Synthetic Oil Change...When

What is the optimal mileage to change your synthetic oil? I have seen places where they say still do it 3000 miles, other place 5000, other places i have seen 8000+ miles. Also what do you guys change it at?

Thanks :biggrin:

I change mine every 2500 - 3000 miles with Castrol Syntec (10w-30). I also use a K & N Oil filter (HP-1010, I think) and add fuel system cleaner. It costs about $50 but I figure nothings too good for my baby!! :iceslolan

William shakespear said... Women are like motor oil... u gotta change them every 3 months or 3000 miles... if not u will be in trouble :D

i heard for synthetic oil also u gotta change every 3000 miles... and i do change it when its over 2500 - 3200 miles

I change mine every 2500-3000 miles. Mobil 1 10w-30 is what I put in this time

well this past year i have been running Amsoil 10w40 with their filter they recomend a full oil change once a year or every 25000 miles. with a filter swap at 12500. i run about 6500 miles a year, so i am well under the usefull life of the oil. i have done the research on amsoil synthetics and believe their claims for there product. i also know how well their products perform from using them. i will run amsoil and amsoil only in my car. its all up to you. the only problem with amsoil is you have to become a dealer, a prefered customer, or find some store that sells it. the first and latter will deffinatley make the product more expensive.

How much is amsoil, per quart?

well this past year i have been running Amsoil 10w40 with their filter they recomend a full oil change once a year or every 25000 miles. with a filter swap at 12500. i run about 6500 miles a year, so i am well under the usefull life of the oil. i have done the research on amsoil synthetics and believe their claims for there product. i also know how well their products perform from using them. i will run amsoil and amsoil only in my car. its all up to you. the only problem with amsoil is you have to become a dealer, a prefered customer, or find some store that sells it. the first and latter will deffinatley make the product more expensive.

Unless their oil is completely different from others, I don't see how thats possbile personally. If you have a link or something, that would be great.

But I use full synthetic Valvoline 10w30 oil and just like any other oil you can start smelling it even at around 2400 miles give or take. And even if you haven't had 3000 miles since changing the oil, you should change it every 3 months. In the manual as well it states that pretty clear too, so I can't imagine driving 1 year/25,000 miles without changing the oil, sounds insane!

Oil is oil it will burn but the difference between synthetic is that is doesnt actually break down it still reduces the damn friction. The inly reason to change your oil every 3000 is to get the dirt and gunk out of your oil and filter. even if the oil isnt broken down your still gonna have stuff in it. do as u will.

You can never change your oil too often. I use new Mobile 1 synthetic and Mobile 1 filter every 2000 miles.

www.amsoil.com

i think one QT runs about $5.70 for 10w40

Why does everyone change oil so often? 2500-3000? Has everyone fallen for the advertisements? I change mine every 4000-5000, even that's often. Some friends of mine who often do track days change ones every 10,000, but filter only at 4000-5000.

My wife's BMW don't need an oil change for 12,000 to 15,000 miles (bmw uses synth mobile 1 i think). It's just a waste of money (and oil) to change that often.

Synthetics are proven to be useful in extreme hot or cold temperatures. I don't even use the stuff in Alaska. I don't deny that it's better quality though.

Oil is cheap, engines are not. I change every 3k but will be moving down to 2500 or 2000 next change. I'm seriously not worried about an extra 2 oil changes over a year (40 dollars or less), so I wouldn't consider it 'falling for advertisements'

Synthetic though, is over-rated.

Why does everyone change oil so often? 2500-3000? Has everyone fallen for the advertisements? I change mine every 4000-5000, even that's often. Some friends of mine who often do track days change ones every 10,000, but filter only at 4000-5000.

My wife's BMW don't need an oil change for 12,000 to 15,000 miles (bmw uses synth mobile 1 i think). It's just a waste of money (and oil) to change that often.

I change it that often because I change it when the oil starts getting visibly dirty on the dipstick. I drive my DSM hard enough that I want it to have fresh oil. And as said above, oil is cheap, motors are not.

then why not do it every 500? the point is that it's not necessary and it's just a waste of money.

I wonder what Kevin thinks his engine takes to ruin brand new oil. Does your wife drive her BMW that hard? I personally wouldn't be worried if someone changed their oil too much. It's about as dangerous as being a workaholic. Like I said earlier.. an extra 40 dollars a month is well worth it, regardless of if it's needed.

then why not do it every 500? the point is that it's not necessary and it's just a waste of money.


Because the oil does not look dirty.

Because the oil does not look dirty.

it is a proven fact that the way an oil looks or smells has nothing to do with the ability of the oil to lubricate. the obvious exclusions to the smell rule is if it smells of fuel, burnt tranny fluid, or the smell and look of coolant.

What is the optimal mileage to change your synthetic oil? I have seen places where they say still do it 3000 miles, other place 5000, other places i have seen 8000+ miles. Also what do you guys change it at?

Thanks :biggrin:

Don't change your oil very often. Why? The wear rate goes up every time you put fresh oil in there. That sounds bizarre, but there is some sound physics/chemistry involved, as investigated by an SAE technical paper and the guys at http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/oil-life.html who are doing an oil-analysis study. Engine wear actually decreases as oil ages. This has also been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips, and reported in SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119. What this means is that compulsive oil changers are actually causing more engine wear than the people who let their engine's oil get some age on it.

I think you should change your SYNTHETIC oil at 6-months if it is in severe service (dusty, doesn't usually warm up all the way, etc.) and 1-year if not so severe. Don't do it based on mileage. Time only! Ignore mileage. Don't use anything but a 0w-30 synthetic.

good luck

Every 3000 miles? Sounds like a sales pitch from an oil change place and everyone believes it now....

Miles mean nothing if you dont consider how youre driving... I drive about 90 miles a day to work and back not counting if i go out somewhere afterwards... When i first got the car.. I would change every 3000 miles cause i thought thats what i was suppose to do... But i found myself driving 3000 miles in a month..So every month i was changing oil... Then i noticed that after 3000 miles.. My oil really wasnt dirty... Still had that nice amber color.. So now i go 5000 miles...Might go more if im noticing that its still not dirty from now on... Usually add one quart more about halfway though cause i notice im down a quart... But still keep check on it often.. Most people that i know using Amsoil change theyres at like 12.5k miles in a turbo car, and the 25000 in N/A cars.

Thats not for everyone though cause Conditions are the most important thing..... I drive the expressway all day, i havent driven though dusty construction areas cause its winter, havent been drivin it hard... But if i do.. i keep tabs on checkin my oil and probably do it sooner...

Cant really fault turbo owners for changing it frequently...Especially cars that its crucial to keep the oil clean like a 2g eclipse (with the faulty oil squirter in the 7bolt claims) and time bomb 3rd gen RX7s... if someone is changing that often in a N/A car id pretty much say theyre over doing it, especially if theyre using synthetic..

seems like a matter of opinion that cant be answered for another person..