What Car Mechanics Don’t Want You to Know

Here’s a secret that mechanics don’t want you to know: You really don’t need to have your oil changed every 3,000 miles.

It’s a waste of a precious resource — not to mention money — to take your car in every 3,000 miles or three months, experts say. On average, most cars don’t need an oil change for 7,500 miles.

“The oil change itself is a loss leader,” said Austin Davis, whose family has been in the car-maintenance business in Houston since 1937. He’s the author of “What Your Car Mechanic Doesn’t Want You to Know” and has a website called MyHonestMechanic.com.