ok i have read ALOT of people saying they use a better oil so they don't do their oil changes as often..
please guys if you really love your monte carlo make sure you are changing your oil filter every 3,000 miles.
standard oil filters are only designed to be good for 3,000 miles max. beyond that you are jeopradizing the life of your beloved monte carlo engine.

 

I think you are falling for media hype on the absolute 3,000 mile marker for changing oil....
One reason 3000 miles is an extreme is that cars are built and run better. Unlike older, less efficient cars, today's cars don't leave as much waste product and debris in the oil.
Another reason is updated processes of delivering cleaner oil from the refineries.

I run conventional oil in all my cars (no synthetic stuff here), I change oil between 3000-5000 miles all the time. I prefer a BOSCH filter (but I've ran many other oil filters). The consistancy and feel of the oil I get on my hands is the same if I do it at 3000 or 5000 miles.

My most recent case study.... My '94 Grand Am with a 3100 v6. I bought it in 2003 with about 86K on it. I drive it every day as my daily driver. These days, Mon-Fri, I drive 20 miles to work and 20 miles home. Today, it has over 207,000 miles on it. The drive train runs as good as the day I bought it. The "worst" thing I ever had to do to it was in '09 at 180K on it, change the head gaskets. That engine is known for head gasket issues, but to change them at that high a mileage is better then most. I did take the time to completely clean/degrease (de-gunk) the heads.

Since I currently store my Monte Carlo for the winter, it usually gets 1-2 oil changes (once when I first set it up for the summer and then normally shortly after 3,000, since I seem to average about 5,000 miles on it for the year, seems silly to "stretch the oil changes).

 

that is a possibility but honestly for my car i think the cost of an oil change every 3,000 miles i think my car is worth it.

 

I have a 1996 Lumina with 204,000 miles. I use conventional oil, and I buy whatever oil filter/oil brand is on sale that week. I change the oil every 5,000 miles. I don't drive it hard, and it's certainly not a "high performance" motor, so that comes into play as well. But, I think the only people recommending 3,000 mile oil changes are the Jiffy Lubes of the world.

My 1999 z34 has an oil life monitor, and it will allow me over 6,000 miles before it recommends a change.

 

With synthetic you can run longer than 3000 without a problem. I get what you're saying though about the filters.

 

I will NEVER say changing your oil at 3000 miles is bad, by all means, regular oil changes are definate must (and the more frequent the better). I personally think say "It must be changed every 3000 miles" is no longer the "norm" and is only being recommended/pushed by the industries that line their pockets with the money of those frequent oil changes. It's the "old norm" or the "when in doubt" marker.

Heck my wife's Impala and my Monte have the "oil life monitoring system". I am personally skeptical of those systems and will change the oil BEFORE those systems state it's time to change (again, within my 3000-5000 rule of thumb).

@CashMoney - I won't push you to change your practice, you are comfortable with it, stick with it. But, I think myself and others on this forum have proven with "field testing" that 3000 mile oil changes are a thing of the past (heck, I don't even use that "high milage" oil). A lot of people think getting an engine to last 200,000 miles is near impossible (unless it knocks, pings or has been rebuilt). Mine runs perfectly sound. If you switch to synthetic, that's part of the benefit of synthetic, longer oil life (I have yet to go to synthetic on anything I run). I have a friend who bought a Mini-Cooper and the manufacturer says to use nothing but synthetic AND to change oil every 15,000 miles!!

 

I do 5,000 miles between changes. That puts the Monte over the pit every 6 weeks. Using conventional. The Carfax recorded regular 3,000 mile changes at the dealer for it's first 4 years.

When I had an Ford Expedition that went about 6,000 miles per year I used synthetic and changed twice a year, something about conventional oil breaking down to acidic traits from low mileage.

Seeing the stick with clean oil at every check is a good thing.

 

Quote:
Heck my wife's Impala and my Monte have the "oil life monitoring system". I am personally skeptical of those systems and will change the oil BEFORE those systems state it's time to change (again, within my 3000-5000 rule of thumb).

I've never trusted that thing. I never change my oil exactly at the 3,000 mark, (at least not any more) but it's within a few hundred miles of that. My car had a previous life as a rental and while it doesn't hurt my engine, my MPG starts to go down a little if I wait to long. Temperature is another factor. Oil can break down faster when you live in a climate that can be 100+ degrees for days at a time. Not quite Vegas or Phoenix, but it's close. After driving a 20+ year old car for roughly 6 years, I just don't feel comfortable going much beyond the 3K mark.

I have good friend that is a mechanic. He hates it when he has to change the oil on vehicles that have had that light come on. It's not far from sludge by that point..

Speaking of which- it's just like that Ford commercial that has Mike Rowe (the "Dirty Jobs" guy) showing a hunk of engine sludge on his finger. The engine had to be removed from the car!

I know this is the "enemy", but it really applies to any vehicle.. YouTube - You change your socks. Why not your oil?

 

The manual says every 3000 but I usually do it at about 5000 or 6000.

 

i have 1998 z34 and i change my oil pretty much every month i always keep fresh oil in mine but thats just me