pet connection

The word “oil” has become a dirty word.

It causes wars; dirties our shores, and empties our wallets at the gas pump.

We can’t live without oil, but living with it is becoming more frustratingly expensive by the minute.

So what’s a concerned, dog-loving citizen to do to help make things right with our relationship to oil? There are many ideas floating around, but it all starts with training.

Just as you would train your pup to learn what’s permitted and what is not, people can be trained as well. We can learn to drive slower, or more efficiently, on our daily rounds. We can focus on grouping errands together to save fuel, and we can shop for alternative vehicles that get the best gas mileage while still fulfilling our daily DogCar needs.

And we can keep an eye out for other ways to save fuel. General Motors is currently promoting a campaign in California that busts open the tradtional idea that every car needs to have its oil changed every 3,000 miles.   

Here’s what GM has to say about the oil change myth:

The old mantra that drivers should change their motor oil every 3,000 miles is not always the case – it’s a myth.

Many automakers recommend oil changes at 5,000, 7,500 or even 10,000 miles depending on your vehicle’s model, make and driving conditions.

Research shows that nearly 3/4 of California drivers change their motor oil more often than recommended by their automaker.

Environmental Impacts: Nationwide, if all GM vehicle owners used the GM Oil Life System (calibrated indication system based on driving conditions), 100 million gallons of motor oil could be saved annually

Currently, California generates more than 153 million gallons of waste oil each year. Only 59 percent of that oil is recycled.

One gallon of used oil pollutes one million gallons of water.

Money saving: Additionally, it’s estimated that each driver in California drives approximately 15,000 miles a year. If your car manufacturer recommends changing your oil at 5,000 miles instead of every 3,000 miles – motorists reduce 8-10 quarts of used oil from entering the waste stream per vehicle, and save an average of $76 a year.

Here’s the complete oil change press release from General Motors.

Cutting back on oil changes may seem like a little thing in the grand scheme of things, but it’s something. And right now, with gas prices shooting through the roof, we need all the help we can get.