Oil Change interval

[barkleydave]

I know this has been covered but cannot find it.

I run Full Synthetic Mobil 1

I have a full flow oil filter

I do not run on dusty gravel roads.

How often should I change the oil.

Seems with modern oils and filter a 500 mile interval is too short and too expensive!

What are other doing?

Thanks

[CarlG]

If you don't run more than a couple thousand miles a season, once a year would be sufficient.

[Kurt in NJ]

Do you have a thermostat, do you drive long enough to get the oil hot, do you have a lean enough mixture that the oil doesn't get fuel diluted

You could send a sample out to be checked, then change when the test results say it's ready ---start at 1000 miles, then every 1000 till the test results say change oil ---then you will know how far you can go

[1crosscut]

Originally Posted by Kurt in NJ

Do you have a thermostat, do you drive long enough to get the oil hot, do you have a lean enough mixture that the oil doesn't get fuel diluted

You could send a sample out to be checked, then change when the test results say it's ready ---start at 1000 miles, then every 1000 till the test results say change oil ---then you will know how far you can go

Where do you send an oil sample to get tested?
The cost to have a sample tested has to pretty inexpensive to make it worth while vs just changing the oil. That is I guess unless you use it as a base line for future oil changes.

[WestCoast]

modern oils, modern roads, make it not necessary to change oil every 500 miles, 1000 is sufficient, the specs in the hand book was printed 89 years ago, every thing has improved now, the book is so obsolete as to make it just a collector item

[Mitch//pa]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

remember oil is cheaper than an engine,, even synthetic.
dont be afraid or to frugal to change it often ,,,im not
if you feel its to expensive then switch back to a standard multigrade..

[theHIGHLANDER]

Is it black? Thinned out? Modern engines can go 7K miles before it gets nasty looking. I'd think a synthetic, especially filtered, should last at least 1/2 as long in our old farm implements. As has been said, if it's running right and not too rich you have a lot of time. I know some who change their oil at the end of the season then change it again before they take the car out. Read that as ZERO MILES. Just an example of a case of over thinking the simple stuff. I knew guys when I raced that dumped their SYNTHETIC RACE OIL every weekend regardless of how many rounds they ran (drag racing). Why? I ran the same oil for over 250 rounds of racing and changed the filter at something over 100. The oil was still as clean as the day I poured it in and never smelled like race fuel. Good engine? Sure was. I tore it down and the bearings looked a week old, a leak down before that showed 7 cylinders at 2%, 1 at 4%, that one being a stress crack in a cylinder wall (.100 over BBC). Clean filtered oil lasts longer than advertising says it does. Excess heat and contamination are your enemies. I'm about 500 miles on mine, not filtered, a little dark, not much fuel smell, Shell Rotella. I'm not changing it yet and I've had to add maybe a pint due to 2 seasons of a slight leak. Your results may vary, tax n title extra, void where prohibited, see your retailer for details...

[Kurt in NJ]

25-35$ -- http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free-test-kits.php
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...ysis-services/

Yes, it is pretty much cheaper to just change it, but if you really want to know---

Most pre emission cars run pretty dirty, contaminate the oil with combustion byproducts, most old cars don't get enough long trips to cook the oil and evaporate off moisture, fuel etc. ---how often do you drive for more than 1 hour after the oil is up to temperature

[fiddlybits]

Oil does not wear out.

The additives wear out. (Time and heat)
OR
It becomes contaminated.

When it is contaminated it acts as an abrasive. (Generally accepted as 'not a good thing")

All good suggestions above.
No filter shorter interval.
engine not at operating temperature long enough to boil off condensation, which becomes acid, shorter interval.

Lots of oil leaks? No need to change.....it's self changing.

I went 15000 miles on the same oil last summer and the oil analysis said it was still good to go and the engine was fine.

In the end...take in all the info and make your choice.

[V4F]

my car is a daily driver . mostly in town but a few trips each year . I change spring & fall when I service my car . if fluids are kept up you cant really hurt it .......... steve

[C26Pinelake]

Even though most of my cars are driven less than 1000 miles a year I always change the oil in each of them every spring before my first trip. That change of course includes lubrication and a check of all the other oils such as transmission and rear end. I change the transmission and rear end oils every 3 to 4 years. I also change the oil before putting them away for the winter. I realize this may be overkill but I am of the opinion that oil is cheaper than new parts and overhauls.
Wayne

[scooder]

Did I read that right? You change the oil when you put yours to bed for the winter, and then change it again when you get them up?
You really draining out new unused oil and putting in new unused oil?
Could you explain your reasoning here please.
Thanks,
Martin.

[mshmodela]

As a newbie, I tossed my oil when I purchased the car last spring, changed it in the fall just before winter (I drove a little over 500 miles...) and this spring dump the winter oil (Starting the car every week or so during the winter).. I plan on changing every 500 miles and dumping my over winter oil... As had been said, it's cheap... As is coolant 50/50 --I drop it when I drop the oil...

[Gary Gregory]

I agree with Scooder...why dump new oil for new oil ?

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by scooder

Did I read that right? You change the oil when you put yours to bed for the winter, and then change it again when you get them up?
You really draining out new unused oil and putting in new unused oil?
Could you explain your reasoning here please.
Thanks,
Martin.

Yes you read it right Martin. I don't want dirty or unclean oil sitting in the motor over the winter. Then be it right or wrong I don't want the oil sitting in it for six months gathering any moisture or acids. I also start the engine every six weeks during the winter and let it run until it gets warm. My mechanic puts the spring oil he takes out in his old tractor. Wayne

[Gary Gregory]

Seems waistful...but hey...its your car and your money. Dont blame your Mechanic Id gladly take 5 quarts of fresh oil !

[colin1928]

On my cars I check the oil level once per week or before and after a long trip
and change it when it starts to looks darker never wait for oil to become black or to the point I can not see the dip stick marks thou the oil
normally works out to be a few thousand miles

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Vermin's not running yet, NEW oil has been in it for a year. IF YOU THINK OL' BILL'S GONNA DUMP IT, THEN YOU'RE KRAZIER THAN ME!!
I Do spin the motor with the starter, twice a week.
Bill W.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by BILL WILLIAMSON

Vermin's not running yet, NEW oil has been in it for a year. IF YOU THINK OL' BILL'S GONNA DUMP IT, THEN YOU'RE KRAZIER THAN ME!!
I Do spin the motor with the starter, twice a week.
Bill W.

send it to me dad
i can put it in my waste oil heater

[Logan]

Every 1500 miles or so will be just fine with a filter. Every 1000 if you dont have a filter