Guys around here just can't go for insanely long OCIs.
They just can't.
They just can't.
Synthetics and Extended Drain Intervals
- Thread starter buster
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On my 05 Grand Caravan I still do the 3000 mile oil change because of the warranty, but on the 99 B3000 I change the filter every 3000 miles and the oil every 6000 miles. I am running PP 5 W 20 in both of them.
'99 NA B-ville coming up on 135,000 with 10k-15k intervals on Mobil 1.
It's on its' third intake manifold, but there are no signs of oil problems or excessive engine wear.
It's on its' third intake manifold, but there are no signs of oil problems or excessive engine wear.
Most of the US oils didn't meet the European specs until very recently. Some years back, the only ones that did were AMSOIL and Mobil 1. Thicker? Not necessarily. Better? You bet!
The olm is for petro oil, don't waste $$$ on syn oil for your oil changes.
I had a new 1990 525 BMW. I changed the oil at factory recommended (7.5K?)done by a BMW shop. By 70K miles it was consuming oil to my surprise. I don't have the details but whatever I did was too long, I feel. By comparison I have a 1997 GM 5.7L with 3K dino OCI burns zero oil at 139K.
Long-term increases in oil consumption indicates wear-out to me.
Now I feel comfortable at 6K synthetic OCI after 50K miles, 5K under. I'm biased toward short OCI's since I get oil usually cheap. Europeans drivers may have a different economic breakeven point on oil cost/OCI's.
06 Silverado 5.3 V8 gets 10w30 Schaffers Supreme 7000 (Get it for $4 a quart) and either a Wix or AC/Delco oil filter every 5k miles. OLM gets reset. Of note the OLM has never come on yet.
07 Ford Escape with 4cyl has manuf. OCI of 5k miles. Just changed out the Motorcraft 5W-20 Synthetic Blend Oil at 2500 miles and a Motorcraft filter. Will change again when it hits 5k miles and then every 5k after.
Just easier to do each vehicle every 5k and stay within the manuf. warranty specs.
07 Ford Escape with 4cyl has manuf. OCI of 5k miles. Just changed out the Motorcraft 5W-20 Synthetic Blend Oil at 2500 miles and a Motorcraft filter. Will change again when it hits 5k miles and then every 5k after.
Just easier to do each vehicle every 5k and stay within the manuf. warranty specs.
Don't forget that oil consumption can occur due to too much s*** around the piston rings. That does not necessarily mean wear-out, in mechanical terms, but it coulds mean that you're extending the oil too long and it is breaking down and plugging up the areas around the rings. Were you using petroleum or synthetic?
Give Auto-RX a try if you haven't already.
I have been using synthetics since the '70s when I discovered Amzoil. Never went less than 10,000 miles OCI since. Never had an engine wear out, although I did have a camshaft in a K-car wear out. Usually keep my vehicles for 150,000 - 250,000 miles. I have owned both U.S.-made and Japanese and German vehicles in that time. I believe that the oils, except Mobil 1, have improved in those decades. I also believe the material used in the engine blocks has improved, thus leading to longer engine life. Frankly, my concern isn't with the engines at all. My concern is with automatic transmissions. These units have become far more complex, are using thinner, lighter (too thin? too light?) materials. And cost anywhere from $2500. to $3500. or more to replace or rebuild.
Glen
Glen
So you do oil changes based on color?
I'm in the mileage vs time predicament as well, usually only putting on around 8000 miles a year. 5.1 miles from home to office, so it sees a LOT of short trips driven at side-street speeds.
With a turbo, synthetic is the only oil I'll use and because so much time elapses by the time I've driven 3000 miles, that's my OCI. Economically, it's not very hard hitting. I shop around for deals on Mobil 1 or PP, filters are cheap and my labor is free.
With a turbo, synthetic is the only oil I'll use and because so much time elapses by the time I've driven 3000 miles, that's my OCI. Economically, it's not very hard hitting. I shop around for deals on Mobil 1 or PP, filters are cheap and my labor is free.
We, as a group, are "into" our cars and oil, so mostly we don't mind changing. Some of us put serious miles on our cars though, and going beyond the 3000-5000 miles makes more sense. I recommend and do time-based intervals. It seems to account for both hi-miles and short trips. If you only drive 3k in 4 or 6 months, you might need a change rom the short trips. If you drive 10k in 3-4 months (like me) yep....that works too becuase the oil is likely under ideal operating conditions. So I say decide how often you WANT to change oil (realisticly) and pick an oil that lets you do that, based on conditons and anticipated miles. I use synthetic at 3 months because I have a lot stashed (Mobil 1 0w-30, PP, GC, Havoline Synthetic) and because of the miles I drive. If I was ust buying oil every time, I'd just buy dino because it's easy to change the oil in my cars. Exotic cars or ones where owners go to or need to go to the dealer (warranty) yes, synthetic.
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