Synthetic Oil Change Interval Question

[Cristobal]

My vehicle is a 1996 Toyota Avalon, and I have been running semi-synthetic or full synthetic oil mixes, with change intervals of 7000 to 8000 miles for many years. I do about 1200 miles a month and have for over a decade.

About September 1, 2017 I will take a long drive of about 2000 miles in the Western States. Around April 5 I will be changing my oil and filter, and I want to run full synthetic so I can do this trip with less fuss. In short, I will be running this about 10,000 miles, maybe a little more, before I change the oil in September.

I will use a Bosch Distance+ filter, most likely.

Mobil 1 0W-40 Extended Performance should do the job. What about Kendall Synthetic? That goes on sale around here a lot for $2.99 a quart.

What about other synthetics like SuperTech, Napa Synthetic, Castrol Edge? Can these do 10,000 miles easily enough?

 

[WobblyElvis]

Many people would be afraid to go that far on any oil. I would say it is doable and I have done it.
Don't worry. More important to check the tires and cooling system before a long trip.

 

[supton]

Highway miles is easy(er) on oil. I'm thinking that just running what you have been running for that 20% longer is going to be fine. That, and some have reported increased oil consumption after changing brands--might not want to experiment.

But more importantly, this is a ways off. For all you know, something will come up and spoil your plans, forcing an extra oil change in there, somehow. A few extra trips between now and then, and it might wind up being fresh oil in the sump.

I'm not accusing you of over-thinking this; but my vote is "don't change anything".

 

[jayg]

Originally Posted By: Cristobal
My vehicle is a 1996 Toyota Avalon, and I have been running semi-synthetic or full synthetic oil mixes, with change intervals of 7000 to 8000 miles for many years. I do about 1200 miles a month and have for over a decade.

About September 1, 2017 I will take a long drive of about 2000 miles in the Western States. Around April 5 I will be changing my oil and filter, and I want to run full synthetic so I can do this trip with less fuss. In short, I will be running this about 10,000 miles, maybe a little more, before I change the oil in September.

I will use a Bosch Distance+ filter, most likely.

Mobil 1 0W-40 Extended Performance should do the job. What about Kendall Synthetic? That goes on sale around here a lot for $2.99 a quart.

What about other synthetics like SuperTech, Napa Synthetic, Castrol Edge? Can these do 10,000 miles easily enough?




Where are you finding that?

So, you are planning a road trip for a year from now and worried about what oil would be fine for 10k miles? Any brand name 5w30 full synthetic would be fine. Use a high mileage oil if you want. Top off when needed. Try not to over think things.

 

[sasilverbullet]

Originally Posted By: jayg
...Try not to over think things.

But we here on BITOG love to over think things! It's what keeps us alive!

 

[userfriendly]

I guessing that 0W40 sounds thinner than 15w40, and 15W40 sounds thinner than SAE 40 on BITOG too.
Therefore 0W40 and 5W40s, are more socially accepted with the thin oil crowd than say 25W40, the Crocodile Dundee of the 40 weights.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: Cristobal
My vehicle is a 1996 Toyota Avalon, and I have been running semi-synthetic or full synthetic oil mixes, with change intervals of 7000 to 8000 miles for many years. I do about 1200 miles a month and have for over a decade.

About September 1, 2017 I will take a long drive of about 2000 miles in the Western States. Around April 5 I will be changing my oil and filter, and I want to run full synthetic so I can do this trip with less fuss. In short, I will be running this about 10,000 miles, maybe a little more, before I change the oil in September.

I will use a Bosch Distance+ filter, most likely.

Mobil 1 0W-40 Extended Performance should do the job. What about Kendall Synthetic? That goes on sale around here a lot for $2.99 a quart.

What about other synthetics like SuperTech, Napa Synthetic, Castrol Edge? Can these do 10,000 miles easily enough?



So 1200 miles/month from April to September is around 7200 miles. Plus the 2000 for the highway trip brings it to 9200.

From right now until April, you'll drive 7200 miles....so I'd suggest a change now to the oil you think will do the job and a UOA(leave it in) when you hit 7200 miles. Then you'll have something on which to base your decision. If it still looks good in the spring then your plan sounds ok.

That said, EP should be fine. Regular M1 should be fine also. Don't know about Kendall or NAPA, but IMO the ST might not be up to the task. Edge? Maybe.

Last, if you're worried and don't care to UOA, simply change as usual in April then just before your trip.

 

[Merkava_4]

10,000 mile oil changes = varnish build up big time.

Varnish is a sticky substance that does not help lubricate.

 

[tig1]

Under most conditions M1 oils will easly do 10K OCIs. I've been doing that for 38 years with various M1 oils, in various types of engines, under various conditions.

 

[userfriendly]

The good news is that nowadays, you don't need a "synthetic" to achieve what was once called an extended drain interval.

