Short OCI with conv. or long with synthetic?

[mark pruett]

I'll set the stage here a little bit... I have an older truck (no mechanical issues) with about 92,000 miles on it and I'm not interested in putting any more money than necessary to keep it running and in good shape. I don't drive it hard- just to and from work, about 9 miles each direction, with maybe 1/3 of that at highway speeds. Overall, I drive nearly exactly 6000 miles a year, and have for the past 8 years.

I'm also slothful and the father to two small boys, so blocking out the time to go change my oil and deal with the waste oil is not something I'm particularly interested in either. So I've been taking it to the local quick-change place, who seem to do a fine job from what I can tell.

My owner's manual suggests 3000 mile oil changes. So I can go to the quick-change place and get a bulk SN rated 5w-30 oil change (no idea about brand) for almost exactly half of what they'd charge for a change of Castrol EDGE 5w-30.

So the question is this: Which is better- a 6000 mile OCI with Castrol Edge, or a 3000 mile OCI with the no-name bulk SN-rated 5w-30?

Caveats: I'm a little bit uncomfortable going 6000 miles with the mystery oil, and I'm not interested in some alternate OCI, because this one happens to line up very conveniently with my state inspection which I get done at the same place, and save a trip.

 

[hatt]

Sounds like in your situation the Edge would be the way to go. What truck?

 

[CT8]

Probably there would be little if and difference running Syn or conventional oils for the once a year change interval but go syn.

 

[Ohle_Manezzini]

I would go 6k with conventional and 12k (2 years) with the Edge.

 

[JoelB]

I'd also go for the edge for a nice once a year oil change. Doesn't get much easier than that. Plus you know if you go over 6k miles in a a year it's still got some life left in it.

 

[BrocLuno]

I'd go synthetic and change it once a year (spring) so it has good clean fresh oil for the hot season

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted By: Ohle_Manezzini
I would go 6k with conventional and 12k (2 years) with the Edge.


^^^ THIS

I doubt the "mystery" oil at the quick change is all that bad. You can ask for the specs. When I worked at one in the 80's, the bulk tank was filled with Valvoline conventional (good oil easily good for 5,000-6,000 miles nowadays)

You might want a better filter, though.

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted By: JoelB
I'd also go for the edge for a nice once a year oil change. Doesn't get much easier than that. Plus you know if you go over 6k miles in a a year it's still got LOTS and LOTS of life left in it.


fixed that for ya!

 

[barkingspider]

Change it once a year e the synthetic oil

 

[zorobabel]

I would change it once a year (6000 miles) with the conventional because you are short tripping it.

 

[ndfergy]

Since there's no cost benefit stick with what you are doing with the shorter oil change w/dino. The best oil is clean oil.

 

[69GTX]

Originally Posted By: zorobabel
I would change it once a year (6000 miles) with the conventional because you are short tripping it.


I agree with the short trips as in 9 miles you don't get the oil fully warm for any length of time. I'd be inclined to do 4K-6K OCI's on synthetics because you can buy them for $2/qt during the years...same price as conventionals. If you don't want to deal the mess, then bring your oil with you and have them cut $5-$10 from the cheap OCI price. You can use a top quality filter and let that go for 2 OCI's. That might make one of your OCI's less messy where you can do it yourself. Changing the filter is the only part I don't like.

 

[bigt61]

You're probably OK going the 2 year-12k OCI w Castrol Synthetic as long as you're diligent about keeping it topped off. If it develops an oil leak because of the synthetic, you may have to reconsider.

 

[Jimzz]

Use a high mileage oil and change it once a year. Valvoline MaxLife is a good semi-syn HM oil.

 

[FZ1]

Buy the 5 quart jug of Castrol Edge at Walmart. Take it to the Quick Change place when your inspection is due and let them change your oil 1x per year. One call does all. lol. Watch them to make sure they put your oil in the car. Ask them to return your 5 quart remainder for top up.

 

[veryHeavy]

Originally Posted By: mark pruett
I've been taking it to the local quick-change place, who seem to do a fine job from what I can tell.

Search youtube for KTLA(?) video about quick lube places doing poor work..... sometimes no work at all.

Why I prefer long drains:
- I can buy the oil cheaper than the lube place charges (about $15 versus $30).
- When I bring my own oil, I only pay for labor: $20
-
- By going 10,000 miles using synthetic oil I eliminate 2 oil changes and reduce labor cost by ~40.

 

[Doublehaul]

The nice thing about a shorter conventional oci is that your getting any possible contaminants out of the system quicker...ie fuel or coolant etc should a problem arise. Ive run extended oci in the past with good oils but it was always on vehicles i didn't care about and didn't want to mess around with changing the oil on.

In a vehicle that I truly love and care about and plan to keep for the long haul..id run a quality conventional at 5k with the best oil filter you can get. Change the air filter every 20k and move on.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: mark pruett
I'll set the stage here a little bit... I have an older truck (no mechanical issues) with about 92,000 miles on it and I'm not interested in putting any more money than necessary to keep it running and in good shape. I don't drive it hard- just to and from work, about 9 miles each direction, with maybe 1/3 of that at highway speeds. Overall, I drive nearly exactly 6000 miles a year, and have for the past 8 years.

I'm also slothful and the father to two small boys, so blocking out the time to go change my oil and deal with the waste oil is not something I'm particularly interested in either. So I've been taking it to the local quick-change place, who seem to do a fine job from what I can tell.

My owner's manual suggests 3000 mile oil changes. So I can go to the quick-change place and get a bulk SN rated 5w-30 oil change (no idea about brand) for almost exactly half of what they'd charge for a change of Castrol EDGE 5w-30.

So the question is this: Which is better- a 6000 mile OCI with Castrol Edge, or a 3000 mile OCI with the no-name bulk SN-rated 5w-30?

Caveats: I'm a little bit uncomfortable going 6000 miles with the mystery oil, and I'm not interested in some alternate OCI, because this one happens to line up very conveniently with my state inspection which I get done at the same place, and save a trip.


One year and only 6000 miles is child's play for the Edge, and you only have to take it in once a year. For your situation that seems the choice to make.
[I'd take the truck out on the highway for a 30+ mile run every month or so to make sure things get nice and hot]

 

[mark pruett]

2005 Dodge Dakota, 3.7l V6 ~92000 miles.

I'm leaning toward the once-a-year change for convenience's sake. I was just curious if there was really any advantage to more frequent oil changes if there was no difference in cost.