When you change your oil is a HUGE debate. But, there is no such thing as changing it TOO often. So when in doubt, change it.

It's been debated so much, people actually formulate math calculations to figure it out

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/s.../interval.html

Personally, i limit myself to 6 months, or 4000 miles max. And if the car is going to sit for an extended period of time, i make sure i change the oil prior to this storage period. Used motor oil has byproducts in it that you def do not want sitting stagnant in your engine. It's basically an acid, and i've seen old engines sitting a year or so come out stained dark brown internally by it.

But basically, if you are thinking to yourself "I should change my oil", then just do it.


I drive my Mustang ~ 1000 miles year total...and change the oil 2 times a year One before winter storage, and once around late spring. I drive the G35 nearly 1000/miles per week...so I do an oil change on it pretty much monthy (i prefer conventional oil)

 

when I used to drive it 10kmi per yr I would change the oil at 3-4 mo./2500mi-3000mi or so.

Now that I drive it 5kmi per yr I'm on 6mo. 2500 mi intervals.

plus I check the oil regularly.

 

I use Mobil1 full synthetic, changes my oil everythi 6 months.

 

I change mine every 3-4k (sometimes I can't get to it right at 3, but I don't go over 4)
Full synthetic. I know that's probably overkill, but like Mustang5L5 said, can't hurt.
I use the "B" trip meter to log miles since last oil-change. Also, I put over 12k/year on it, so I don't even pay attention to how long it's been.

 

I change my car's oil about every 3500 miles. Earlier if I have a trip planned.

My truck is more like every 6-8 months. But I only drive about 3000 miles a year in it.

 

I drive my '06 G35X 300 miles a week, or 7800 miles every half year. The miles are all highway, so I'm sticking with the 7500 mile Schedule C interval in the manual. That lets me do a change in the fall and spring, nicely avoiding any maintenance in the winter.

I'm using Mobil 1 synthetic, with a K+N filter. I do have a Fumoto drain valve on there, I'll need to research draining out a small bit and analyzing it after 3k or so miles.

 

7.5 K miles or 6 months for me

using Mobil 1 5-30

truth is, even dino juice can go 10k without major problems.

The 3k/3 month was for OLD dino juice from a can.

 

^ I don't want to start a huge oil debate, but generally speaking, 10,000 mi on conventional oil isn't a good idea. Like Jeff said, mainly what you should be concerned with is the oil's condition rather than an arbitrary number of miles. After different driving styles and different engines break down oil at different rates. But at 10,000 you can usually tell conventional oil is suffering without even shipping it off to the lab.
In certain special cases, you're right, 10,000 mi would be OK, but usually oil should be changed before that. And yes, most of us who change our oil around 3k know we're being overkill, but it's not hurting the engine to have new oil in it all the time so hey, why not. I’m probably going to send off an oil sample on my next change, just as kind of a ‘check-up’

 

I agree, you need to inspect rather than guy by a number.

The number is there to give you an idea or the amount of time elapsed.

I was being gracious with the 10k mile thing, but you know what I mean

 

^ok. I got you now.
Like I said, not out to start a war. I just didn't want less discerning readers to go "hey, so I don't have to change my oil until 10,000!"

 

Oil "can" go 10k but it would have to be synthetic. I don't think normal dino oil has the addtive packages to last that long.

But either way, the FILTER won't go that long so at least change the filter at 5k. (if in fact the oil is in decent condition)

 

Even if i ran synthetic, i still wouldn't let it go that far. I still beleive that clean oil > dirty oil oil even if the oil is still good conditionwise.

It's kinda why i don't run synthetic...cuz if i did, I'd still change it at 3K miles! Might get expensive fast considering that's 8 weeks of driving for me

 

^about 10 weeks of driving for me. And I do run synthetic. (like I said before, I do let it slip until 4k sometimes)
It doesn't cost too much if you keep your eyes out for deals like this one (only one day left to do this btw)
http://www.nfspmotorsports.com/forum....php?topic=125

 

My oil change reasoning stems from my USAF training = time is use (actually running or in a cars case the milage rule) , then time in service. No matter what (war readyness exempted) after a certain time in use is reached, the service will be compleated. If the time in use is not reached but the time in service is , the time in service could be exstended.
In my opinion exstended oil changes =

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1281659

END OF STORY!

 

^Wow. What an idiot. (in the attached link that is ) Who goes 40k on an oil change??!?!?!
Sadly though, it's not the first time. My mechanic told me about a guy that brought in either a Honda or Toyota van that he had never done the oil in. Bought it brand new and just drove it on whatever the manufacturer had in it without ever changing the oil. Lasted either 50 or 60k (can't remember) But the engine was shot and had to be replaced.