Oil Change Intervals

[GasSavers_SD26]

I bought oil yesterday. Small, private parts place had some in stock. Was $9.95 a quarts for their full synthetic. I think they have something called Amsoil XR7500 or something, it's not a full synthetic. I went with Mobil 1 because of the ease of availability. I used Rotella Synthetic in some of my vehicles, but I wanted something with a lighter weight.

[GasSavers_Dust]

Rotella has a 10-30, as does Delo, and Delo even has a 0-30 Syn

[GasSavers_SD26]

Yes, but they don't have a 5W20, which is what I was looking for. The big girl uses 5W40.

[JanGeo]

I think the owners manual said to change my Scion oil every 5000 miles or 3 months which ever comes first. THREE MONTHS! DUH?

First oil and filter change at 3700 miles - currently at 19147 miles - on Synlube - YEAH BABY!!

[GasSavers_James]

My friend Victor in Vermont had a 86 taurus wagon that he bought brand new. He never changed the oil, just kept it topped off, and had no problems until 195K when the oil pump went out. This is in northern vt where temps reach -30 F every winter.
In my vx I am running mobil 1 5w 30, with 11k on it so far. am waiting for a break in the weather to change it.

[GasSavers_TomO]

I like to use the Kublin Method to determine my oil change intervals. It can be found on THIS PAGE along with a few other theories and formulas to determine oil change intervals.

[JanGeo]

Originally Posted by James

My friend Victor in Vermont had a 86 taurus wagon that he bought brand new. He never changed the oil, just kept it topped off, and had no problems until 195K when the oil pump went out. This is in northern vt where temps reach -30 F every winter.
In my vx I am running mobil 1 5w 30, with 11k on it so far. am waiting for a break in the weather to change it.

THAT'S INSANE!! How did it run for so long? It must have been burning or leaking like crazy so that he constantly added more oil. I used to loose a quart between oil changes in my rabbit and when it got to 7k miles it was really beat where the valves were making a lot of noise and it would quiet right down after the oil change.

[Nrggeek]

My '91 Civic Owner's Manual recommends every 7,500 miles or 6 months. I've been changing it a little more frequently, say 5,000 miles.

I've never used synthetics. What is the biggest appeal? Is there an FE benefit? I'm a little hesitant to try something new on an engine with 261xxx miles on it.

[8307c4]

I can't afford an engine, all of mine are aluminum blocks and they cost like 5-6000 rebuilt, so I'd rather change the oil.

Originally Posted by JanGeo

I think the owners manual said to change my Scion oil every 5000 miles or 3 months which ever comes first. THREE MONTHS! DUH?

Well I only put 3,000 miles on my convertible bmw all last year, for some of us this is not unusual but I run synthethic.

Oil decomposes even as it sits, to see the effect take a car that's been sitting for 6 months the oil likely still looks good, so then it has to be started and ran for a good 20 minutes, if it has conventional oil in it I can almost guarantee this will turn solid black in that time.

I will say that running synthetic the oil doesn't turn black nearly as fast just from the passing of time, I usually can go 6-12 months.

But everything else, every 3000 maybe 3,500 miles, religiously, synth or not.
I will not let it go past 3,500, no way, if I can't see some clear in the oil then it's too dark, brown is too dark, for me.

[Hateful]

I just changed my "dino" oil after 4000 miles and 4 months. It was brown but I could still read the dip stick and it wasn't much darker than the Quaker State oil I saw on the shelf at Wal-Mart( I only use Pennzoil or Mobile 1). It was always black by then with prior oil changes. I think the attempts at hypermiling reduced the unburned fuel getting into the oil.