Oil change interval with synthetic oil

steppinthrax

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2006
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What is the typical oil change interval with synthetic. I don't want to go every 3K and from what I understand 3K is a waste for synthetic oil. What do you guys typically recomend. Is every 12K a good idea? Also Should I use a standard filter?
 

ValValline

Senior member
Feb 18, 2005
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You should change oil when it is dirty and showing signs of wear (yes oil does wear out over time or to be more precise breaks down). In general synthetics wear longer, but depending on the car and driving conditions how quickly it becomes dirty and contaminated is hard to say. There is no magic mileage that oil is good for.
 

overst33r

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
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A good rule of thumb is about ~7-8k for your first time, then you could get it analyzed, and they will tell you how much longer it is good for. Do a search on oil filter study to choose your oil filter.
 

steppinthrax

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2006
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Originally posted by: mariok2006
A good rule of thumb is about ~7-8k for your first time, then you could get it analyzed, and they will tell you how much longer it is good for. Do a search on oil filter study to choose your oil filter.

Yeah I remember the oil filter study. It said AC delco filters were pretty good while it rated fram piss poor.
 

overst33r

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
5,761
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Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Originally posted by: mariok2006
A good rule of thumb is about ~7-8k for your first time, then you could get it analyzed, and they will tell you how much longer it is good for. Do a search on oil filter study to choose your oil filter.

Yeah I remember the oil filter study. It said AC delco filters were pretty good while it rated fram piss poor.

I would say Purolator filters are the best bang for the buck... The only fram filter I recall they rated good was the tough guard, which is like 8 bucks or something, while the purolator had similar performance for 4...
 

Summitdrinker

Golden Member
May 10, 2004
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it depends on many things, the engine, it's condition/miles, your driving habits, the envoriment etc

like what has been said driving it 6K then get the oil analyzed is a good idea


use a high grade filter period, esp if your going for lots a miles between changes
 

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
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Originally posted by: Summitdrinker
it depends on many things, the engine, it's condition/miles, your driving habits, the envoriment etc

like what has been said driving it 6K then get the oil analyzed is a good idea


use a high grade filter period, esp if your going for lots a miles between changes

There's your key, oil analysis is the ONLY 100% accurate way to determine the appropriate interval.