Oil Change Intervals 3k vs Longer with full synthetic

[OVERKILL]

I've heard people state this before, but that's not my experience.

Early in the cars life, I was alarmed to see such a high oil life remaining given the miles used (90% city). After getting my mind around that, I decided to ignore the MM, and just change at 5000 miles. More recently, I've gone to 6 month intervals, because of fuel dilution. Interestingly, Honda doesn't detail a severe duty scheme, other than they mention "if driving in the mountains" scheme, which is severe duty. No mention of city driving all the time, like I do.

For the next change, I'll pay better attention to the MM and report back my findings.

Post in thread 'Oil Change Intervals 3k vs Longer with full synthetic'

Apr 6, 2025

I was taught the old way of changing oil and filter every 3k miles as regular routine maintenance and i know oil has changed a lot over the years
Even though i run Mobil 1 Full synthetic in all my cars now i still have a hard time going over the 3k miles without doing an oil change
I would never consider going 7500 10000 miles ever and i know some people say that's fine to do but I'm not willing to take the risk
What are thoughts about 5K mile oil change intervals I run full synthetic Mobil 1 in the engines and usually run stock filters
Mopar in dodge, Mobis in hyundai, and i use...

• OVERKILL

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[tired]

Interesting. Our CRV never burned any detectable amount of oil

The Honda 1.5T engine is not a burner. At least, not that I know about. My cars oil level doen't change. Mind you, these 1.5's are known for fuel accumulation, so it's possible that oil burned is being replaced by fuel, keeping the level stable, but I don't think that's the case.

Apologies, it may have been a Fit, not a CRV.

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

It definitely considers the type of driving. I have had an 8th gen and 10th gen Civic and people who own these cars all report different rates at which they reach 0% oil life. It’s not just a 10,000 mile countdown. I see mine counting down faster in the winter months for instance

I concur. I have a 2025 HRV with the 2.0, normally aspirated, port fuel injection engine. This car gets massively short tripped and is run in high heat conditions. The oil life monitor clicks off 10% for every 300 miles. Oil changes called for every 3k miles.

 

[Averroes]

With an engine that isn’t hard on oil and is driven mostly highway I think 10k intervals can get it to 300k. I am very confident that my Civic will get there with 10k intervals.

Corolla just reached 300,000 km + just recently. Off the shelf oils and 7-9000km OCIs. I have a saying “we must be disciplined in our persistency of consistency”

 

[Bill7]

It definitely considers the type of driving. I have had an 8th gen and 10th gen Civic and people who own these cars all report different rates at which they reach 0% oil life. It’s not just a 10,000 mile countdown. I see mine counting down faster in the winter months for instance

So the Honda Civic OLM tries to prevent sludge from short trips in cold weather by sensing the external temperature is cold and limiting the oil change interval in that scenario.

 

[Carlostrece]

5k is the new 3k. Of course engine dependent like in the case of your Hyundai.

This ^. However, I'd go 7500 miles for most of those cars without concern, especially with good oil and good filter. The quality of filter matters as much or more than oil. The quality of filter varies more than quality of oil, IMO.

I recommend NAPA Gold filter for my first choice. Oreilly Microgard Select filter for my second choice.

 

[Sienna dude]

Oils are fine, it is the stupid fuel that's the culprit. If no fuel go 10k, with fuel 3k is the best thing to do

 

[Eddie]

I think oil sellers would suggest we change oil every 2,000 miles-haha

 

[Sienna dude]

I think oil sellers would suggest we change oil every 2,000 miles-haha

Engine sellers want 10,000 miles.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

With the crazy high mileage I do, even if changing the oil every 3-5k woukd have prevented the oil consumption I have ( no proof of that ) , it would have cost me more money and time changing it early versus follow the IOLM.

My car consumes oil but I won’t be requiring any new engine and it still runs and sounds great. For those who never check their oil level, you will need a new engine but that’s another type of problem.

I wouldn’t change anything oil change practices wise.

Do what makes you feel most comfortable.

