Vital Technologies, Inc.

I’ve been feeling kind of guilty lately. A little irresponsible. Sort of like a schmuck. You see, my vehicle needs an oil change. Badly. It’s been way more than 3,000 miles since the last Jiffy Lube visit, and as the odometer ticks and ticks, I have an increasing awareness that I’ve failed to keep up my end of the car-human relationship.

So it came as a great relief when I read yesterday the following headline: The 3,000 Mile Oil Change Myth. The big news? “The traditional oil change recommendation was based on decades-old engine and oil technologies. Today's engines are built using advanced technology, reducing or eliminating contaminants and increasing the recommended time between oil changes.”

Ok, ok. So this breaking news is actually from a GM press release touting their “Oil Life System” -- some wonderful, whiz-bang technology that “determines the optimum oil change interval for each vehicle.” Whatever. But there are some interesting stats in the release: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that about 185 million gallons of used motor oil are improperly disposed of each year, dumped onto the ground, thrown in the trash, or poured down the drain. And the California Integrated Waste Management Board says that just one gallon of used motor oil can contaminate a million gallons of drinking water.”

So here’s the bottom line: Going more miles between oil changes can save you money, reduce improperly disposed of oil, and keep drinking water safer. I’m sold. How about you?

As for how often you should change your oil, the new recommendation is about every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, depending on your car, driving habits, etc. Every 10,000 miles? That’s the kind of responsibility I can live with.