My new oil change interval

[Drew99GT]

I've recently switched to 4 months regardless of miles on each vehicle I service. On my car, since I do all highway, that should end up at about 7,000 miles. On my moms, it should end up at about 3,000, and my Pops, about 5,000.

I figure, a time based interval takes into account whether the miles are more highway based or stop and go. Thoughts?

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

That will work. Are you running different oils in each vehicle?

 

[Drew99GT]

Nope, Phillips Trop Artic 5w and 10w-30 depending on temps.

I used to crawl under my rig about every month when I was stuck in the 3 month/3,000 mile mentality!

 

[GoldenRod]

Going from 4 times a year to 3, is going to be a real hardship on you. You may not realize it now, but you'll start going through the withdrawl phase and then......

 

[Patman]

Why not just go with synthetic and do it once per year on everything? Who wants to be changing oil so often when you're doing all kinds of different cars?

I change the oil for mine, my wife's and my mom's. But my schedule has me doing mine every 6 months (which is about 8-10k), my wife's once per year (about 10-12k) and my mom's every 2 years (about 6 or 7k) All three are running German Castrol 0w30 (which is a full synthetic of course)

 

[Papa Bear]

GoldenRod is right !!
Clean, rinse...withdrawl phases

p.B.

 

[Cutehumor]

I would recommend extending by months whenever possible for low OCI vehicles. Every 3 months is ridiculous for multiple vehicles. I change oil for four cars. If I did the 3 month thing for all four cars, I would be changing oil 16 times a year for four cars.

03 Nissan sentra-6 month OCI which is about 3k miles (6 month OCI to maintain extended warranty)-Valv Durablend 10w30

96 Pontiac Sunfire-5k miles/6months
92 Mitsubishi Mirage 3k miles/6months
06 Pontiac Vibe-1 yr intervals expect 5k/yr

4 vehicles is about 7 oil changes/yr. Except for the vibe, I've been doing this schedule for 2.5 years.

 

[John_E]

quote:

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Originally posted by Drew99GT:
I've recently switched to 4 months regardless of miles on each vehicle I service. On my car, since I do all highway, that should end up at about 7,000 miles. ... Thoughts?

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The 1969 Chevrolet Camaro/Chevelle/etc. owner's manual calls for a 4-month basic oil change interval, with a maximum of 6k mi / 10k km per change.

My VW Passat 1.8T currently gets a 6-month OCI, which works out to a bit under 3k mi / 5k km.

 

[pitzel]

Wow, and I thought the 40k mile/5 year interval I am using on my GM 3.1 engine was relatively conservative.

Changing oil every 4 months? Crazy!

 

[Auto-Union]

I've been on a time-schedule for a while. Firstly, I'm shure to start the cycle for December cold. Dec-Jan-Feb-Mar gets me through winter w/o a change in the cold. I know exactly when I am doing the changes and can budget/organize my stash accordingly. As well as being able to change visc for ambient temps, I can schedule the changes for a day-off/holiday whatever.

Time schedules do indeed account for short trippers and long distance drivers. Shure, some cars accrue low miles because they just sit unused and don't even need a frequent change, but most low-miles cars are short trippers. Soccer-mom goes 3k in 4 months, all short trips, road warrior goes 8k in 4 months, both are ready for an OC in 4 months.

Basicly, select an oil that lets you go the desired TIME and you are set. I have that enormous stash of Delo and it fits into the duty-cycle of most cars I service. Basicly, 4 months is about 6000 miles as Drew said. I can't imagine counting miles and trying to guess when a change is needed....that just feeds the whole OCD/OCI thing. I change for Dec/Apr/Aug.

Just to expand the visc thing...

I don't exactly do it but one could...

Dec-Mar 5w30
Apr-Jul 10w-40
Aug-Nov 10w-30

I consider The Fall cycle to be the least severe and generally use-up my lamest oil then.

 

[John_E]

I know oils have improved over the years, but I still remember my boss buying a new big Audi (100? 5000? whatever they called it then) circa 1983 and driving it about 20k mi / 35k km, when the engine seized. The salesman had told him it didn't need its first tuneup until 25k mi, and he assumed this was the oil change interval, as well.

 

[Matt89]

I agree with a time interval...and 4 months would certainly be conservative. A mileage number by itself doesn't mean much.

On my wife's CRV right now I plan to do 5Kmile/6 month intervals...probably will average about 2 changes a year since it doesn't get a lot of (highway) miles. I'm thinking (see my thread on Redneck OLM) of just going 6 months and whatever number of miles less than the 'normal' schedule of 10K miles. This with Motorcraft 5W-20.

On your car that does see a lot of highway, you might be better off using an M1 and doing 6 month OCIs (10K miles maybe?). Would end up costing more, but that would be the tradeoff for doing one less oil change a year. Depends on what you have more of...time or cash.

On my Civic, I go by the OLM, and for this first shot I'll end up going 8 months/7Kmiles probably.

 

[Curious Kid]

Time? Miles? I understand wanting to just go with what feels right because it's the feelings that one must contend with (potential costs also). But, without testing (even a blotter test I suppose, along with other passive observations such as mileage, oil pan magnet and of filter media...or simply monitoring UOA trends), I suppose one is falling back on assumption, belief, and here-say from a collective that's not qualified on the specific engine in point and it's condition/operating nature.

Amazing, up to 6k miles on a carbed engine in '69, though up to a 4mo. period - which I suppose helps to limit coldstart/short trip fuel dilution and condensation build-up/effects.

Pitzel -

What's your practice?

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What might be your ultimate goal? What would best serve towards coming as close to it with what's possible and practical for you??