Synthetic Oil Change...When

[CODE4]

Originally Posted by gnailuh

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.

[95_GSX]

Originally Posted by CODE4

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.

[Engine_Mapper]

Originally Posted by ashah000

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

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/s.../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

[RattlesnakeGST]

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..