The answer to that question is no! Changing your oil every 3000 miles is a myth perpetuated by, guess who... are you ready for this, the folks that sell oil changes. The fact is today’s modern engines are much more advanced and do not require as frequent oil changes as vehicles did back in the 60s and 70s. The concept of changing your oil every 3,000 miles is good for the fast lube companies, but it’s tough on your wallet and the environment. Simply put, changing your oil every 3,000 miles is a waste.

Consult your owner’s manual.

You should consult your particular vehicle owner’s manual for guidance in this area. Most modern day vehicles have some sort of oil monitoring system with a sensor that interprets when the oil is dirty and needs to be changed. Sometimes this is a light that comes on and sometimes it is a message displayed to the driver. Do not, however, confuse the change oil light with the low oil light. If you see the low oil light on your display, you should stop whatever you are doing and deal with it. Dealing with it means bringing the oil level up to the appropriate level. Not doing so can destroy your engine.

Under normal driving conditions most vehicles designed today will go 7500 miles between oil changes. If you operate a vehicle in extreme conditions, like towing a heavy trailer, your engine will probably benefit from more frequent oil changes. For most of us, however, sticking to our automobile manufacturers recommended oil change frequency, will work just fine.

Changing the coolant in the radiator.

Radiator coolant does not need to be changed as often as you might think. In fact, typically the coolant, under normal conditions, can last five years or 60,000 miles. Again you should consult your owner's manual; but most owners’ manuals recommend the five year, 60,000 mile change frequency. Again, if you operate a vehicle under extreme conditions such as the kind of heat one might encounter in Arizona, your engine may benefit from more frequent radiator coolant, and oil changes.

Change your oil to increase fuel economy.

Changing your oil at the manufacturer's recommended interval will not only prolong the life of your engine, it will actually increase your fuel economy. When the oil in your car engine goes beyond the recommended change interval, the oil viscosity is affected. In other words the oil gets thicker and puts a drag on your engine. That drag on an engine will actually affect the car’s fuel economy. In fact, the experts say that extremely dirty oil can actually decrease the average car's fuel economy by 2 miles per gallon.