The answer? False! Modern engines today are much more advanced. They don’t require oil changes every 3000 miles, and research has shown that frequent oil changes have no appreciable benefits. The only experts that push for this are those from the oil industry. UMM Wonder why. 

 The 3,000 Mile Myth  

Check out this report  

The long handed down concept of the 3000 miles oil change was the brain child of Jiffy Lube and propagated by oil industry officials. While it’s not exactly a scam per-se, it’s quite a lucrative myth for the engine oil maintenance industry. The average American drives 12,000 miles in a year, and with an oil change every 3,000 miles costing in excess of $25 each, that’s $100 annually for each customer. Every visit to the auto mechanic or oil change facility gives them yet another opportunity to push for other pricey maintenance services such as air filter replacement and transmission flush.  

Although oil companies and quick engine lube shops like to promote this idea, it’s usually not necessary. Instead, drivers should consult their vehicle owner’s manual oil change schedule for more credible guidance. Most vehicles driven under normal conditions can reliably go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes. Some models now even come with monitoring systems that alert the driver when the oil needs changing. Depending on driving conditions, they can help extend oil change intervals further - to 10,000 or 15,000 miles.  

If you want some test trial and research backing, just take a look at what  Consumer Reports discovered (Check the Index for their report). They performed an experiment to test engine oil performance in 1996 using New York City taxi cabs. After examining the results, they concluded that:     

Even in the severe driving conditions that a New York City taxi endures, we noted no benefit from changing the oil every 3,000 miles rather than every 6,000. If your driving falls into the “normal” service category, changing the oil every 7,500 miles (or at the automaker’s suggested intervals) should certainly provide adequate protection. (We recommend changing the oil filter with each oil change.)  

The often shared advice about the oil in your car is that you should change it every 3,000-miles or three months in order to keep your engine running smoothly. To help save drivers' time and money, while being environmentally efficient, auto experts are busting industry myths on car maintenance.  The one thing that many people do not know is that this is not a fact, it is just a myth. In fact, most manufacturers recommend more than 5,000 miles between oil changes instead of the traditional 3,000.  

The traditional 3000-mile oil change recommendation was based on engine and oil technologies of the past. Today's more modern engines are built to strict tolerances using advanced technology, reducing or eliminating contaminants that might enter the engine. In-vehicle technologies such as General Motors' Oil Life System can also reduce the frequency between oil changes by actively determining each engine's oil "life."    

Making this adjustment can save eight to ten gallons of oil a year and put as much as $76 back in your pocket. Following new recommendations can also help improve the environment: In some cases, just one gallon of improperly disposed motor oil can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water.   

Motorists can help prevent the unnecessary use of motor oil by following their own automaker's recommendations for oil change intervals. Because people drive differently, and under different operating conditions, the rate of oil breakdown will vary from vehicle to vehicle. For drivers of cars equipped with active systems like the GM Oil Life System, your car or truck can tell you when it's time to change the oil.   

When equipped with the GM Oil Life System, the average GM vehicle typically needs oil changes half as often as the popularly advertised 3000-mile recommendation. Based on driving 15,000 miles per year, this could mean between two and three fewer oil changes annually. That would help reduce the environmental impact and help the pocketbook as well.     

Owners of vehicles not equipped with these active oil-life monitoring systems should follow the recommended maintenance schedules and waste oil recycling recommendations in their owner's manual. Older cars driven under harsh use may still require 3000-mile oil changes as stated in their manufacturer-issued manuals, especially if driven under more strenuous conditions such as extremely hot weather, frequent short trips, driving off-road, towing vehicles, carrying heavy loads, or when driven in dusty areas.   

Even respected sources such as Consumer Reports say "Although oil companies and quick-lube shops like to promote this idea [that engine oil should be changed every 3,000 miles], it's usually not necessary." An article in its December, 2006, issue recommends "Go by the recommended oil-change schedule in your vehicle's owner's manual. Most vehicles driven under normal conditions can go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes. Some models now come with a monitoring system that alerts the driver when the oil needs changing. Depending on driving conditions, these can extend change intervals to 10,000 or 15,000 miles."