Hiya
Nah, it all depends on which particular car you have. Some cars nowadays can do 10-20K miles before needing a service, but I think you'll usually find in between those points there's a 'oil service' needed. Other cars need the oil changing every 3000 miles or so and the average i'd still estimate is yearly or every 10-12,000 miles.
Usually, you'll find the higher performance cars requiring oil changes quicker and that they use thinner viscosity and special semi or fully synthetic oils as they have much more complex engines than 'bread and butter' normal cars. That said, even 'normal' cars are getting very sophisticated and complex so oil and servicing requirements can and do change.
Overall though, it's not a 'money making' spin in terms of being in the US or in the UK, climate does play a part in it though, but the extremes of climate differences between uk and us aren't so much that it affects oil change frequencies unless your in Alaska!
The most extreme temperatures and vehicle related things are when in Siberia for instance, there, most engines are never turned off and are kept running constantly! even car engines, if they did switch em off, they'd freeze over quickly and upon restart would damage the engine irrepairably!
To keep yer car in best shape, look at the manyfacturers guiidlines, then evaluate your own driving requirements and adjust the oil and servicing requirements accordingly. If you do mainly stop start/school run/short journeys - then increase the budget for more regular oil changes, if you do more longer journeys then stretch the oil changes accordingly.
Hope this helps!
Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!
