When to get an oil change?

[0roo0roo]

Or cover up to the time when warranty expires...

lol true.
course car companies do have to worry a bit about reputation out of warranty period as well though compared to other stuff.

 

[kevbot]

yea but as said, said sensor is not a sensor but just a general log of how hard you flog the car.

as far i've heard real analysis of oil condition requires a lab break down of the oil condition. not something easily done with a sensor. on the other hand if the manufacturer is willing to use the sensors recommendation there is plenty of safety factor built in.

I agree 100%. But, how many people with ordinary cars have issues due to oil change intervals? Just do your best to adhere to factory recommendations and save the stress for really important things.

Really important things can certainly be how often to change the oil. All I am saying is that do what you need to do for yourself, and let things play out. Maybe I change the oil every week and a defective piston ring or rod bearing grenades the motor tomorrow. Just seems like some people are stressing too much about what other people are doing.

Now that I said this, my car will likely fall apart just like the Blues mobile.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Or cover up to the time when warranty expires...

I suppose that means that the warranty on Ford Explorers and Honda Pilots lasts over 200,000 miles then because that's how many miles have been on my father's SUVs when he sold them (still working perfectly) even though he never changes the oil until the oil life indicator says to.

ZV

 

[zerocool84]

Reading and following what the owners manual says would save us of 80% new threads on here.

 

[Gillbot]

I suppose that means that the warranty on Ford Explorers and Honda Pilots lasts over 200,000 miles then because that's how many miles have been on my father's SUVs when he sold them (still working perfectly) even though he never changes the oil until the oil life indicator says to.

ZV

I follow the monitor on my wifes for the warranty, after that I follow oil analysis. :biggrin:

 

[iGas]

RTFM Page 5-17 & 5-18.

Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil

Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based
on engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not
on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage
at which an oil change will be indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life system to work properly,
you must reset the system every time the oil is changed.

When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is necessary.
A change engine oil light or, if your vehicle has the
Driver Information Center (DIC), a CHANGE OIL SOON
message will come on. See Change Engine Oil Light on
page 3-45 or DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-57.

 

[evident]

8000-9000 miles on my 07 accord. i do all highway with very little stop and go

 

[ericlp]

Synthetics are a waste of money. Unless you plan to keep the oil in your car for 20-50K miles and just change the filters.

Oil Changes differ from car to driving conditions. But for normal oil and filter, personally I go 6K~7K miles. And get a normal run of the grade oil and filter from doing it yourself to taking it in to getting it done. You can tell if the oil is getting dirty, pull the dipstick out and take a look, if it's still nice and clear very light tint to clear when you check it at 3K miles you should be good to go for another 3K. If you look and it's dark brown.... your driving conditions call for a change.

As long as you getting fresh OIL and a clean filter at regular intervals I'd say it safe to even go up to 10K miles per change, but being how oil and filters are cheap, why risk it? Just keep it under 8K miles and you should be golden. Just check it regularly and make sure it's topped off!

 

[Zenmervolt]

Synthetics are a waste of money. Unless you plan to keep the oil in your car for 20-50K miles and just change the filters.

While in most street-driven engines conventional oil is sufficient, synthetics offer real and tangible benefits in several situations. Turbocharged engines, for example, benefit greatly from synthetic oil because the turbo bearing housings dump an extreme amount of heat into the oil and the superior thermal characteristics of synthetic go a long way to making the turbo last much longer. Air-cooled and even supercharged engines place similarly higher stresses on an engine's oil, making synthetic a preferred choice in those types of engines as well.

Even in naturally-aspirated engines with liquid cooling benefit from synthetic oil when operated under greater stresses than normal (such as extensive short-tripping or with heavy loads or in high heat or dusty conditions). Still, in the majority of cases for naturally-aspirated, liquid-cooled engines conventional oil is indeed sufficient provided it is changed regularly.

You can tell if the oil is getting dirty, pull the dipstick out and take a look, if it's still nice and clear very light tint to clear when you check it at 3K miles you should be good to go for another 3K. If you look and it's dark brown.... your driving conditions call for a change.

This is flat-out wrong. Oil simply does not stay clear for very long. Any oil will be brown after 3,000 miles and, unless the color is milkshake (which indicates coolant in the oil) the color/clarity of the oil actually tells you very little. The only way to tell for sure is to have an oil analysis performed. In any case, a darker brown color for oil is normal after about 1,000 miles, even synthetic.

As long as you getting fresh OIL and a clean filter at regular intervals I'd say it safe to even go up to 10K miles per change, but being how oil and filters are cheap, why risk it? Just keep it under 8K miles and you should be golden. Just check it regularly and make sure it's topped off!

If most of a person's driving is stop-and-go or short trips of less than 5 miles, then no, even 8,000 miles is too long. If the most recent oil change was more than 6 months ago, then the oil ought to be changed regardless of mileage. For the majority of drivers, 5,000 to 7,500 miles is roughly the right interval on conventional oil. 8,000 to 10,000 miles as you suggest is really stretching things.

ZV

 

[kage69]

I run synthetic in all my rides, mostly because in Maine we have real winters. I only use quality oil and filters, and always the weight recommended by the manufacturer. Oil stays in for 10k, while the filters are changed at 5k.

My engines run great, and stay clean.

 

[Gillbot]

Synthetics are a waste of money. Unless you plan to keep the oil in your car for 20-50K miles and just change the filters.

For most people, thay are not needed but this blanket statement is just flat out wrong. ZV covered most of it for me though so I don't have to type it now, thanks ZV! :biggrin:

 

[zerocool84]

Synthetics are a waste of money. Unless you plan to keep the oil in your car for 20-50K miles and just change the filters.

Oil Changes differ from car to driving conditions. But for normal oil and filter, personally I go 6K~7K miles. And get a normal run of the grade oil and filter from doing it yourself to taking it in to getting it done. You can tell if the oil is getting dirty, pull the dipstick out and take a look, if it's still nice and clear very light tint to clear when you check it at 3K miles you should be good to go for another 3K. If you look and it's dark brown.... your driving conditions call for a change.

As long as you getting fresh OIL and a clean filter at regular intervals I'd say it safe to even go up to 10K miles per change, but being how oil and filters are cheap, why risk it? Just keep it under 8K miles and you should be golden. Just check it regularly and make sure it's topped off!

Or just follow what it says in the owners manual. Use the type of oil it says and change it when it says. Not that hard.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Reading and following what the owners manual says would save us of 80% new threads on here.

And countless dumb arguments.

 

[thescreensavers]

Nissan says 3750 for my G, The oil from the dealer at 3800, did not have such a good, UOA. The first oil change I did for my car I used, Castrol Syntec, then sent that in, and it came back Stellar! THey also said I should try 5,000 and see how the UOA goes, but Ill keep my 3750 for now

 

[JulesMaximus]

Nissan says 3750 for my G, The oil from the dealer at 3800, did not have such a good, UOA. The first oil change I did for my car I used, Castrol Syntec, then sent that in, and it came back Stellar! THey also said I should try 5,000 and see how the UOA goes, but Ill keep my 3750 for now

I'm curious, what did the oil analysis cost?

 

[thescreensavers]

Its from Blackstone lab, they send you a free Container, mail it back + 22.50 for the normal Oil test. Then you get back one of these. (Castrol Syntec)

 

[MetalMat]

In all honesty you can go at least 5k with normal oil and 7k with synthetic if you do normal driving. HOWEVER, changing it at 3k wont hurt anything. An oil change is easily the most beneficial maint vs. price for your car.