Should oil be changed every 5,000 miles?

Popular TikTok mechanic says you shouldn't wait until the manufacturers recommended mileage

Should oil be changed every 5,000 miles?
Image: Bigstock.

Mechanic Rich (@fordbossme), who has gained popularity on TikTok, advises car owners to change their oil every 4-5,000 miles, contrary to the manufacturer’s recommended 10,000 miles.

He claims that waiting an excessive amount of time results in oil degradation, which then accumulates inside the engine—a condition he says manufacturers are aware of and account for. His post provoked discussion among viewers, with some voicing scepticism and others agreeing. A viewer contended that the engine still wouldn’t be damaged if you followed the manufacturer’s guidance.

Rich responded that manufacturers aren’t responsible for anything after 60,000 miles or five years, thus debunking the viewer’s theory. Despite the controversy, many watchers agreed with Rich’s advice, citing their own experiences and preferences.

However, some argue that the need for an oil change depends on various factors, including the engine’s condition.

What do you think – change every 5,000 miles or leave it until the recommended manufacturer interval?

Source: Daily Dot

8 Comments

  1. Questions like this should be settled by rigorous cost-benefit analysis – including environmental. They should certainly not be settled by ill-informed rants on social media.

    Reply
    • Here we go with accountants running the show, not a clue

      Reply
  2. totally agree we have a motorsport garage , certainly helps turbo charger wear and if your using a oil pressure gauge you can tell
    the difference after a oil change

    Reply
  3. Well it’s true that oil is the lifeblood of an engine and I’ve got several cars with 200,000 miles until stop whilst plenty of other things have gone wrong the engines have not and I do change my oil twice a year even though I do relatively low mileage will stop I do one at the end of a hot summer and before a hot summer. I do also lay cars up and use them in rotation

    Reply
  4. Totally agree, Its not in the interest for the OE market to keep older cars going. I work in the transmission industry where the OE’s quote ‘FILL FOR LIFE’ oils. While the actual makers of the transmissions recommend 40k oil service intervals.
    All mechanical products produce debris, its this debris that is removed during fluid servicing and its this debris that causes the damage if left in for long periods.

    Reply
  5. OEM,s are not interested in stating short service intervals for oil / cambelts or other item’s as it puts up the base fleet costs for bulk buyers. After 60k miles when cars end up with sludge or other related problems is not there concern.The car will probably be in private ownership by then and some poor soul left wondering why he or she has problems. Now I wonder why I have 220000k miles on my car and no engine sludge. Oil and filter changed every 8k

    Reply
  6. Totally agree, suit and carbon deposits from the explosion in the cylinders get collected by the oil, turning it gradually into grinding paste,
    This contaminated oil then leaves a varnish on every oil journal and reduces oil pressure.
    So every moving part including, turbo, shells, bearings, pistons etc are then starting to wear out.
    Piston rings will stick in there slots and the compression will reduce massively, so vehicle performance and fuel economy will be compromised.
    long-life oils that have additives to degrade this, but it still only slows the inevitable process.
    I always recommend half the manufacturers expectations, to prevent engine wear, if it’s 10k dealer recommendation then I do 5k intervals.
    But some long life oils say 20k intervals I recommend 10k for these and always Always use a good flush, I don’t know if I can mention one on hear (but the name of the one I use sounds like 40)
    Especially on vehicles with timing chains, we service a little 1.2 corsa on nearly 200,000 miles and it’s still on the first chain and not a peep from it !!
    And i myself have a few vehicles with 200k plus and a 2.0 2009 ford galaxy just sold to one of my employee mechanics with 520k miles covered, although it has been a lot of motorway miles, he says it drives like a car with 50k on it, getting good performance and mpg and still nice and quiet.
    The only thing done to that engine was belts and services, in my 220k time of owning it, and I bought it from a taxi driver customer who used my garage,
    And always took my advice, using o e (or dealer parts and oils where it was cost effective)
    Did this cost him a lot of extra money ?
    This vehicle never broke down,
    It still has excellent mpg,
    Allowing him and me in my ownership to never be off the road and earning money,
    And first or second Rev on the mot seen the emissions really low,
    So as far as pollution from the oil whats worse a Smokey old tired engine burning way to much fuel poorly, and bad emissions,
    Or one with 500k still similar to when it came off the production line?
    This car is still going so if it hits 600k (which it’s more than capable).
    Then That would be 3 times the average expected of the average vehicle,
    So to make 2 more vehicles makes a massive carbon footprint,
    So economically and environmentally it makes massive sense to do half the manufacturers recommendations on oil intervals, as they want someone to have bought 3 cars in this time not 1
    The same car is £40k plus to buy now,
    So a saving of £80k in today’s money, not buying another 2 cars.
    These are facts, I have personally witnessed basing in the industry for 30 plus years.
    So is it worth doing? Y.E.S

    Reply
  7. when i first started in 1970 we use to do oil and filter changes every 6000 miles and we use to use a flush every time i still do this today and always reccomend it to my customers its like cambelts they should be changed earlier and ignore the manufactures reccomendations

    Reply

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