Mileage vs. Time for OCI/FCI

[Crack_Tan]

Hi.

Recently I purchased a new Pontiac and changed the oil & filter at 1K. I know that the general consensus is that an early oil/filter change isn't necessary on modern engines; however, I thought this would be a good time to get up under the car, locate all the major mechanicals, and make an early change to synthetic.

Anyway, I kept it simple and went with Mobil1 and the Toyota/Denso OEM filter (90915-YZZF2). My plan was to put my car on a 5,000/six month oil & filter schedule. However, I noticed a curious thing about the recommended OCI/FCI in the owner's manual: The time change interval is three months, not six (as I've had on other cars like a VW and an Opal). Maybe I'm wrong about this, but it would seem a complete waste of both money & oil to change my Mobil1 out every three months considering I'm not going to be anywhere near the 5K mileage interval. However, I sure don't want to run afoul of my warranty requirements for oil & filter changes.

How important is the time interval for oil changes? Is the three-month interval a GM thing or is that pretty standard for American vehicles? My old Opal Corsa had recommened OCI/FCI of 15K with dyno oil and oem filters. Hmmm...

 

[nj300se]

I'm curious about that too. My wifes Forester gets maybe 7000 a year on it. Manuf says 7,500 miles is OK OCI, but when going my months, instead of 6 or 7 months, they say 3.

With the M1 I use, I could change the oil once a year considering the mileage it gets, but I don't think Subaru would be happy about it if there was a warranty issue.

 

[TR3-2001SE]

I see no reason for this 3 month change. I am also careful dealing with warranties so I would check with the dealer. If he says, you can go 6 months, get it in writing. Otherwise I would stick with warranty requirements.

 

[Rex]

I would use synthetic up to 1 year. 6 months sample for a UOA.

Waste of time and money are what the car people want you to do. Keeps the oil companies in business.

 

[farrarfan1]

GM usually lists a "normal" and "severe duty" schedule.Severe is 3 months or 3,000 miles whichever comes first. There should be a chart outlining their definition of severe duty in the owners manual. It's up to you to decide which category you fall under.Curious what model Pontiac you bought and that it's not equipped with the Oil Life Monitor.

 

[greg_J35]

3k oil changes are unnecessary with todays vehicles.

 

[Gary Allan]

quote:

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3k oil changes are unnecessary with todays vehicles.

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I would tend to agree ..but I think that we're seeing a larger amount of the national fleet being driven by the .4-.9 mile to the grocery store for one loaf of bread crowd in our aging population.

I also agree with farrarfan. Your owners manual should "qualify" the severe duty with either a % or some other indicator of proportion of usage.

I don't see a problem with a 6month OCI if it falls within mileage guidelines and your service is otherwise "normal". That is, your service, if I interpret you usage correctly, would be something like 7.5k/9 months since you subject it to "normal" usage. This is not in conflict with the recommendations at all based on mileage or time. You are preempting the recommendation by 2500 miles/3 months.

 

[AndyH]

quote:

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Originally posted by farrarfan1:
Curious what model Pontiac you bought and that it's not equipped with the Oil Life Monitor.

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My guess based on his/her use of the DToyota/Denso OEM filter is a Pontiac Vibe (which has a Toyota engine, IIRC).

 

[Crack_Tan]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I have the 1.8l Toyota engine in my AWD Vibe.

Also, I rechecked the owner's manual along with the GMLink website and both list only one service schedule: 5,000 miles or 3 months for OCI/FCI. When I first read that I too thought that I was looking at the "severe" schedule. Unfortunately, I don't have a friend with a Matrix from who I can check the Toyota service schedule. I'm going to try a post in the Matrix owner's forum to see what their requirements are.

Tentatively though, I am going to stick with Mobil 1 and Denso OEM filter at 5,000 miles / 6 month intervals. I know I could go longer with the type of driving I do, but that schedule fits with other issues like tire rotations, etc.

Thanks again.