 

[Rolla07]

Id stick with the EP for piece of mind and a fram ultra. That way you can know you used the best and not worry..and check your air filter

 

[UltrafanUK]

Originally Posted By: Cristobal
My vehicle is a 1996 Toyota Avalon, and I have been running semi-synthetic or full synthetic oil mixes, with change intervals of 7000 to 8000 miles for many years. I do about 1200 miles a month and have for over a decade.

About September 1, 2017 I will take a long drive of about 2000 miles in the Western States. Around April 5 I will be changing my oil and filter, and I want to run full synthetic so I can do this trip with less fuss. In short, I will be running this about 10,000 miles, maybe a little more, before I change the oil in September.

I will use a Bosch Distance+ filter, most likely.

Mobil 1 0W-40 Extended Performance should do the job. What about Kendall Synthetic? That goes on sale around here a lot for $2.99 a quart.

What about other synthetics like SuperTech, Napa Synthetic, Castrol Edge? Can these do 10,000 miles easily enough?



It's a bad idea to extend an OCI beyond the OEM Max recommended interval if you don't get a UOA done. Just because an oil has some kind of synthetic base does not mean it will last longer than a semi synthetic oil unless the engine concerned tends to cause high temp shearing due to a hot running turbo, high max RPM limits or a tendency to overheat.
With longer OCI's the limiting factor is often the TBN/TAN relationship and that depends a lot on detergent contents. It might also be limited by fuel contamination or even ultra fine Silicon (Sand) particles in some cases.

If you do want to do long OCI's it's a good idea to select a major brand full synthetic more because it will contain a good level of detergents, anti wear, friction modifying and extreme pressure additives. By major brands I mean Mobil, Castrol, Shell (Inc Sopus group companies like Penn) and Liqui Moly.

 

[Cristobal]

There are these 99 Cent Stores I go to, and the Kendall synthetic every now and then goes on sale for $2.99. It tends to vanish off the shelf fast.

The engine was back in 1995 specified for oil changes with SH dino every 5500 miles or so. With synthetic oils now, I can see 10K.

 

[JC1]

Does the Avalon have the 3.0l V6 Motor? That motor can be a potential sludger. Have you ever opened the valve covers to have a look at the condition of the motor?

I wouldn't try a 10,000 mile OCI in that motor. I think the max I would be comfortable with is 7500 moles.

I had a 98 Sienna with the V6 and the max
I'd push that to for an OCI was 5000 miles.

 

[benjy]

i did 10,000 mile changes every 2 to 3 months for years with the old amsoil that was a PAO + Ester blend years ago in a 2001 VW Jetta 1.8T boosted to 265 hp + 275 TQ, no issues + traded @ 200,000 miles with 20" vacuum. as noted highway miles are easy. not sure what amsoil is blending these days but their web still shows 25,000 or 1 yr in a mechanically solid vehicle for their signature series oils. they "may" still use some PAO + Ester in those oils, mobil I extended is said to use some PAO in their blend. as you should know most "synthetics" are refined CRUDE oils technically group III, good but prolly not as good as the real group IV + V base oils in extreme usage!!

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted By: Rolla07
Id stick with the EP for piece of mind and a fram ultra. That way you can know you used the best and not worry..and check your air filter

Peace of mind ,in what way?

 

[jayg]

Originally Posted By: Rolla07
Id stick with the EP for piece of mind and a fram ultra. That way you can know you used the best and not worry..and check your air filter

Again, can somebody show me a bottle of M1 0w40 EP that the OP is talking about?

 

[BrocLuno]

I'd run what you have and change it just before the trip ... Why, because I'd want to go over the vehicle anyway before a long road trip and the oil change would be incidental

 

[donnyj08]

Yes, 10k highway miles is doable on most any name brand synthetic.

with that said it doesn't make sense to run oil 7200mi and do a UOA to see if you can squeeze 2k more miles out of the oil. That to me makes zero sense. It would be cheaper to change the oil right before your trip and run that change another 7200 than to mess with spending the same amount of money on a UOA just to change the oil in 2k more miles...that is a waste of money unless you need to verify there aren't any issues with coolant or other contaminants getting into the oil.

The UOA thing is overblown here on BITOG. sure they are fascination and useful, but we aren't talking about a industrial application where stretching each lube out to max life is needed to reduce fleet costs. Ultimately it is your choice. personally I would spend $30 on new oil and filter at 7200mi verses spending $30 on a UOA to see if the TBN is good and then turn around and spend another $30 to change the oil right after the trip.

Change the oil before you leave. Save the money from the UOA to do an activity on your trip. Good luck!

 

[Revving2Redline]

I do many highway runs and have 0w20 Edge on my 15 Civic.I've done 6000 miles and still have 40 percent OLM.Will change at 15-20 percent.Using Fram Ultra and AEM Dryflow and made a prefilter out of intake plenum. My one uoa on this was on castrol magnatec/edge blend 0w20 and while I didnt TBN, it had 8900 miles and I received praise with no bad remarks. A good synthetic can go 8 to 12k with proper driving,filters etc. A basement brand synthetic or a high quality synblend could go 4-7 no problem using top end filters,driving,fuels,etc. Short trips,heavy long idle,bad driving conditions are what kill oils.