In the meantime, I will just keep adding top off oil and motor on.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I'm old school. Don't trust these synthetics. I think it's all a scam, and they just put additives into dino oil. Was taught 3k oil and filter and still stick by it. Use synthetics because that's that's what engines are calling for. Either way, at 3k, oil still comes out filthy and black, just like dino oil did. Not changing my ways. 3k with filter..OUT

 

[OVERKILL]

I'm old school. Don't trust these synthetics. I think it's all a scam, and they just put additives into dino oil. Was taught 3k oil and filter and still stick by it. Use synthetics because that's that's what engines are calling for. Either way, at 3k, oil still comes out filthy and black, just like dino oil did. Not changing my ways. 3k with filter..OUT

Yes, screw science and chemistry, it can all go straight to hell, it's a clever ruse that only the keenest of minds is up on, and I'm WELL up on it, WELL.

 

[tired]

I'm old school. Don't trust these synthetics. I think it's all a scam, and they just put additives into dino oil. Was taught 3k oil and filter and still stick by it. Use synthetics because that's that's what engines are calling for. Either way, at 3k, oil still comes out filthy and black, just like dino oil did. Not changing my ways. 3k with filter..OUT

 

[The_Sheriff]

I'm old school. Don't trust these synthetics. I think it's all a scam, and they just put additives into dino oil. Was taught 3k oil and filter and still stick by it. Use synthetics because that's that's what engines are calling for. Either way, at 3k, oil still comes out filthy and black, just like dino oil did. Not changing my ways. 3k with filter..OUT

.
Curious. Just how old school are you? Do you turn your underpants inside out so you can get another day of wear out of them?
.

 

[4WD]

I'm old school. Don't trust these synthetics. I think it's all a scam, and they just put additives into dino oil. Was taught 3k oil and filter and still stick by it. Use synthetics because that's that's what engines are calling for. Either way, at 3k, oil still comes out filthy and black, just like dino oil did. Not changing my ways. 3k with filter..OUT

It is 2025 - some folks make a living as “influencers” - do not apply …

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Sorry guys....just don't buy the B.S from " BIG OIL". I'll stick to my ways, you guys can run all you're testing. 614,000 miles on a 13' CRV, 4 banger,with no rebuild, works for me. 3k stands

 

[ChrisD46]

The Cummins Guy’s OCI formula was interesting : I ran the formula for my ‘17 Sonata 2.4L GDI Thetta II engine with the result showing an OCI of 7,400 miles (mostly highway / interstate driving). Of course engine variables (GDI , Turbo , etc) come into play as well as fuel dilution , GDI produced soot , oil consumption and potentially fragile engine parts (2.4L Theta II) . By 3,000 miles into an OCI the oil is darkening and oil consumption starts going up more (i.e. not linear) . By 4,000 miles the oil is dark , smelling of fuel on the dipstick and I have to keep a more vigilant eye on checking oil levels regularly at every gas fill up . To end , I would love to extend to a 7,400 mile OCI for my Hyundai Theta II engine but all things considered, a lower OCI frequency is a better choice for this engine .

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Sorry guys....just don't buy the B.S from " BIG OIL". I'll stick to my ways, you guys can run all you're testing. 614,000 miles on a 13' CRV, 4 banger,with no rebuild, works for me. 3k stands

So it's the oci and not the engine combined with easy miles? How's the rest of the vehicle? Care to share a photo of the odometer?

 

[Patman]

Sorry guys....just don't buy the B.S from " BIG OIL". I'll stick to my ways, you guys can run all you're testing. 614,000 miles on a 13' CRV, 4 banger,with no rebuild, works for me. 3k stands

If you like wasting money, go for it…
I stopped doing 3k intervals more than 20 years ago and I have saved literally thousands of dollars. Not a single engine problem. Who’s the smart one here?

 

[ATex7239]

Who’s gonna tell old school that basically all conventional oil is semi synthetic now? And that crude oil doesn’t actually come from dinosaurs?