in a smoke filled boardroom where twelve or so fat rich oilman are sitting at a conference table being berated by the president of a multi-billion dollar oil company.

"Men-we got ourselves a bunch of trouble. Oil sales are down. We need to sell more. A lot more. Who's got any idea on how we can do that?"

"Sell more oil?" shouts the one who dropped out of community college business school.

"Next?" says the big guy.

"How about we just tell people to change their oil more often" pipes up the young bright junior executive.

"And how do you propose we do that?" asks the company president.

"Simple! We just cut the recommended oil change interval in half. We make up our own timetable for oil changes. People will believe US! We ARE the oil guys. Just tell them that their oil will wear out WAY faster than it really does, and we can DOUBLE our sales overnight!"

That junior executive soon had a corner office. With a key to the executive washroom. And, unbeknownst to him, a place in the big bad oil company hall of shame.

And so history was made.  And you grew up believing, as did your Dad, and his Dad before, that if you didn't change your oil every three thousand miles, you were doing something reprehensible. You were damaging your engine. You were a bad, bad person.

So today, I deliver you the good news. The news you always wanted to believe, but never could.

The news that you're a good person. And you're a good vehicle owner.

And that's because the THREE THOUSAND MILE  OIL CHANGE IS A LIE!

A tall tale. A myth.

A strategy to wildly increase profits for a bunch of guys who already had good profits to begin with.

It's that simple. We were duped. Heck---back in the day I was even buying into it. But no more.

So, with no further adeau, here's the reality check:

Your new interval should be every 5,000 miles or whatever your owner manual suggests, assuming it's not more than 7,500 miles. And that's because despite serious advancements in auto engine oil composition, oil will still  become saturated with dirt and combustion by product (that's the reason it gets black), and even though it still may have lubricating properties after 7,500 miles, its ability to help keep your engine clean is extremely marginalized at this point.

I change my oil every 5,000 miles. My car runs well. And should you think that somehow I am full of hot air and I make this stuff up, I will tell you that this little blog just cost me about 20 grand in future oil changes at my shops this year. But it's cool. Because the truth will set me free. I'll be broke. But I'll be free.

Oh. And I will never lie to you. Promise.

Doug Brauner is the owner/operator of THE CAR CZAR AUTO REPAIR shops. Locations, contact information, as well as FREE COUPONS for repair and service  can be found at www.thecarczar.com

Doug appears regularly on Good Day Sacramento and Hosts the TV show "DRIVE" on The Discovery Network.