Best advice for average drives = change 2x a year.

[Audi Junkie]

That's what I'm telling people now. I like time-based intervals anyway, it accounts for the short trip driver and the driver who logs long highway runs.

2x a year. Go with one change at state inspection, and once 6 months afterwards. The less people have to think, the better they can execute.

 

[Audi Junkie]

People who exceed 15k a year may need to adjust accordingly.

 

[gathermewool]

+1/2 : P

 

[sangyup81]

I've driven 40k in a year. I did 3k mile oil changes back then.....

 

[Audi Junkie]

Wow.

 

[sangyup81]

it was either Formula Shell 5w30 or the 10w30 bulk oil that the Mitsubishi dealership gave me even though it was winter and my car specs 5w30 normally.....

it's a 2002 Lancer

 

[Nick R]

I've decided to run 5,000 mile OCI, it's a nice round number. That is about 5 months of driving for me.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
That's what I'm telling people now. I like time-based intervals anyway, it accounts for the short trip driver and the driver who logs long highway runs.

2x a year. Go with one change at state inspection, and once 6 months afterwards. The less people have to think, the better they can execute.
\

That's my strategy now too although I might do 2 changes in spring/summer/fall and one winter change to full synthetic. I'm running rotella T 15W40 though so its not the average bulk oil and I'm doing mostly highway miles so I think the oil is good for this schedule.

 

[rewote500]

Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
That's what I'm telling people now. I like time-based intervals anyway, it accounts for the short trip driver and the driver who logs long highway runs.

2x a year. Go with one change at state inspection, and once 6 months afterwards. The less people have to think, the better they can execute.


My thoughts exactly. I will be adopting 6 month intervals this spring. I'm gonna change oil in April and October and be done with it. Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30.....

 

[d00df00d]

My strategy is encouraging people to think critically and be circumspect. If they won't do either, I change the subject.

 

[bigmike]

I'm switching from every 4 month of dino changes to every 6 month synthetic changes in my truck. I figured this should come out about the same cost and I crawl underneath the truck only twice a year vs. 3 times. Sounded good to me!

The Honda still goes by the MM with synthetic. Rounds out about every 6 months, so far.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
My strategy is encouraging people to think critically and be circumspect. If they won't do either, I change the subject.

Yep, step it up a notch, or get left behind.



So far, 6 months almost sounds almost like a consensus, by BitOG standards.

 

[Herz]

I change my oil based on my driving, I am on-call for my work so I can toss 2k miles on my truck in 1 month or 5k in 6 months depending on how much they call me.

If I do alot of short trips and idling, towing, or severe service like cold weather I will not exceed 3-3500 miles. But if I do alot of high way I'll change the oil ever 5k to 6months.

 

[White_Monster]

I just got back a great UOA where the oil ran for 17 months and 14,626 miles and the TBN level was still 2.2
Might push the next OCI to 16,000 or 24 months, whichever comes first !!!

 

[kkreit01]

This is also my plan on the Fords. Manual says 7500/6 mo. I drive about 6k in 6 mo (on each). Thus, I change 2x/yr.

 

[PandaBear]

I used to drive 60k a year, two oil change a year would have been a disaster even with long drain oil.

I'd say follow the user manual or 5k a year would be correct.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
I used to drive 60k a year, two oil change a year would have been a disaster even with long drain oil.

I'd say follow the user manual or 5k a year would be correct.


Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
Best advice for average drives = change 2x a year


60k a year isn't "average".

 

[webfors]

I think if you followed that advice you would be in good hands. Synthetic if mileage is in the 15-25k/year range.

 

[levi]

Best advice for average drives... That's what I'm telling people now.

My experience has been that when people ask for advice in general, they don't really want to know what is best. They want to be told what they are now doing is ok, or they're looking for approval on what they've already decided to do.

 

[rpn453]

That's what I do for the vehicles I service; 7 months in summer, 5 months in winter. I do them when I do seasonal tire changes. The longest OCI has been 8k miles.