It is understandable that given that you just spent a lot of $$$ on a new vehicle, that you want the best oil for it... It is also understandable that given the same situation, you want to change the oil at the correct interval to guarantee lifetime.
Both of those are fine, but you are correct, buying $7 oil for 5000 mile OCIs can be overkill, or in alternate terms, not the smart money choice. While there certainly is nothing wrong with doing such a thing, the worthwhile'ness' of it is questionable.
As far as I can see, there are two smart options:
-use a top-notch ($2.50/qt) conventional oil, either havoline, pennzoil or castrol GTX, and change it every 5000 miles or earlier if the computer tells you to. Verify OCIs with UIA
or
-run a high quality synthetic (amsoil or M1), run it until the computer tells you to change it (the first time), do a UOA, and let the professionals (Terry Dyson) tell you what kind of stretch you can comfortably and safely perform, given your usage and driving style. It may be an extra 1000 or it may be an extra 10000 miles... who knows without UOA testing.
Another midground option would be to pick a good 'fake' synthetic, or syn blend, like schaeffer's (top notch oil though it is a blend), valvoline maxlife, mobil clean 7500, pennzoil platinum, havoline synthetic, etc., and just run it until the computer tells you to change. This way youre changine more often, but throwing away less oil dollars, while at the same time utilizing an oil that is slightly more robust and caertainly more than capable of the usage interval.
For smart surity, Id suggest using LC in your oil, regardless of what you choose...
Good luck!
JMH
