When it comes to modern engines, for some, the 3k rule is not much of a debate. According to one of our experts, “Oil and engines have come a long way, [and] the theory of a 3k oil change is long gone.”

After asking some of our experts “Should owners stick to changing their oil every 3,000 miles?”, the answer is likely no, especially if the manufacturer recommends differently, and if the vehicle is newer and uses synthetic oil, but it also depends on the following conditions:

• Vehicle/Engine Age, Condition, and Type (e.g. oil consumption rate; often carries heavy loads)
• Driving Conditions (e.g. city vs. highway; warmer environments)
• Driving Style and Frequency (e.g. high RPMs; average mileage)
• Type of Oil (i.e. synthetic vs. conventional)
• Manufacturer’s Recommendations

These factors, along with what you would like to achieve (like making your car last for over 300,000 miles), all influence the answer to the question, “How often should I change my oil?”

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At 1A Auto, we’re thrilled to be partnered with NASCAR driver Spencer Boyd. As we look forward to Spencer’s first race of the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Series in Daytona, we can’t help but geek out a little. Maybe we’re even fantasizing about being NASCAR drivers. What better way to daydream about flying down the speedway than to listen to some racecar driver worthy tunes, especially when they’re NASCAR-driver approved? We’ve rounded out our list with a few of Spencer’s favorites.

1. “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin

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Another year means we’ve empowered another thousands of viewers with our how-to videos! To celebrate the end of 2018, we looked at our top 10 videos of 2018 that helped owners diagnose issues and install new parts on their vehicles. Most videos on this list covered routine maintenance that universally applies to hundreds of vehicles. In case you need one or two of these videos in the near future, we’ve got them all listed here.

How to Diagnose a Bad Water Pump

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There are many tools, accessories, and auto-related products you can give as a gift during the holidays for anyone that loves cars. Items that you know someone would love to have but just never got around to buying, or just never thought of purchasing, that can make diagnosing car repairs or inspecting certain parts that much easier.

With a large number of parts and tools to choose from, sometimes it can be difficult to decide what to buy or know where to begin. So, these holidays, we created a holiday gift guide of some great ideas to get you started. All you have to do is go down the list and follow the link to some of these gifts, and that car enthusiast that you know will have one more item for their car-related needs.

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With cars comes technology. Compare a modern car to an antique. You’re likely to find a number of different and older technologies that don’t compare to their advancements. It’s also easy to take them for granted. So let’s take a moment to reflect on some great technologies that have made our lives easier and our driving experience much better.

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Whirring, rattling, clanking, screeching, squealing, and grinding—All are sounds you might hear as the mileage adds up on your car. Chances are, you know your car’s noises well enough to know when it’s got a new one.

Sounds can mean there’s a broken or worn part that needs replacing, or that a part is starting to wear. They can also mean nothing, and may be a harmless peep that innocently comes with time and age. Part of doing your own repairs means knowing how to diagnose issues. Of course, there is no guarantee a certain sound will point to a specific part, but it can narrow it down to some possibilities. From there, it may take some additional troubleshooting to find the cause.

Here’s some common sounds and what they can mean depending on their location.

Location: The Wheel

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Want to squeeze more mileage out of an older vehicle? While not every car is built to last beyond 200,000 miles, some models are known to endure with proper care. This list in particular includes mostly Toyota and Honda models, but also a Ford F-150.

Of course it’s nice to hear about cars and trucks that can last that long, but what about the ones that actually have? I caught up with one of our interns, Cristian Hera, who answered some questions about his Corolla, which has already passed the 300,000 mile mark. He shared some tips of what to look for in a used vehicle, how to take care of it as it ages, what kind of repairs he’s done and expects to do, how long he expects it to last, and other neat facts about his cherished daily driver.

• About Cristian’s Car
• Cristian’s Tips to Make Your Car Last
• Quick, Fun Facts

About Cristian’s Car

What do you drive?

1995 Toyota Corolla DX Station Wagon, 1.8L 7A-FE, 5-speed manual. It was made in Japan (most were made in the US).

What drew you to it?

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