That’s my assumption but I never knew for sure. I sold the car over two years ago.
Years ago I took my Wrangler to one of those. They lost the gasket to the pan plug and I had oil leaking all the way home. Didn’t notice it until I backed out of the garage in the morning. Went back over there and they tried to accuse me of loosening the plug! I pretty much lost my temper and when they went to drain the pan they discovered the missing O-ring. Then they tried to say that it was never there, despite the stupidity of that assertion. In the end, irate customer won out, but I’ve never been back. Between that and their constant attempts to upsell you on radiator flushes and the like, it’s a bad bet. There are a couple of places near us that take appointments.
I feel fortunate to have found a quickie oil change place I am comfortable with. They are quick, they don’t try to upsell you, and I once had to return to them after a couple days to fix a minor issue and they were very accommodating. They also give me an ice cold bottle of water to drink while I wait.
But I know how these things go. I’ve had auto repair joints before that I’ve fully trusted, and then they always eventually do me wrong.
mmm
I was happy to see so many new amenities spring up in my immediate neighbourhood that practically all my shopping needs are literally just a few blocks away. But I’m becoming increasingly concerned that this is hard on my car, not just the oil but probably other components, including keeping the battery adequately charged. As for the engine coming up to operating temperature, in the summer it does so pretty quickly, but in the winter that kind of driving barely moves the needle.
That’s why I make it a point to drive to other supermarkets and delis for grocery shopping at least once a month, not just for variety but to give the car a good run on the highway.
Because of so little driving, my oil changes are driven by time, not mileage. I use synthetic oil and try to manage more or less annual changes.
Incidentally, doing a bit of reading on the subject, most “synthetic” oil actually comes from crude oil just like any other, and the name refers to the fact that it undergoes a lot of extra processing which gives it superior performance qualities. Well worth the extra cost, IMHO, especially when many of us are trying to make cars last as long as possible.
I use only synthetic, and the last time my car said “time for an oil change” my trusted local mechanic checked it out and said I didnt need one, and to check back in a few months. No charge either (he also topped off a few fluids).
So if the Op has a trusted local mechanic, they can try that.
One thing I’ve taken to doing on my low mileage gas vehicles is to change the oil every year, but the oil filter only every two years. It’s only filtered 2-3000 miles of oil.
It doesn’t make much difference (less than 10 minutes and $15) on the Suburban, but getting the oil filter off on the motorcycle is a huge pain, and could save me an hour. No matter how finger tight I put it on, it is a struggle to get it off, which on really bad days can add an hour to the oil change.
Speaking of which, here’s an entry for one of the urban myth or lifehacks that don’t work threads. Putting a screw driver through a stuck oil filter and using that to twist it off does not work in my experience. The metal on an oil filter is very thin. Once pierced, it will just tear as the screwdriver is rotated. It is progress though, as soon you will only have half of an oil filter stuck.
This sounds like the place I use - Take 5 Oil Change. The last time I was there they did tell me I needed new windshield wipers, which were on my list to replace. I hadn’t known I could get them there so that saved me some time and effort. I’m another retiree who doesn’t drive as much so I get it done every two years.
Of course wiper replacements are a low effort high margin upsell.
Even a seldom used car should have the oil changed once a year. Temperature changes will condense water in the engine over time. Bearings and other parts just go to hell if they are not used. Even if you almost never drive the car it should be started and ran until it and the entire exhaust system is up to temp. I am a classic car kind of guy, the best way to ruin one is to “save” it and never start it. Kind of like a heart, you need to get it up and running occationally.
As are air filters.
I have a car repair place that is literally a 5-minute walk from my house. I took my vehicle there for an oil change and they told me I needed a new cabin air filter. The price: $95.
I politely declined, bought one on Amazon for around $15, and spent 5-10 minutes popping it in myself.
I haven’t been there since.
mmm
If you changed your oil and filter once every 2 years, you would not be pushing it at all. I spent my entire life managing fleets and checking oil samples. Modern oil really doesn’t break down.
The cabin air filters in the first gen Tesla Model 3 require lying on your back in the passenger seat with your head in the footwell looking up to the area below the glove box. As long as you have an adequate DEX score it isn’t too difficult, just remember to take your shoes off. Later revisions moved the important bolt to the bottom of the access door, so it can be done kneeling outside the car and reaching in.
“Why are there footprints on the inside of the glass roof”
We’re down to 6,000-7,500 miles per year. My trusted mechanic (neighborhood, more than 20 years) recommends twice a year., and also change the windshield wipers and do a general once over for everything. Time it right and I can do the annual state-mandated safety inspection at the same time.
The last actual repair I had done on the car was a burned out tail light.
Took my car in for a couple relatively simple things yesterday, including a full-synthetic oil change. Looking at an old invoice and a new invoice from the same shop, it seems I’ve put 1,600 miles on the car in 41 months.
Like me, it’s time, rather than miles, that’s taking its toll on my car.
I also leave the car plugged in to a NOCO GENIUS battery maintainer.
We go out on the highway basically every month … just to remember how the cool kids do it (and maybe to check out a cool vintage bike for sale). 75mph speed limit means she gets her exercise 
In some ways, ‘neglect’ is harder on ICE vehicles than is ‘abuse.’ I like having my trusted local shop put eyes on my car at least annually.
I just want to pop in and say how damn jealous I am of all of you. I put ~25k miles a year on my car. I’ve driven 1,100 miles in last 6 days, and no, I’m not on vacation 
.
Oil changes are done every 60 days or so. It gets a new engine air filter every 6 months, a cabin air filter once a year, and windshield wipers twice a year. Tires last 18 months.
It all adds up relatively quick.
I also drive mostly only once per week.
The last time I went to an oil change place, the tech took one look at the dipstick, looked at my mileage, and told me not to even bother until the mileage got up to whatever the next number was. No charge.
I figure that if the guy with a vested interest in selling me an oil change says I don’t need it, I can trust him.
I’m curious how Jay Leno would answer this question. He owns nearly 200 cars, most of them rare and valuable. How often does he drive them? He does have a personal mechanic who I presume does regular oil changes on all of them.
The answer is probably different if it’s a rare, expensive collectible car, and also probably different if you’re so rich that you have a personal mechanic.
We have a 2009 Silverado pickup that might be driven every 2 or 3 weeks unless our SIL borrows it, so it doesn’t accumulate many miles. I asked our car guy and he said once a year should be fine for us, and so far, that’s worked out.
Remember, I’m the guy who had a 1975 Chevy Vega that ran well and gave great service, so take what I say with a grain of salt.
I’ve used Jiffy Lubes for many years, and for the last ten years I’ve used the same location a few blocks from my home. While I’ve heard the horror stories, I’ve never had a negative experience at any of them. I do keep an eye on the technician(s) through the window to the service bays. Never seen them do anything out of the normal. They bring me the actual air and cabin filters (which I have invariably changed prior to bringing my car in) and don’t push me for additional services. Most of my fluids are topped off appropriately. Last time, I was warned about a worn wiper on my rear window, but they didn’t even ask if I wanted a new one installed. (I did that as soon as I got home.) I’ll admit that I DO look under the car when I get home and even use a small wrench to double-check my oil drain plug, but it’s been fine. I reach down in the engine compartment and give the new oil filter a turn to check it is seated and tight. It never hasn’t been. Oil fill is where it should be.
TL;DR: Jiffy-Lube has always done just fine by me.