The truth about your oil life monitor: How it works and when to really change your oil

The three-month, 3,000-mile oil change interval was the standard for ages. Today, synthetic lubricants and more advanced engine technologies have pushed those intervals into a much broader range, typically between 7,500 and 15,000 miles. Overall, this shift from the previous 3,000-mile benchmark has made the oil life monitor a standard feature in every new vehicle.