YACT: should I change my oil at 3,000 mi. for the first time?

[Eli]

Originally posted by: KEV1N
All the books, forum reading, and armchair repair you do probably won't ever chalk up to actual experience.

Very true, but when it comes to things like we're currently talking about(oil formulation), you get it from the books.

 

GM uses Mobil 1 only in the engines that were machined using diamond tooling (much faster and easier break in) and in their engines that have been prerun at the engine assembly plant(s).



No more of this Tom foolery and Jim crackery, I have to get back to work.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Murpheeee
I woudl normally do the first change early

there are a lot of tiny metallic particles which wear off a new engine as it is broken in. these sit in your sump pan and swish around your engine when its running.......so I would normally do a first oil change early to get rid of all that crap.

after that every 3000 miles with regular oil or 5000 with synthetic

That's what oil filters are for. There's also a magnetic drain plug to catch particles of metal if there are any.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Eli

Originally posted by: Roger

How long ago did you learn this?

1978<---- GM, Isuzu

1983<---- Rolls Royce,GM,Honda

1985<----Toyota, Subaru,Jaguar,GM

1987 to 1988<----Nissan, A.S.E. and Automotive Engineering

1991<-----Saab, G.M., Honda,Toyota

1995<----Isuzu heavy truck division, Toyota,GM

1998<----GM,Subaru,Nissan,Toyota

This does not include the 5 years I put into classes for the master engine rebuilder diploma.

Interesting. So do all engine manufacturers purport that they use detergent free oil from the factory? :Q

I thought GM used Mobil1.

Yeah right...Mobil 1 in a Cavalier? I think they only use that in the Vette and nothing else.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: Twerpzilla
I like to use Wix brand oil filters. There top of the line models are as good as a filter gets, an industry standard if you will. You will probably have to go to a real automotive parts store to find them, I get mine at Carquest, but they have a where to buy tool on thier web page.

I agree with Roger, no synthetic before 10,000 miles. AMSOil and Royal Purple synthetics are both top quality oils, much better than Mobil1.

Napa gold are rebranded wix, when i get them they have a wix logo somewhere on the box

 

[Amused]

3000 miles is a scam.

You'll note that the same cars in other countries have intervals of 5000-10,000 miles... yet the same car in the US has 3000 mile intervals.

Folks, it's a scam.

 

[bolido2000]

In other countries the oil change interval is 5000Km, which equals 3125miles.

 

[Thegonagle]

Change it every 5000 miles.

Most drivers actually should use the severe service schedule.

 

[Kelemvor]

You left out the year of the car. Most newer cars when filled with newer oils can easily go 7k+ miles between oil changes. There is no reason at all to change it more often than that unless you really like wasting oil and throwing money away.

The manual says that for a reason. That's what is recommended. Don't believe the people who say to do it every 3k miles. They are going off information from decades ago which is completely unapplicable today. However oil companies and mechanics will be happy to tell you to keep coming in since that means you keep paying them money.

If you want to get the firs tone early, go right ahead. But don't waste your money and the country's oil by wasting every time...

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
You left out the year of the car. Most newer cars when filled with newer oils can easily go 7k+ miles between oil changes. There is no reason at all to change it more often than that unless you really like wasting oil and throwing money away.

The manual says that for a reason. That's what is recommended. Don't believe the people who say to do it every 3k miles. They are going off information from decades ago which is completely unapplicable today. However oil companies and mechanics will be happy to tell you to keep coming in since that means you keep paying them money.

If you want to get the firs tone early, go right ahead. But don't waste your money and the country's oil by wasting every time...

While I agree with your overall sentiment, it is probably a good thing that people still hang on to the 3,000 mile myth.

Also... just because the manufacturer recommends it doesen't mean it is the best. The manufacturer has no obligation to ensure that the engine lasts beyond the warranty period. Like I said, you could practially use olive oil and last beyond the warranty period.

All in all, you aren't hurting anything but your wallet by changing your oil too much. But when you're talking about a 15 - 30k+ piece of machinery, the few dollars are worth the peace of mind.

 

When I drove a '96 Sentra (that had been rather poorly taken care of before I got it) I changed the oil at every 3k, just for peace of mind.

Now, that I'm driving an '04 Accord which surely has higher efficiency, is cleaner, and has only had one (easy-on-the-engine) driver (ME), I'll move up closer to 4K-5K miles between changes.

And my family is now driving cars that either '02, '03 or '04 models, so I'll recommend the same intervals to them.

 

[lokiju]

10,000 if using synthetic only, if not then every 3,000 miles. And if you drive your car hard then sooner for both.