15K Oil Changes
- Thread starter MelectroK
- Start date
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I'd say probably a good choice, although I cringe at the thought of letting ANY oil go for that long w/out a change, I don't care how long it is rated for. Personally, I like changing my oil every 3k because that way I KNOW it is good fresh oil and that my engine is not suffering. Plush, that way I don't really need to buy expensive long-life oil!
shoteen95
isn't a teen :D
call me lame, but 19.95 at the same shop I, my mother, and my father have been going to for the last..oh..20 years, gets me some fresh oil every couple months and a new filter..
driving 15,000 miles with the same oil..that's just not acceptable to me because I don't know much about it..
driving 15,000 miles with the same oil..that's just not acceptable to me because I don't know much about it..
jelloslug
Digital
Normal oil is cheap. I'm not willing to experiment on my engine to save $10 every few months.
Ishodu
SHO Member
My thoughts exactlyjelloslug said:
AMSOIL is much better than the mobile one.
It's also rated for 25,000 miles.
The reason why its better is because its synthetic, and not based off of petroleum.
Sure its a bit more expensive, but you wont be changing the oil every 3000 miles, and in the long run you save money.
I've used nothing but amsoil for past few years and its good stuff.
It's also rated for 25,000 miles.
The reason why its better is because its synthetic, and not based off of petroleum.
Sure its a bit more expensive, but you wont be changing the oil every 3000 miles, and in the long run you save money.
I've used nothing but amsoil for past few years and its good stuff.
BenBrausen
SHO Member
Sure the oil is rated for that long but your not gonna find a filter that is (well they can say they are all they want but there's no way they'll do their job good and not get clogged running that long). Just change it once every 3k and you'll be set.
HopefulSHO
SHO Member
voogru said:
Not true. ALL oils (synthetic or not) are based off of petroleum. Synthetic's are just processed to all **** and back, some to more of a degree than others.
Mobil 1 is a fully-synthetic 'Group 4'+ motor oil. Some other synthetics are of the 'Group 3' variety..more similar to regular dino but still pretty good.
Amsoil is rated for 25k changes too...but I wouldn't do that without a bypass filter!
SHOoff89
SHO Member
I couldn't do it. Every time I change my oil I feel like I have done something for my car and she will love me more for it in the long run.
Mike Kelly
SHO Member
If your burning / passing a quart every 1,000 miles or so, it will get expensive with makeup quarts. Mike
sdpatt
Sr. SHO Engr.
Somehow, I don't think that my car would have gotten to the mileage that it has if I had used Mobil 1 and only changed it every 15,000 miles. She's up to 297,000 and counting....
Jayman
Member
I would suggest if you were going to go that route to change the filter every 3000 and top it off accordingly with a full change at 15k.
blue thunder
Member
I get my oil changed today and I thought of the mobil 1 15000 but here's the thing. Have you read the bottle, it says on it only gaurenteed if the area you drive is not dusty or dirty road conditions. If you do not have a race car or one to that effect.
Point being you still have to change the filter because it can only block so much. The oil might change but not the environment you drive in. I bought the regular 10w 30 mobil 1 and will continue to change it every 5000 miles. 15000 would be nice but I've invested to much to chance ruining my car!
Point being you still have to change the filter because it can only block so much. The oil might change but not the environment you drive in. I bought the regular 10w 30 mobil 1 and will continue to change it every 5000 miles. 15000 would be nice but I've invested to much to chance ruining my car!
projectSHO89
SHOless In St L
Periodic oil changes are required due primarily to three critical factors:
1. Viscosity breakdown - The shearing of the long molecules of hydrocarbons literally cause the oil to "wear out".
2. Depletion of additive packs - The various compounds and elements that are added to oil to improve specific performance properties get used up.
3. Particulates in suspension - There is a limit to how much foreign material (ie, dirt, unburned hydrocarbons, combustion byproducts, etc) can be retained in suspension.
Synthetics, in particular, can be engineered to address issue #1 particularly well by proper selection and processing of the base stocks used in the manufacturing of the oil.
Additive packs in synthetics are also typically very robust. Since they are "better" to begin with, they typically last an extended period of usage before being depleted.
Filtration can remove the larger particles that have found their way into suspension. Very efficient filters do a good job of removing ever smaller sized particles from the oil, keeping it from getting "loaded" with particulates.
As can be seen, extended oil change intervals can be utilized IF dicipline is followed. Normally, this will involve periodic testing of the oil by a qualified laboratory to determine the then-current status of the oil. Oil changes based on lab testing will provide the "best" performance of the oil when under an extended OCI regimen.
The 3K OCI was incorporated as a preventative (and marketing) measure several decades ago. Perform a Google search on "3,000 mile oil change myth" and read through at least several pages of hits. 3k OCIs are not harmful to the engine, but do add expense to the ownership of your car. Since that time, conventional oils and additives have improved greatly addressing the primary concerns that necessitate the oil change in the first place.
Today's basic conventionals can easily perform adequately for 5K miles (unless you qualify as a Severe Duty usage) OCI.
Synthetics and blends offer the increased opportunity for extending that OCI if there is disciplne and a measure of common sense.
Steve
1. Viscosity breakdown - The shearing of the long molecules of hydrocarbons literally cause the oil to "wear out".
2. Depletion of additive packs - The various compounds and elements that are added to oil to improve specific performance properties get used up.
3. Particulates in suspension - There is a limit to how much foreign material (ie, dirt, unburned hydrocarbons, combustion byproducts, etc) can be retained in suspension.
Synthetics, in particular, can be engineered to address issue #1 particularly well by proper selection and processing of the base stocks used in the manufacturing of the oil.
Additive packs in synthetics are also typically very robust. Since they are "better" to begin with, they typically last an extended period of usage before being depleted.
Filtration can remove the larger particles that have found their way into suspension. Very efficient filters do a good job of removing ever smaller sized particles from the oil, keeping it from getting "loaded" with particulates.
As can be seen, extended oil change intervals can be utilized IF dicipline is followed. Normally, this will involve periodic testing of the oil by a qualified laboratory to determine the then-current status of the oil. Oil changes based on lab testing will provide the "best" performance of the oil when under an extended OCI regimen.
The 3K OCI was incorporated as a preventative (and marketing) measure several decades ago. Perform a Google search on "3,000 mile oil change myth" and read through at least several pages of hits. 3k OCIs are not harmful to the engine, but do add expense to the ownership of your car. Since that time, conventional oils and additives have improved greatly addressing the primary concerns that necessitate the oil change in the first place.
Today's basic conventionals can easily perform adequately for 5K miles (unless you qualify as a Severe Duty usage) OCI.
Synthetics and blends offer the increased opportunity for extending that OCI if there is disciplne and a measure of common sense.
Steve
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