I drive my 'x' about 30 miles a day; and it generally takes six months before I accumulates 3000 miles. I use dyno-oil. Is six months between oil changes waiting too long? Feedbacks please. Thanks.

 

Change your oil at the suggested interval (in the manual) and at that time perform an oil analysis - this is the only way to know if it is okay to extend your drains. However, I don't know the makeup of the additive package of your oil, so I would recommend you change it after 3 months and an oil analysis will let you know if the additive package has been depleted by 3 months time.

You can contact blackstone labs for a free oil sampling kit. Just catch the oil as it is draining out of the pan (after some of the oil has drained so you can get a contaminant free sample).

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

$20 will buy you a used oil analysis
$30 will buy you a used oil analysis with a TBN value (the TBN is the total base value... once TBN gets too low (like below 1) you need to replace your oil becuase it has become unable to resist becoming acidic.

 

I'm in the same situation and I make the determination based on how I drive the car. In the summer months I do it quarterly because it's so damn hot down here. In the winter I go 3000 miles or 6 months - whichever comes first.

I've only changed the oil in the G once (@ 2200 miles) I won't go 3000 more before the end of the year, but I'll change it in NOV regardless.

 

I change my oil every three months no matter what. Some times its only 1000 miles. I'd rather spend the extra $30 than worry if my oil is dirty.

 

I only drive about 1,000 km per month. The dealer said to change the oil at least twice a year. I plan to do it every 3-4 months.

 

By changing your oil at the optimal intervals (determined by a series of oil analysis reports), you will be saving money, time, increasing engine life, and reducing pollution. Additionally, performing engine oil analysis will inform you of any hidden problems in your engine. For example:

Air leaks, which can cause an unsafe level of abrasive elements in the oil that the standard oil filter is unable to remove.

Coolant (perhaps a leaky head gasket?)

Excess moisture (too many short trips?)

Excess fuel (thinning out the oil?)

Excess wear metals (indicating a component about to fail or perhaps your oil is not doing its job)

The only approach which takes the guess work out of oil changes, is one that utilizes oil analysis. You can easily change your oil more often than necessary, but there are drawbacks. For example:

Excess engine wear (unnecessary dry starts from empty oil filter)
Higher maintenance costs
Excess time spent / Mechanic's time spent (still takes time & money)
Excess waste (some can be recycled but overall the amount of waste increases)

Even though the initial time + money investment in scientifically determining you oil drain interval may seem like it's a waste of effort, in the long run it will be worth it.

 

Factory says change oil/filter every 3750 miles. I use Mobil 1, and have been told that I could go 10,000 miles between changes. But, although I know it's a waste of money, I change every 3mo./3000 miles just like I always have on all my cars. It is cheap insurance, and it can't hurt anything but my wallet. I just like knowing that fresh, clean oil is working in my motor.

 

"Factory says change oil/filter every 3750 miles." READ ON it also says every 90 days whichever is sooner -----------for optimum engine life.

The question is how well do you want the engine to perform at 100,000 or 200,000 or 300,000 miles?

 

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The above is good advice in my opinion. Regarding oil analysis, I don't think it is economically feasible with respect to passenger car engines having relatively small crankcase capacities. One can change the oil and for little more than the cost of an analysis. Over the road truck engines and stationary power plants are another matter.

 

Since there IS a service schedule you can follow that is only every 6 months, I don't feel bad going up to 4 months on an oil change. Don't drive the car too hard.

In my current oil change, I've only gone a little over 1000 in 2 months

Will put another 500 this upcoming weekend.

Drive my car less than than average. Trying to put some miles on the truck, flew on vacation and work, etc. Only 17000 miles so far in 22 months.

 

Don't skimp on the oil change intervals.....3 months is as important as the distance travelled.
C.

 

You just showed me how much more I drive, and i'm only 17. Damn I did 3000 miles in oly 2 months. Hahaha. Damn where the hell do I drive!? its a 10k year lease too that's whats going to fvck me up haha

 

I do about ~~2900 miles per month and change oil every 6 weeks........but we could say my 90Q45 is broken in with 293,000 miles......at this late date 4,000 or 5,000 miles is probably not relevent.........but 3,750/90days got me here.

Strange to have owned and driven the same car for 15 years........in the past never kept one for more than 4.

What happens when you get to be an old geezer.

 

You buy a Caddy and start wearing diapers again.

 

10K-mile a year lease?!! I have never heard of a lease that had a lower mileage cap than 12K per year. Are you sure? I imagine leases are different in different parts of the country, but I've been in the car business for 25-years and haven't seen such a low-mile lease before. Is the charge still 15-cents or so per mile over that when you turn in your lease?

I drive a lot, probably 20K-miles or more a year, so leasing is not an option.