After consultation with my dealer’s service advisor, I was informed that best practices for my vehicle was to change oil every 3,000 miles. Now the State of California is trying to tell me that this is an unnecessary service interval and a wasteful practice.

As reported in the Los Angeles Times …

“California launches a campaign against the widespread notion that oil changes are needed every 3,000 miles. Officials say the practice wastes millions of gallons of oil a year.”

“Many automobile owners are spending more than they need on motor oil, believing that it should be changed every 3,000 miles even though almost no manufacturer requires such an aggressive oil-change schedule.”

“The long-held notion that the oil should be changed every 3,000 miles is so prevalent that California officials have launched a campaign to stop drivers from wasting millions of gallons of oil annually because they have their vehicles serviced too often.”

‘"Our survey data found that nearly half of California drivers are still changing their oil at 3,000 miles or even sooner,’ said Mark Oldfield, a spokesman for the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery, which has launched the Check Your Number campaign to encourage drivers to go with the manufacturer's recommendations.”

“Improvement in oils, friction proofing and car engines have lengthened the oil-change interval, typically 7,500 miles to 10,000 miles for most vehicles.”

Check your number …

“Changing motor oil according to manufacturer specifications would reduce motor-oil demand in California by about 10 million gallons a year, the agency said. The state has created a website, checkyournumber.org, where drivers can look up the suggested motor-oil change interval number for their vehicles.”

This appears to be a great resource. One that I plan to take advantage of right now. Just think of how much time, effort and money I will be able to save if I do not change oil more frequently than the manufacturer’s suggested service interval. Well here we go …

Whoops!

Is that a 3,000 mile service interval that I see on the suggested web site. You bet.

Is this progressive masturbation? Oil Conservation? Cutting More Jobs in California? Reducing the revenue of small service shops? Or all of the above?

California: the ultimate nanny state …

“This has prompted some new car dealers to ask customers who come in for an oil change when it's not recommended to sign a document stating that they understand that the maintenance guidelines for their auto don't require a change at that time. The dealers are worried that someone might later accuse them of selling unnecessary maintenance services.”

It is a fact that newer cars have much different service intervals than older vehicles whose normal wear and tear produce markedly different driving conditions. But the idea of my service advisor handing me a notice that I may not need an oil change and requiring my signature is the mark of a nanny state.

What next? Prohibiting smoking in your own homes?

Whoops – that’s already implemented in some areas.

“The California Apartment Association, however, is a very vocal supporter of non-smoking ordinances, particularly the first one that was passed by the city of Calabasas, California, in January of 2008. The Calabasas ordinance bans all smoking within the city and has been held up as a model for other cities to adopt. The ordinance will also require landlords to convert 80% of the city’s apartment units to smoke-free by 2012. Smoking anywhere in the city where a non-smoker could congregate is an automatic misdemeanor with a fine of $250. As non-smokers are considered to ‘congregate’ everywhere, the ordinance defines this as including public sidewalks and apartment complexes.” <Source>

Bottom line …

Progressive democrats with their “don’t do as I do, do as I say” prescriptions for running your life must be defeated in 2012. Electing Constitutional Conservatives to be honest brokers for “We the people” is a necessity in times when the government, on the local, state and federal level, is trying to criminalize activities which directly impinge on your God-given freedoms.

The White House and Congress may be the most visible targets, but let us not forget city and state governments; especially school boards and other commissions where appointed dupes want to tell you how to run your life – and fine or jail you if you do not agree with their “nanny state” policies.

-- steve 

Reference Links …

State hopes to break car owners' habit of changing oil too often - latimes.com