Question about Mobil 1

oilnoob425 · Dec 20, 2006

Hello.

I recently put 5W-20 Mobil 1 synthetic oil in both of my cars(Civic and Elantra both with AT). So my question is - How long I can drive without changing oil? I do a lot of highway and city driving. What is the usual oil change intervals for synthetic oil in miles and months?
I've heard I can go longer than usual 3000 miles or 3 months reccomendation without oil change, when using syntetic oil.
Also right after the oil change I instantly noticed that my Civic became tad heavier, slower and less agile. It takes more effort to get to higher rpm now. I don't know what attribute to this. Is that normal? I've never used syntetic oil in my cars before and Civic got only 35000 miles on it.

Thank You.

q2bruiser · Dec 20, 2006

You can definitely go more than 3m/3000 with any synthetic. You can also go more than 3/3 with any SM rated oil.
JKH

dave1251 · Dec 20, 2006

I say that 8K on M-1 in a Honda is not pushing it.

toocrazy2yoo · Dec 20, 2006

Well, you're not saying what year, Noob, and I won't speak to the Honda, but the Hyundai, post-2004 says 7500 miles is ok for easier service. I do 7 or 8 hundred to a thousand miles a week on my 2005 AccentGT with a 5K OCI on dino, and am going to 7500 on this batch of GC synthetic. I get into a little stop and go, but mostly, I'm on parkways and interstates, so my service is not at all severe. In service a little over 5000 miles on a Purolator filter, the stuff is like new. Our Hyundais and I suspect your Honda, aren't too hard on the oil. These engines aren't going to shear the VIIs, and they aren't going to deplete the additive. When I get past the tyranny of the warranty, it'll be bypass filter time, and minimum 10-12K OCI time on simple GroupIII synthetics. I believe with bypass filtration, I can go longer than that even.

So a 3K on synthetic, especially synthetic, is wasteful as can be.

B00SS · Dec 20, 2006

With the relatively low mileage, I'm assuming it is a fairly late model Honda. I thought Hondas recommended a much longer OCI than 3,000. What does the owner's manual suggest? Whatever it says, you can go even further with the synthetic. And, by the way,

wgtoys · Dec 20, 2006

Most Honda 4 cylinder cars in the US call for 5,000 miles severe service, 10,000 miles regular service oil change intervals on conventional oils. I would think that 10,000 miles on a synthetic should be completely doable. Not sure what Hyundai's recommendations are.

I consider it safe and conservative to use the mfg. recommended normal service interval with a good synthetic oil. This is still probably overkill, but almost always takes you way, way past the 3,000 mile mark.

It seems that Pennzoil/JiffyLube's marketing is based first and foremost on preaching the 3 month/3,000 mile old wives tale as the gospel truth.

BrianWC · Dec 20, 2006

Quote:

It seems that Pennzoil/JiffyLube's marketing is based first and foremost on preaching the 3 month/3,000 mile old wives tale as the gospel truth.

Speaking of wives tales. JiffyLube has a webpage targeted toward women. "Give your car the spa treatment every three months or 3k miles." http://www.jiffylube.com/InDrive/ind_Wom...r.jpg&PVM=1

AndyH · Dec 20, 2006

Quote:

Also right after the oil change I instantly noticed that my Civic became tad heavier, slower and less agile. It takes more effort to get to higher rpm now. I don't know what attribute to this. Is that normal? I've never used syntetic oil in my cars before and Civic got only 35000 miles on it.

What oil were you using prior to the switch to Mobil 1 5W-20?

TR3-2001SE · Dec 20, 2006

I did a 9700 mile run with Mobil 1 and the TBN was .9. This is considered much to low to use any oil. However my intake was loose so lots of dirt was being injusted. I would think 8000 is about right for the normal Mobil 1 without any analysis to conferm.

norseman · Dec 20, 2006

Quote:

Speaking of wives tales. JiffyLube has a webpage targeted toward women. "Give your car the spa treatment every three months or 3k miles." http://www.jiffylube.com/InDrive/ind_Wom...r.jpg&PVM=1

That site is just effin' pathetic

oilnoob425 · Dec 21, 2006

Thank You everybody for the warm welcome and all your help!

