oil change interval? what do you guys do

[tominos]

every 3k? or more?

what does the factory recommend?

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Mine never exceed 3k. Typically it is between 2500-3000 miles. Whenever it is convenient

 

[SHOtimer]

I also stay around the 2500 mile range.

Doug

 

[Shoaz]

I used to do 3k changes, but I've converted to the common wisdom (consistent with the Car Talk guys, Click and Clack) and now change every 5k miles or so.

If your car is well maintained and you use decent oil and a good filter, 5k should be fine.

 

[sdpatt]

Every 3,000 miles I have replaced my oil and filter. The SHO is now less than 500 miles away from oil service number 106. The longer the oil stays in the crankcase, the more particulates that become suspended in the oil because they are too small to be removed by the filter. Some of those particulates are abrasive and can cause wear.

The question is one of economy (longer change intervals) and engine longevity. If you care to preserve your favorite ride for as long as possible, you will use the shorter mileage intervals. If you are trying to save a few bucks in the short term and intend to replace the car before the mileage adds up to the 6-digit range, the extended change intervals are a viable option.

 

[dpsutphin]

If you use regular oil, don't go over 3000 miles. If you use a good synthetic, like Mobil One, you can go to 5000 without any problems. The key is to use a quality filter. It is what keeps the dirt out.

I have used Mobil One, and the Mobil One filter for over 60,000 miles now, and my oil is always as clean at 2500 miles as most conventional oils are new.

It really is just a matter of personal preference, and what you are willing to spend at each oil change interval. Just be consistent.

 

[Shoaz]

Some thoughts from some reputable guys:

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/2005/March/01.html

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/2005/April/01.html

 

[tominos]

reason i ask is because i used to have a honda civic, and factory recommended oil changes every 7500 miles under normal driving conditions. heck, the new rsx's ask for oil changes every 10k under normal conditions.

just wondering if people have had bad experiences changing their oil in say, the 5k interval. my autoshop teacher said the reason most oil change places recommendevery 3k miles is so you can change it more often and spend more money when it isn't neccessary, and just follow the manufacturer's recommendations. of course this was a few years back, so i was just wondering of your guys' thoughts on the matter.

 

[Off Road SHO]

I'm also with Eric, and unfortunately Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers. I like changing oil for some strange reason. I have a lift in my garage which makes it very easy and I buy oil by the 55 gallon drum, (I have a lot of vehicles). So I have no reason to not change the oil every 3000 miles... except, it doesn't make economic sense.

I change the oil when it starts to darken on the dipstick, no matter what the miles. It usually happens arround 4500 to 6000 miles here in the dusty Southwest, in most of my vehicles except the diesels. They get black right away. I go by the manufacturers reccomendations on those but shortend by a couple of thou because we tow with them.

Something to keep in mind though. I rarely do short trips in any of my vehicles, I live 20 minutes away from "town". Short trip, where the oil doesn't get to operating temperature long enough to boil off the condensation from the last "cool down", is ******* oil.


Just my 2 quarts worth on the subject. YMMV.

Tom

 

[Kiwibird83]

oil changes every 10k under normal conditions.

This is a real kicker, this is 10k under NORMAL driving conditions, but most people never experience that.

Extreme driving conditions are viewed as driving in stop and go traffic, driving in an area with large airbourne particulates *dirt, polution, smog etc* and driving in hot or cold weather. So most driver are in extreme conditions for a cars service life.

Also as tom mentioned taking long trips prolongs the life of the oil becuase it allows itself to burn off condensation, prolonging the life of the oil and the engine. So short trips will break the oil down even faster under extreme conditions.

Honda tells customers 10k oil changes under "Normal" driving conditions becuase this allows them to lower the price of the projected running costs of there vehicle, which is basicly the recomened services added together overtime to come up with a price of maintainence such as oil changes, transmissions flushes, coolant flushes etc.

This way when a customers compares an Acura to say a ford, they will say "Wow, it even costs less to keep this car going than the ford, lets buy this one honey!"

I would say change your oil every 3k miles, but I understand its not everyones cup of tea to go to the **** rack or spend 20$ on a change every 3 month.

You can easily extend this time by using Synthetic oil with a high quality filter. This lets you get over 5k to an oil change and your running an oil with better additives with an increased galvanizing and shearing temp to nearly 300 Degrees+.

