How often do you change your cars engine oil?

[thekingofpain]

Ive been reading the benefits of using synthetics thruout, longer enginelife, less oilchange costs, and increased gas milage, it appears that we change our oil too often at the 3000 mile recommended mark, costing billions:

"Every year in the United States, this too-short drain interval results in the unneeded production of 300 million to 400 million gallons of engine oil; excess consumer expenditures of around $1.5 billion; and tens of millions of unnecessary oil changes."

In Europe oilchanges are usually at 10,000 mile intervals using petroleum based oils---
Products such as Amsoil, Mobil 1 and other synthetics are way better for newer vehicles---and 10,000 mile oilchanges can become commonplace saving money overall---

(Its about 30$ extra to swap to synthetic at your local Jiffylube or similar)

So, vote in the poll what you believe is best---

Amsoils 10,000 mile oil .pdf---seems like good info:
http://www.amsoil.com/lit/lng_article/march_lng_new.pdf

Even quality oils have a relatively short lifespan for my car, mostly due to my highly erratic driving habits. I change oil every 2500 miles, though I do not currently use synthetics.

Robert Richmond

[Gomer]

Using non-syns, I wouldn't push it much past 3K. I have changed many gallons of oil myself and much over 3K you can tell without even looking at the odometer. 3K religiously has pushed several of my families cars exceeding the 200K mark.

As far as syns are concerned. For new cars they are great. Pull a valve cover on a car that has been running syns its whole life and you will see a marked difference over one that has been running petro based. However there is still the issue of filtration. 10K is getting a bit high IMO, but it is not a horrible thing (with syn's).

You need to understand that the oil doesn't really "wear out". It has to buffer all the nasty products of the heating and cooling cycles as well as the combustion blowby. That is what takes a toll.

Also regarding syns, I wouldn'y use them in a car that has much over 35K or so... maybe even less than that and especially higher mileage cars. If an engine was broken in on petro based, I would keep it that way. Any small leaks your engine had as well will turn into all out hemorages with a syn as well.

[thekingofpain]

Thats the problem---the oil companys have convinced us to throw away perfectly good oil---as you and I do every 2500 miles---(I usually change it when the oil changes color)

Im looking at a synthetic swap and doing it at 10k mile intervals...


Edit--->ooops

[thekingofpain]

Read that short .pdf for more info---

( http://www.amsoil.com/lit/lng_article/march_lng_new.pdf )

[Sweeper]

None of the above. I use Valvoline 5w-30 in both my truck and my Camaro. I change my oil every 3000 Miles.

the oil companys have convinced us to thow away perfectly good oil

I have read the document.

Mine is not attributed to what any company or group recommends. I have tried synthetics in the past, lifespan was still under 4k. My oil is literally burnt at 2.5k. You have to remember I am not driving a car with a stock motor. High rpms and massive thermal loads will deteriorate even the best oils due to thermal breakdown.

[Toadman]

Yep. Try it with a turbo rotary sometime Rob, which has an oil metering pump injecting oil for apex seal lubrication, similar to a 2-stroke engine. The on-going debate is whether synthetic burns freely without ash/carbon deposits like the real "dino-juice". Regardless, if you change your oil more frequently than 3k miles ask yourself if it's worth the cost and go from there.

[thekingofpain]

The new cars of today offer engines with much higher horsepower ratings at increased RPM levels using reduced tolerances and oil is very important---if I can get benefits from changing my oil less often (10,000 mile intervals) but spending abit more per change while saving money increasing my engine, transmission and rearends life it might be a good thing...

If most of Europe believes in 10k petroleum changes, id say we HAVE been brainwashed---or we live in a dirty dirty nation...

[caddmannq]

I use synthetics exclusively.
I usually go 6000 miles, but change oil filters at 3000 & add a pint or so with the filter.

However, I usually use 15w50 synthetic, not that thin 5w30 stuff, as we live in a desert.

Changing oil frequently removes dirt from your engine, which is always a good thing.

I used to do a lot of heavy equipment maint. as a teamster. There you don't wanna change too soon, as some of those beasts hold 10 or 12 quarts (and more!) but you don't wanna go too long either.

I always used the "feelie test" when a machine came back.

You pull out the dipstick and rub the oil off on your index finger.
Rub you thumb and index finger together hard, and feel it. If it slips freely under pressure, it's not burnt.

If it "sticks" a bit it's burnt: change it. The stickiness is from ash and dirt, and from the oil being polluted with blow-by gasses (basically fuel).