Sorry I didn't mention details. Civic is 02LX and Elantra is 06GS. Previous oil changes were done at Fast Track every 3000/3months with 5W-20 Mobil5000 and some no name filters all the same for both cars. I used Mobil 1 Filters this time but I don't think I would keep doing such setup because it mighty expensive plus I got that slowness from my Civic that I mentioned above. So much for $35.

My Civic manual says change oil at:
Oil- replace every 10000 miles or 12 months, Filter- replace every 20000 miles or 12 months for normal conditions.

Oil- replace every 5000 miles or 6 months, Filter- replace every10000 miles or 12 monts for extreme condition.

I from SouthEastern Wisconsin and not sure which condition schedule to follow. But normal conditions schedule seem a little extreme. I mean 10K/12months intervals! What oil can take that abuse??? Common ! I'm not taking such risk to my engine. Also manual mentions synthetic oil as well. It says - When using synthetic oil, you must follow intervals given in the maintenance schedule. I also emailed Mobil with my question and they said that with their syntetic oil I can follow the manual.

However clerk from Advance Auto Parts said that he would recommend still do 3K/3M intervals even with Mobil 1 and that's what he does. But he obviously has monetary interest and probably lying.

And finally I didn't get answer about my Civic's lost performance. I really would like to know your guys thoughts on this issue!

Thank You!

oilnoob425 · Dec 21, 2006

Quote:

Most Honda 4 cylinder cars in the US call for 5,000 miles severe service, 10,000 miles regular service oil change intervals on conventional oils. I would think that 10,000 miles on a synthetic should be completely doable. Not sure what Hyundai's recommendations are.

I consider it safe and conservative to use the mfg. recommended normal service interval with a good synthetic oil. This is still probably overkill, but almost always takes you way, way past the 3,000 mile mark.

It seems that Pennzoil/JiffyLube's marketing is based first and foremost on preaching the 3 month/3,000 mile old wives tale as the gospel truth.

Yeah that what I heard. But how come Mobil has their non synthetic oils Mobil5000 and Mobil75000 but never mentions any mileage intervals for their synthetic Mobil 1. Neither on the bottle nor in the description on their website. Weird. That puzzles me a lot.

Gene K · Dec 21, 2006

OCI is based on oil capacity vs average fuel consumption. If a V-8 with a 5 qt capacity getting 15 mpg can go 5,000 mi then a I-4 with a 5 qt capacity getting 30 mpg should go 10,000 mi on the same oil (all else being equal). BTW when the IL State Police were running the 5.7L LT-1 Chevrolet they did 15,000 mi OCI on Mobil 1 5w30.

In my opinion a 5,000 mi OCI on conventional oil is very safe for Honda 4-Cyl. Synthetic should go 8,000 mi easily.
I would only exceed that if it was proven with Used Oil Analysis.

On the Hyundai do not exceed factory oil change intervals as they have a reputation for voiding the warranty at any excuse.

oilnoob425 · Dec 21, 2006

Quote:

On the Hyundai do not exceed factory oil change intervals as they have a reputation for voiding the warranty at any excuse.

How are they gonna find out? It's my second Hyundai and I never kept track of services nor I was ever asked to show them.

adiposis · Dec 21, 2006

Quote:

On the Hyundai do not exceed factory oil change intervals as they have a reputation for voiding the warranty at any excuse.

At least in Korea, I've never heard of that.
And, who knows the oil interval except the owner.

AndyH · Dec 21, 2006

Quote:

Sorry I didn't mention details. Civic is 02LX and Elantra is 06GS. Previous oil changes were done at Fast Track every 3000/3months with 5W-20 Mobil5000 and some no name filters all the same for both cars. I used Mobil 1 Filters this time but I don't think I would keep doing such setup because it mighty expensive plus I got that slowness from my Civic that I mentioned above. So much for $35.

The only explanation I can come up with for the "slowness" of your Civic after the change from Mobil 5000 5W-20 to Mobil 1 5W-20 is that the Mobil 5000 possibly sheared out of grade over the course of the 3,000 miles. When the Mobil 1 was added, the car felt more sluggish as the oil was a bit thicker than the oil that was just drained out. But without a used oil analysis on the Mobil 5000 that was drained out of the car, this is merely a guess.

Question about Mobil 1

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