Time between oil changes

[JRA2000TL]

I did a search for "oil change" and didn't find what I was looking for other than oil debates on viscosity and how your engine is toast if you don't change the rod bearings.

Anyway, I have driven the SHO maybe 400 miles, if that, since I brought it home in Feb. I drained and re-filled the once with 5-30 Castrol because I was told to do this when first diagnosing my engine noise. I found no shavings. The car sat for a few months and I decided to change the oil again. Since it's hot as **** here, I went with a 10w-40. Now since that oil change, I have driven maybe only 100 miles but it's been 4 months. Should I change the oil again? I know they say 3 months/3k miles but I wasn't sure on a SHO this age. I also have some Auto RX in the oil right now.

 

[rubydist]

With today's oils - even conventional oil - once a year is enough
IF you drive only a few miles (less than 4-5k in that time), and
IF you get the car fully warmed up at least once a month (at least 30 minutes of driving)

btw, the Auto-RX needs to stay in there for 5k miles to do its work.

 

[Phoenix]

 

[SHOtime2511]

change it when it gets dirty and use a good filter.

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

No need to change it now. As stated change the oil when its dirty

 

[SHO_DOODmorrris]

change it when it gets dirty and use a good filter.

further more, he means use a motorcraft, napagold/wix, or a K&N. stay away from fram and other cheap shit. i am running 15 40 in my car right now and it loves it, ill move down to a 10 40 or 10 30 come winter time.

 

[Shoaz]

Oil can be broken down and still look clean if it's been overheated. This is why race cars get frequent oil changes...and the stuff usually comes out looking clean.

For street use if you've not had an overheating event then long intervals aren't so bad. Depending on what type of oil you use, 5k miles (or more) or when it gets dirty if less than that, isn't a bad strategy.

 

[JRA2000TL]

Ok thanks guys. I may drive it around the block once or twice a week but that's about it..only a few hundred miles since Feb. is nothing. Oh yeah and the oil is still a nice golden brown, nowhere near dirty that's one reason I was asking. They always say 3 months but I've never owned a car that I rarely drive.

 

[93rev2sev]

Wouldn't the AutoRX have evaporated by now, since it's fairly volitile stuff?....

 

[itwonder]

Ok thanks guys. I may drive it around the block once or twice a week but that's about it..only a few hundred miles since Feb. is nothing. Oh yeah and the oil is still a nice golden brown, nowhere near dirty that's one reason I was asking. They always say 3 months but I've never owned a car that I rarely drive.

If you drive it infrequently, try to at least drive it far enough that it is completely warmed up for 15-20 minutes. That gets the engine and exhaust system hot enough to drive off moisture. An oil change twice a year or 3000 miles is fine for the way you drive. If you drive it more regularly, 5000 miles or once a year is good.

 

[MONSOUN MOTORS]

I change my filter every 3,000 miles and add a quart and a half of oil. My oil stays pretty clean because i warm the car up before I go and also I drive 60 mile round trip everyday so the oil gets to the proper operating temperature. I use Mobil clean 7500 with a M1-301 Mobil 1 filter and I do a full oil change seasons and temperatures change drastically. I don't beat the living day lights of my SHO but if you do I recommend changing your oil at regular intervals. I think people in the UK change their oil every 10k miles or so i have heard.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

I would NEVER go 5000 miles on oil unless it is synthetic, that's just my personal opinion though. As far as time, yeah I wouldn't worry about the 3 month thing so much

 

[SHO Continental]

Wait wait wait wait!!! I thought oil was one of those things that lasted the life of the car..




You can also fit on a Motorcraft FL1A size filter. Much larger then the stock sized SHO filter.

 

[sdpatt]

If you want to enable the engine to last for a good, long lifetime, change the oil more often than the "recommended maintenance" schedule for "ideal" operating conditions. We all suffer through stop and go traffic, dust and high temperatures. For these cases, the more frequent changes of the oil and filter are required.

My 373,000-mile engine is a testimonial to the use of 10W-30 Castrol GTX and Castrol GTX High Mileage at 3,000 mile intervals. The 124 oil changes so far have protected the SHO engine through the high heat of Texas summers, the extreme loads from road track use and boat towing and the daily wear of a 96-mile daily commute through, at many times, stop an go traffic.

A note about the oil weights mentioned previously; the owner's manual specifies 5W-30 only for temperatures up to 100F and 10W-30 for temperatures from 0F to over 100F. These conditions would dictate the 10W-30 for the majority of SHO users during all but most bone-chilling times of the year. The 10W-30 provides more protection that the thinner 5W-30 during startup and extreme loadings.

If you want the engine to last longer, change the oil at 3,000 mile intervals. Unfiltered combustion by-products suspended in the oil do not enhance engine longevity.