I have never subscribed to the thinking that changing your oil every 3,000 miles is a good thing. Maybe it’s because I remember when the recommended interval was 7,500 miles. I figure it’s just the oil companies and the service stations that want you to come in and give them your money.

This isn’t so far-fetched in itself, but now I am thinking that car manufacturers themselves are in cahoots with the oil industry when they design their engines. No, I’m not talking about engine efficiency as you might think. The thing is, my car has an oil leak, and it leaks so fast that my car’s dipstick oil gauge is almost always at the lowest part of the hash mark. But damn, I have been getting about 50 miles more out of a tankful of gas. I thought it had to do with a new highway being opened up nearby, but I haven’t been using it often at all. So I am wondering if it is better to keep your engine lubed with a minimal amount of oil, or keep it topped off.

I have been reluctant to post this because once that it’s out in the open, my Sentra’s engine will probably die next week. That’s just how things seem to work around here.

Just for the record, our Honda Odyssey has a scheduled oil change every 7,500 miles. 🙂