 

[MADDOG11]

I've used Syntec 5w-50 since buying mine @18,000 miles with a NAPA Gold (WIX gold) filter. I change the filter @3500 miles and add a quart of oil to top off. Then @7000 miles I change the oil and filter. No varnish or sludge build up and now @180,000 miles. This also includes overheating the engine to the point where it siezed back at 100k:banghd: ! However, the same engine is still running strong as ever!

 

[FoeSho]

Oil is the blood of an engine and the intervals are personal preference, but I feel its cheap insurance to change it within 2500 miles. It can't hurt to change it more often, it CAN however hurt te engine if you decide to leave it in for 5000 miles and that one metal particle makes its way to the cylinder walls, bearing surfaces, whatever..

Liek I said cheap insurance. I use full synthetic oil and change it and the filter with a Napa GOLD filter every 2500 miles, 3000 if I am lazy.

even after 2500 miles, the oil starts looking a little dirty, its not golden anymore and has been heat cycled quite a bit..

 

[F-22 Raptor SHO]

A divided subject indeed.

Consider this simple explanation for the varying oil change recommendations:

Car companies say change every 7000-10,000 miles, while oil companies say change it every 2500 to 5000 miles.

Car companies are in the business of selling cars

Oil companies are in the business of selling oil.

Somewhere in between is the ideal.

I'm with SDPattski on this one though. I can change my oil for about 8.50 using castrol oil and motorcraft filters (I always catch the sales), so its cheap insurance for my 'keep it forever' car.

 

[tominos]

a very divided subject indeed.

 

[wingtip80]

I'm on the 3 month changes. I've had my 94 mtx for over a year and havn't put 3,000 miles on it yet. But I use castrol high milage with a bosh filter.

 

[AREA 91]

I use only synthetic, and still change it every 3K or so. I also run the SHO's really hard.

 

[Markus]

Oil is the blood of an engine and the intervals are personal preference, but I feel its cheap insurance to change it within 2500 miles. It can't hurt to change it more often, it CAN however hurt te engine if you decide to leave it in for 5000 miles and that one metal particle makes its way to the cylinder walls, bearing surfaces, whatever..

Liek I said cheap insurance. I use full synthetic oil and change it and the filter with a Napa GOLD filter every 2500 miles, 3000 if I am lazy.

even after 2500 miles, the oil starts looking a little dirty, its not golden anymore and has been heat cycled quite a bit..

Just playing devil's advocate here - what happens if that one metal particle finds it way into the system immediately after the oil change? Is it not going to do just as much damage if it made its way into the system at 2500 miles into a 5000 mile change interval?


I'm not knocking your choice of change intervals, BTW. I too use Mobil 1 5w30 and change it every 3000 miles. At the back of my mind I know that it's really a waste of money but I just can't help myself. I've tried everything to break the 3000 mile habit - therapy, hypnotism, accupuncture, yoga, windsor pilates, alcohol - to no avail. Strange thing is, though, that I change the oil on my 97 XJ6 at 12000 miles and I use Castrol GTX dino oil. It might help, of course, that the XJ6 has a 10 quart sump.

 

[NJSHO]

Well here’s another throw up topic: Oil filter change schedule. I read somewhere (and in post above) that changing your oil filter every other oil change can be a good thing. Basically when a filter starts to get a little clogged it filters better up until it’s too clogged and uses the bypass. On the site I read this it said a filter is just starting to get in its groove at about the first oil change. Thoughts?

 

[sho_sc]

O.K. I've bit my tongue long enough. Unless you are breaking-in a rebuilt motor or racing your car on a regular basis and you change oil at 3K or less, just pat yourself on the back because you are one of the reasons that gas prices are $3 a gallon. In Europe, they commonly change oil at 10K miles when using dino and 25K when using synthetic and they get just as many miles (k) on their engines are we do. The reason we (USA) change oil every 3K miles is because we have been brain washed by the big oil companies. When using a high quality synthetic, there isn't any reason that you couldn't go 10K miles as long as you change the filter around 5-7K (and of course add oil to make up the difference). Dino oil is fine for 5K, but I personally wouldn't go above 7K.

 

[NJSHO]

...just pat yourself on the back because you are one of the reasons that gas prices are $3 a gallon.

I don't think so.