12-oz Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner

If you only put 2-3 thousands miles within 6 months, will you still change? My local car shops used to charge $20-30 per change. They are all now $50 or more with coupon.

Just because your shop's oil change went up in price doesn't mean you should do your oil changes any less.

Been in the automotive business for over 35 yrs. Some will say depending where ya live matters, mileage etc. But if you're doing average (not crazy) mileage go every six months if using a hybrid synthetic. Unless. Your car calls for full synthetic, the semi is the best value and protection for the $$. Every six months you should be fine. Even during the pandemic when putting less than ,100 miles a month ,still every six! As pointed out already. Lot cheaper doing an oil change than replacing an engine. Fluids are key to an engine's long life. Oil breaks down over time , standing still or not. Not as if it's still in the bottle. Your vehicle does run sometimes and gets very hot which breaks it down. Treat your engine well, keep oil changed and your engine will last much longer.

Remember follow transmission fluid guidelines and cooling system flush's as well. Maybe far apart but folks forget about them and end up with big repairs


Cheers

Please define what is you "expertise" from 35 years in "automotive business"?

FUN FACT: since 2014, BMW oil service intervals are 15k miles/24 MONTHS…….

So I'm think I'm going to go with top engine developer recommendations over Autozone wisdom….

That makes sense as they use full synthetic, it lasts longer and is pricier that semi or regular oil. Basic rule is it lasts approximately 3 times longer. Average driver doing 24k miles a year means your doing oil changes every 8 months. Not ok far from what I was saying smarty pants. 24 months, don't care what they say, sure it may "last that long without much mileage. But.... Experience has shown over and over again oil breaks down over time. Bet you were one who listened to the experts when Synthetic first came out and folks were told they only had to do oil changes every 25 k. That was marketing and soon after in real life use the manufacturers found out otherwise. Go ahead and change your oil every 24 months if you're doing not much mileage. Your car may be fine. Talk to any mechanic worth their salt and you'll be told otherwise.

Fun fact! Many folks don't drive BMW or use full on synthetic in their vehicles. You truly are the person who points out the exception or small percentage that may not apply. Nice you have a Bimmer. Then again you probably lease it or get a new vehicle every few years. There are people who keep their vehicles a long time, there are others who rely on their vehicles for work. Asj yourself (oh I forgot BMW knows best). Why do Police and Taxi's get oil changes every 3-5 k? Because it's cheap preventative maintenance

Please define what is you "expertise" from 35 years in "automotive business"?

FUN FACT: since 2014, BMW oil service intervals are 15k miles/24 MONTHS…….

So I'm think I'm going to go with top engine developer recommendations over Autozone wisdom….

We have an "extra" car that gets used once a month at most; probably under 1000 miles a year. It gets drygas spring and fall, a dose of fuel stabilizer if it's going to sit for a while, and I get the oil changed annually. Moisture destroys everything, so keeping everything fresh and dry will (hopefully) preserve it for when it gets more regular use.

15K miles? That's nuts. Sounds more like they want your car you survive the warranty, then breakdown shortly after the warranty expires. That's one way to do it. You're telling me that a high compression, oil burning engine that has an "acceptable" rate of 1 liter of oil burned per 5000 miles is easy on oil?

Food for thought, BMW's warranty is 50,000 miles/48 months. Given that, you'd go 30K Miles in 4 years under their warranty plan, you don't think that's sketch?

You will truly never know the life of your oil without getting an oil analysis from blackstone or equivalent. Whatever they analyze, that's approximately what you should be doing at longest.

E85 is 15% dry gas tho

1) average person does not do 24k miles a year

2) Most new engines produced today and several years past all call for synthetic oils in manuals. Especially true for Turbocharge and direct injected engines which is most of what has been produced for number of years now.

3) Most mechanics are clueless as to when any oil have reached their end of live. They will tell you whatever has been the safe interval for past 30 years.


My BMW has 131k miles and has been pushing double the stock horsepower for 6 years. My other BMW has 70k miles. My Audi has 191k miles. All 3 were build to order cars. My garage has it's own lift and cherry picker......

"Most mechanics are clueless"
two friends both "5 star" certified one works for Honda & the other for Dodge. (sorry I'm not sophisticated enough to have BMW mechanics as friends )

Both told me that they would NEVER run oil longer than 5k in their cars . . . so let that sink in. Also told me about issues with these longer oil change intervals.
Besides IF you read your manual most of today's driving is considered severe conditions.

These days it pays to pay attention to what people do, not what they tell you do.
And the endless saga continues, "to change or not to change, that is the question"