• December 6, 2011

Fewer American drivers feel inclined to change their motor oil every 3,000 miles, according to auto aftermarket research by The NPD Group.
In response to NPD’s 2012 Aftermarket Outlook Survey conducted in August 2011, 51%  of vehicle owners said they believe that oil should be changed every 3,000 miles or three months, down from the 59% who held this belief in 2007.

Those that actually have their oil changed between 2,000 and 3,000 miles have dropped by 10%. Thirty-nine percent of auto owners responded to the 2012 Aftermarket Outlook Survey that they wait between 2,000 and 3,000 miles to have their oil changed, down from the 49% who changed their oil at this interval in 2007.

Twenty percent of 2012 survey respondents change their oil between 3,001 and 4,000 miles, 22% between 4,001 and 5,000 miles and 11% over 5,000. 

Fifty-seven percent of auto owners are guided to change their oil by their vehicle’s service indicator light, 31% by the "next oil change" sticker put in their car, and 10% keep track of the mileage and months on their own, according to NPD’s 2012 Aftermarket Outlook Survey.