Synthetic Question

[jrsdws]

I'm a recent convert from conventional to synthetic in my Harley Davidson and I'm happy so far.

A buddy of mine was telling me that he's been running synthetics in his vehicles for many years and that he changes his filter and then tops of oil level at regular 3000 mile intervals then does complete oil change and filter at 12,000 miles.

Is this common?

I'm thinking of switching to synthetic in my '05 GMC pickup that has about 90k miles. The truck is used sparingly and picks up between 3-5k miles per year...most are in winter for hunting season. I just change my oil at the start of winter and once in mid summer.

If I switch to synthetic would I be able to just change the filter maybe annually and will I get better protection with its long idle times when it doesn't get used much?

 

[tommygunn]

The filter removes solid contaminants, it doesn't replenish additives or remove any liquid contaminants like fuel.

I'd do more frequent, regular oil changes, that sounds like a waste of time and a questionable practice.

 

[barlowc]

I've heard of some using one filter for two OCIs, but never someone using four filters for one OCI. I myself simply change the filter when I change the oil.

 

[zerosoma]

by your buddy topping off, he is replenishing some additive but not getting rid of any dirty used oil. and depending on what kind of filter he uses it might not be a good idea. I hope he is using a long distance filter.

 

[RedCorvette]

His buddy is putting in a fresh filter. Doesn't matter if it is long distance or not.

Spin on filters are very wasteful so if that's what is being used, perhaps it would be good for him to cut down.

The scenario where it might make sense to change filter that often is if he is cleaning out sludge but if he was doing that, he should change his oil more frequently too.

So overall his FCI doesn't make sense.

I'm sure your truck could go 1 year on synthetic and a good quality moderate price filter. I do the same mileage over a year and a 1 year oil and filter change with synthetic and MC / Purolator / Bosch filters. My honest feeling is that I could go longer, but I'm too cheap to pay for a used oil analysis, especially when I have lots of virtually free oil and filters to use up. Plus the general consensus anyway is that oil should not be used more than a year.

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
I hope he is using a long distance filter.

Why a long-distance filter? He's changing it every 3K miles.

 

[jrsdws]

Originally Posted By: RedCorvette
His buddy is putting in a fresh filter. Doesn't matter if it is long distance or not.

Spin on filters are very wasteful so if that's what is being used, perhaps it would be good for him to cut down.

The scenario where it might make sense to change filter that often is if he is cleaning out sludge but if he was doing that, he should change his oil more frequently too.

So overall his FCI doesn't make sense.

I'm sure your truck could go 1 year on synthetic and a good quality moderate price filter. I do the same mileage over a year and a 1 year oil and filter change with synthetic and MC / Purolator / Bosch filters. My honest feeling is that I could go longer, but I'm too cheap to pay for a used oil analysis, especially when I have lots of virtually free oil and filters to use up. Plus the general consensus anyway is that oil should not be used more than a year.


Yeah I was pretty skeptical on the changing the filter only. It doesn't make sense to me.

As far as my truck goes, I get my oil changed at a local garage for $12.95. It's a Ford garage so I imagine they use Motorcraft oil and filters. I can get 5 quarts of Mobil 1 and a Mobil 1 filter at the auto parts store for $33. It's probably a wash when it comes right down to it unless there are significant advantages to running synthetic...I know that's a different can of worms I can search the forums about.

For me it would be worth if if I could gain a little fuel economy and know that it's better protected with it's long times of not in use.

 

[Topo]

Originally Posted By: zerosoma
by your buddy topping off, he is replenishing some additive but not getting rid of any dirty used oil. and depending on what kind of filter he uses it might not be a good idea. I hope he is using a long distance filter.


I would say, I hope he isn't using a long distance filter, that would be a waste, as most long distance filters or any filter is better when it loads up a bit. He should just use a premium synthetic filter like Mobil EP, Bosch Distance Plus or something in that line and just leave it on for the full 12,000 mile interval.

 

[Flying_A]

Originally Posted By: jrsdws
Originally Posted By: RedCorvette
His buddy is putting in a fresh filter. Doesn't matter if it is long distance or not.

Spin on filters are very wasteful so if that's what is being used, perhaps it would be good for him to cut down.

The scenario where it might make sense to change filter that often is if he is cleaning out sludge but if he was doing that, he should change his oil more frequently too.

So overall his FCI doesn't make sense.

I'm sure your truck could go 1 year on synthetic and a good quality moderate price filter. I do the same mileage over a year and a 1 year oil and filter change with synthetic and MC / Purolator / Bosch filters. My honest feeling is that I could go longer, but I'm too cheap to pay for a used oil analysis, especially when I have lots of virtually free oil and filters to use up. Plus the general consensus anyway is that oil should not be used more than a year.


As far as my truck goes, I get my oil changed at a local garage for $12.95. It's a Ford garage so I imagine they use Motorcraft oil and filters.


I would not assume that based on that price...

 

[zerosoma]

Originally Posted By: barlowc
Originally Posted By: zerosoma
I hope he is using a long distance filter.

Why a long-distance filter? He's changing it every 3K miles.


Sorry, I read that wrong.

I read that to be that he tops up every 3k miles and then changes oil and filter at 12k.


...carry on!

 

[jrsdws]

So I decided to give the synthetics a try in both my '05 GMC and my wife's '07 Tahoe. The sale price it's worth a try.

The wife's Tahoe totals about 12,000 miles a year and she get's the oil changed every 3000 miles at about $25 a pop. I'm figuring two changes a year at about $45 each so money ahead.

My truck averages about 5000 miles a year (or less) so I figure once a year changes is adequate for it. I will use the Mobil 1 Extended Performance so if I go over on that 5000 miles I should be fine.

The best part is my 17yr old son wants to learn to do these simple maintenance chores so I'm going to teach him and let him have at it!!!

 

[RedCorvette]

Sounds good. Hit up some G-Oil for free after rebate and take a look at the QS warranty. There are multiple synthetic oil deals every year that means your oil will be no more than a $ a quart.

 

[Ken2]

jrsdws,
Your buddy is flying blind. He doesn't know what he's doing. It might be OK and it might not.

There is NO reason to replace the filter at 3k, just as there is usually no reason to change the oil at 3K. There is no reason to assume that any oil in any particular engine with any particular driving pattern is good to 12k.

I change my top quality syn-blend or top syn oil and the filter at 10,000 miles. I've sent oil samples to the testing lab, and they always confirm that the oil remains good and could run longer, but 10k is easy to remember. One engine has 202,000, the other has 115,000, and both are doing very well. That does not mean that a lower quality syn will be good that long, nor that this oil in another engine will be good that long, nor that a different driving pattern will keep the oil good this long.

In your case, any good conventional 5w30 oil and conventional filter would be good for 1 year and 5000 miles. Synthetic would be better in frigid winter temperatures or very hot summer towing.

 

[jrsdws]

Cool...thanks for the rebate tips guys. I'll have to find who has all of the deals and keep a little stock in my garage.

I agree that a good conventional 5w30 could run a year and 5000 miles, but we have some pretty extreme temperature swings here. It's not uncommon to see below 0deg for a few weeks in the winter and around 100deg in the summer. I don't do any "heavy" towing per se...but a little towing.

With the cost of conventional oil nearing the cost of synthetics in many cases anyway, I'm going to give the syn a try.

 

[doitmyself]

And your buddy?

Like discussing politics, trying to change others oil habits can have disastrous results.

 

[jrsdws]

LOL..he claims to have been doing this since the 70's. Who am I to try to change him now? Whatever he does must be working for him.