Since I didn't get a responce below regarding oil changes...

[Houston]

Vibe owner's manuals call for an oil change either every 3,000 miles or three months, whichever comes first. I really don't understand the requirement of changing oil every 3,000 miles. After all, owners of classic and other similar cars usually drive their vehicles very few miles. Their cars have been operating for decades. They don't change oil every three months. Oil doesn't go bad sitting in cans on shelves, sometimes even for years. Why should it go bad sitting in idle engines? I think this idea is nothing more than oil companies trying to sell us oil.What are your views?

[2001FZ1]

My owner's manual says to change it every 5,000 miles or 3 months, which ever comes first. Regardless of what anyone says, I am sticking to this schedule and keeping all reciepts. I don't want the engine to take a big crap and not have it covered under warranty because I didn't follow the proper maintenance.

[MadBill]

Not that I advocate such extended changes, but I inadvertently went 31,000 KM (~19,000 mi) of winter highway driving on a crankcase of Castrol Syntec in my Vibe. When I finally changed it, I sent a sample in for analysis and the report came back "All values within specification. Suitable for further use."Most people will tell you that oil is cheap compared to engine repairs, but I think the Vibe Short Trip schedule is ultra, ULTRA conservative and unless all your driving is 2 miles at a time in sub-zero temperatures or through continuous dust storms, you should be able to safely increase it to closer to the Long Trip intervals. For reference, the oil change indicator on our Buick Park Avenue (90% city use), which looks at oil temperature and engine revolutions to get an accurate picture of usage, typical comes on at ~10,000 Km (6,200 mi)

[the_sarge]

I've used Mobil 1 for years, change filter at 5000, change oil at 10000. I've done the oil-analysis thing on previous cars using this interval and got the same results--all values within specification, suitable for further use.

[GMJAP]

Oil doesn't go bad in cans, but in vehicles that are driven regularly (though less than 3000 miles in 3 mo) it gets heated and cooled a lot and run through the engine and exposed to contaminants. I suspect those things affect it over time much more than just sitting in a can. Keep in mind that's also based on the lowest grade oil. The 3k/3mo is overly conservative, I think - car maker's are likely just being careful avoiding lawsuits.And giving buyers reason to spend more money at the dealers I've always wondered about this too. I understand why it can degrade over time in an engine, but 3mo seems like a very short time.....Would be nice to get a good answer.

[binary]

As oldskool as you can get - I check my oil and go by the visual look. The darker it gets - the more I want to change my oil. Oil with not a lot of miles - could still be subject to a lot of short run, cold starts - which can introduce a lot of blow-by into the oil. I think that's where the time limit comes into play.Honestly though - I drive lots of highway, my wife is the opposite. And I change them exactly the same time... and the oil looks almost the same.