How often do you change your oil?

I run Castrol Edge w/Syntec Power Tech in the car and change it once a year, usually in May, but keep in mind between May 2010 and 2011 I only put about 2k on the car and the oil came out looking new. In the van it's Edge w/Titanium Fluid Strength and it gets changed at about every 5k.
 
dd is every 3k
93 mustang is every 6 months or so (put less then 3k miles a year on it)
66 coupe is every 3 months + a zddp additive since its a flat tappet cam
 
'98 mazda millenia s daily driver gets changed every 6k miles with mobile1 also gets a quart of lucas every oil change.
wifes '07 taurus X gets changed every 5k miles again with mobile1 and lucas
my '85 thunderbird turbo coup gets changed once a year and thats in the spring when it comes out of storage. it see's about 1500 miles a summer. it also gets the same treatment as the rest.
 
Dan Ruddock said:
My 01 TDi gets changed at the factory recommended OCI of 10K and it now has 204k and it has no signs of any engine wear (cams look good, needs no make up oil in the 10k OCI, makes no unusual engine noises, fuel mileage has not fallen off).


As I have said before in this thread of un informed people, changing your oil too often WILL INCREASE ENGINE WEAR. The engineers know what they are doing. Dan
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Or if you really wanted to know you would get your engine oil tested.
 
06 Nissan Titan- Royal Purple 5W30 every 5~7k usually every 3~4 months- I drive a lot.....
RP or K&N oil filter
 
My 01 TDi gets changed at the factory recommended OCI of 10K and it now has 204k and it has no signs of any engine wear (cams look good, needs no make up oil in the 10k OCI, makes no unusual engine noises, fuel mileage has not fallen off.
As I have said before in this thread of un informed people, changing your oil too often WILL INCREASE ENGINE WEAR. The engineers know what they are doing. Dan
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Uh, got some news for you Danny Boy. Not everyone here is as un informed on this topic as you seem to think. Get off your pedestal and be civil.

Rei86 said:
Or if you really wanted to know you would get your engine oil tested.
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Why? The car is ten years old and has already gone 200,000+ miles using 10,000 mile intervals. It runs well and doesn't use oil between oil changes. In this case a used oil analysis is totally pointless and a waste of money. There are certainly times when a UOA is beneficial but this isn't one of those times, there is simply no reason to do so. The cars history speaks for itself.
 
RTexasF said:
Why? The car is ten years old and has already gone 200,000+ miles using 10,000 mile intervals. It runs well and doesn't use oil between oil changes. In this case a used oil analysis is totally pointless and a waste of money. There are certainly times when a UOA is beneficial but this isn't one of those times, there is simply no reason to do so. The history speaks for itself.
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True... If it is working for you why waste the money?

I do a UOA on the Bug once a year just to make sure things are in order but this is because it is a race car...
 
RTexasF said:
Uh, got some news for you Danny Boy. Not everyone here is as un informed on this topic as you seem to think. Get off your pedestal and be civil.



Why? The car is ten years old and has already gone 200,000+ miles using 10,000 mile intervals. It runs well and doesn't use oil between oil changes. In this case a used oil analysis is totally pointless and a waste of money. There are certainly times when a UOA is beneficial but this isn't one of those times, there is simply no reason to do so. The cars history speaks for itself.
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Because if YOU really wanted to know you would. Its also a fun check that will let you know if the engine is going to grenade itself anytime soon without tearing it down.
 
clm65 said:
The old standard was every 3 mos/3000 miles. There's been alot written lately about 3000 miles being too often, and some manufacturers now say every 5000 - 7500 miles or so.

I'm especially curious about those of you with garage queens that don't put very many miles on your cars. Do you change your oil based on time instead of miles? If so, how often?
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Annually as recommended by Mobil 1 for a pure syn. I get the Ford done every 7500 per warranty.
 
For my DD being that it's a hybrid I've only had 1 oil change since I got the car new in Oct. of 2010.

My 05 STI gets an oil change every 2500 with Mobile 5w30 full Syn.
 
I will put my .02 cents in here.

I change my oil once a year and thats 12-15k miles. I change the filter every 5-6000 miles and top off the oil for the loss. I have to add no make up oil between filter changes at all.

I use Mobile or Amsoil and Bosch Distance plus filters because not many people make a good canister filter for my ecotec.

In my truck I run Napa synthetic and change the oil and filter once a year but that vehicle only seems 3000 miles a year.

I have a wealth of knowledge on oil sampling as we do it at work on both stationary and mobile equipment. You can tell a lot from an oil sample other then just the wear metals. You can tell if oil coolers are starting to fail and the test gets specific enough that you can tell what component is wearing due to metal/partical makeup.

An oil sample and test can also tell you how well your air filter is doing its job.

In regard to the idea that a dirty filter is doing a better job then a new filter, this is correct. Think about a window screen...

