Does Your Car Need Extreme-Use Maintenance?
When you get your oil changed, they put that little sticker on your windshield to remind you when it’s time to get your next. The sticker always gives you a mileage of 3,000 miles or 3 months into the future, whichever comes first.3,000 miles was the old standard, but car manufacturers have improved their products in recent years. Do you really have to have an every 3,000 miles?
Most car manufacturers now recommend changing your oil every 7,500 miles or six months. However, for “severe” driving they recommend changing your oil every 3,000 miles.What is “severe” driving? If you live near the ocean or in a dusty environment, if you live in a hot or cold place, if you tow a trailer, if you do a lot of city driving or make many short trips, then your car experiences “severe” driving conditions. A lot of cars fall into that category!
We all know that over-maintaining your car is a waste of money, but oil change are cheap. You should be able to get your oil changed for about . If your car experiences any of these “severe” conditions, it’s well worth the extra a year. If you err on the side of under-maintaining your car, it’s more likely to need expensive repairs later. If you maintain your car well, it should last 200,000 miles or more. The longer you can make your current car last, the more money you’ll keep. What if you could pay your car off and then save the money that you’re no longer using for car payments. You’d be able to pay for your next car with cash!
Some people fail to get oil changes because it’s inconvenient to be without your car. But an oil change should take less than an hour if you go when the shop isn’t busy. Since an oil change is such a simple matter, every repair shop does them. Oil changes are readily available at many convenient locations, including the corner service station and even Wal Mart. If you can get an oil change done while you’re shopping, you’ll save time. There are even specialty shops that will guarantee to have you out in less than an hour! And shops are increasingly offering convenient and pleasant environments for waiting. Many offer coffee, free wi-fi and television.
I think it’s wise for most of us to get an oil change every 3,000 miles. It’s cost effective, easy and a very good idea. So find a mechanic or shop and get into the habit of regular oil changes. When your car is long since paid off and still running well, you’ll be glad you did.
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