Oil Change Intervals 2026: Ignore the 3,000-Mile Myth

Walk into most quick-lube shops and you'll walk out with a sticker telling you to return in three months or 3,000 miles. It's printed. It's official-looking. And for the vast majority of cars built in the last 20 years, it's complete nonsense.

The 3,000-mile oil change made sense in the 1970s when engines ran looser tolerances and conventional oil broke down faster. Today's engines are tighter, cleaner, and built to stricter specs. Synthetic and synthetic-blend oils handle heat and contaminants...