Now imagine how large the holes are when the window is clean. At this point things are flowing as they should but larger particles are passing right through the screen. The really large particles are getting caught by the screen but the small particles are going right through the opening.

Now imagine that you continue to blow dirty air across this screen and over time large particles start to build up and reduce the size of the opening of the screen. (Think about your dryer filter) As these particles collect and reduce the size of the screen opening small particles are caught in the small openings created by the large particles.

In fact a dirty filter is creating a better filtering filter. Now we don't want to run the filter to the point it causes the bypass to open because the media is completely plugged. But the fact is that a dirty filter does a better job of removing sub 20 micron particles.

This applies to any filter.
 
XLNTShine said:
I will put my .02 cents in here.

I change my oil once a year and thats 12-15k miles. I change the filter every 5-6000 miles and top off the oil for the loss. I have to add no make up oil between filter changes at all.

I use Mobile or Amsoil and Bosch Distance plus filters because not many people make a good canister filter for my ecotec.

In my truck I run Napa synthetic and change the oil and filter once a year but that vehicle only seems 3000 miles a year.

I have a wealth of knowledge on oil sampling as we do it at work on both stationary and mobile equipment. You can tell a lot from an oil sample other then just the wear metals. You can tell if oil coolers are starting to fail and the test gets specific enough that you can tell what component is wearing due to metal/partical makeup.

An oil sample and test can also tell you how well your air filter is doing its job.

In regard to the idea that a dirty filter is doing a better job then a new filter, this is correct. Think about a window screen...

Now imagine how large the holes are when the window is clean. At this point things are flowing as they should but larger particles are passing right through the screen. The really large particles are getting caught by the screen but the small particles are going right through the opening.

Now imagine that you continue to blow dirty air across this screen and over time large particles start to build up and reduce the size of the opening of the screen. (Think about your dryer filter) As these particles collect and reduce the size of the screen opening small particles are caught in the small openings created by the large particles.

In fact a dirty filter is creating a better filtering filter. Now we don't want to run the filter to the point it causes the bypass to open because the media is completely plugged. But the fact is that a dirty filter does a better job of removing sub 20 micron particles.

This applies to any filter.
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I want to get my $.02 in on this oil filter subject.

As highlighted above...Quite extrordinary statements!:wow:

But yet....Based on the info you've given above, it seems to me you're wasting money on the frequency of your oil filter changes.

Also, if your wanting to use micron filtering levels as a guide...What is Mobile 1's micron filtering rating when brand new and not dirty? Hint: it's way less than 20 microns. Same question applies to Amsoil's and Bosch/Purolater Distance Plus.


How, when making an oil filter purchase, does any of these oil filter's attributes come into play, I ask you?:

1.a) Micron Levels (most manufacturers do not use this to rate their filters anymore...except to include it in their filter's:
1.b) Nominal Efficiency vs. Absolute Efficiency ratings
2. Construction Quality
3. Filter Capacity
4. Filtration Media
5. Flow Capacity (cold and hot oil temps measurements...SUS?)
6. Oil Starvation Concerns
7. Oversizing Selection
8. OEM's Recommendations

Just asking. :)
I know everybody does things in their own manner.

Bob
 
Bob... lol

I was talking in general. Newer filters are starting to become the exception when it comes to oil. Air filters on the other hand still have particle size issues and a large range of quality.

Bob... I am just not up to making my case on this. To your point ALL of those things you listed are considered.
 
The guy at Oreilly's told me about the "bypass" that is in oil filters. What he told me is how I base oil change regiment. He stated that when the bypass opens, your oil gauge will start jumping around a good bit more than usual.

Since this has been told to me, I base my oil changes on two main variables:

1. How the oil gauge acts.

2. How the engine feels.

So far, following this has lead me to change my oil a good few hundred miles before the typical 3k mark. And with every oil change, my truck has been running smoother and peppier.
 
I always change the oil and oil filter every 3,000 miles, just to be on the safe side. Tire rotation every other oil change.
 
XLNTShine said:
Bob... lol

I was talking in general. Newer filters are starting to become the exception when it comes to oil. Air filters on the other hand still have particle size issues and a large range of quality.

Bob... I am just not up to making my case on this. To your point ALL of those things you listed are considered.
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Thanks for being a jolly good soul! :)

Bob
 
I change the oil on my truck every 3000. My Trans Am runs synthetic and I usually change it every 6 months or so. I went a year last year but I only put 1000 miles on it
 
Every 2500-3500, I keep it lower because of the HEUI injection in my diesel, can break down oil faster and Id rather change it than take any chances. Change it myself because its cheaper (3 1/2 gallons of oil per change) and I don't trust the local shops to do it since I knew a few people who worked at some and Im surprised they could they could even tie their own shoes
 
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