Synthetic oil: how long do you go between changes?

[JVC8790]

5,000 is my preference, I know it may be a tad pre-mature, but its a cheap peace of mind.

 

[Terminator03]

5,000 is my preference, I know it may be a tad pre-mature, but its a cheap peace of mind.

While I agree with with you, keep in mind that Toyota’s newer cars that come with synthetic from the factory have 10k change intervals, and that is with them having to warranty the engine life, so I believe they know statistically what to expect from a wear standpoint. Personally, I don’t do a ton of mileage on any of my vehicles since I have a few, so I end up changing them about once a year, regardless of mileage, knowing that I’ll never come close to 10k on any of them. One of my cars in particular only gets 1k, or less per season on it, but I still change it because of the extreme temp changes in New England creating moisture/condensation inside the engine. Like you said, it’s cheap piece of mind/insurance.

 

[JVC8790]

While I agree with with you, keep in mind that Toyota’s newer cars that come with synthetic from the factory have 10k change intervals, and that is with them having to warranty the engine life, so I believe they know statistically what to expect from a wear standpoint. Personally, I don’t do a ton of mileage on any of my vehicles since I have a few, so I end up changing them about once a year, regardless of mileage, knowing that I’ll never come close to 10k on any of them. One of my cars in particular only gets 1k, or less per season on it, but I still change it because of the extreme temp changes in New England creating moisture/condensation inside the engine. Like you said, it’s cheap piece of mind/insurance.

Pretty much ALL of my 5k is city driving as I avoid the highway to get to work and back, 16-18 minutes each direction all city stop and go. I know I can go longer and I have the peace of mind to push it out to 6,000-7,000 if I'm busy and don't have the time to do an oil change before a roadtrip etc.

I still don't LOVE the 10k interval, but I get it on newer engines, I'll still stick closer to the recommendation from when the car was new, rather than what was recommended on later years.

 

[simple]

I've normally done it every 5k. But this time I used mobil 1 15k mile synthetic in 5w-20 for my 08 V6. I took a sample at 5k and sent it blackrock and had no issues. I'll be changing it out at 10k and doing another sample. If it's good, I'll be using the next fill for the 15k or 12mo.

 

[Wardbird]

One thing that I think is clear changing the oil too frequently will not harm your engine. Changing it too infrequently can harm your engine. Do what is comfortable for you. That said my wife's Venza oil is still pretty clear when it gets changed every 10k.

I have a 2002 Accord that gets changed once a year. I have put less than 10k miles on it in the past 8 years. I change it due to seasonal changes. For several years it was driven less than 3 miles a day. One day a number of years ago I noticed a yellow foam on the inside of the oil cap. I knew this was condensation build up of water due to temp changes and the engine not heating up to burn everything off in the winter.

So I made two changes. I started changing the oil, not based on miles but based on seasons, and I also started driving the car longer distances o the weekends to fully heat up the vehicle lubricants and also to give the alternator to charge the battery.

Do what is best for you keeping in mind that these things do need to be done within a reasonable time and mileage frame.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Wow...those marketing firms really like you guys. Pssst...conventional is fiiiiinneee. I need to buy more oil stocks. : )

This. The truth is that any oil that meets the manufacturer’s specs and is changed at a reasonable interval will keep your engine running fine. Any performance or wear differences will be so small as to be insignificant. It’s human nature - we feel better when it’s Mobil 1 under the hood but the engine doesn’t care if it’s Royal Purple full syn or Supertech dino.

Note that I didn’t say there’s no difference - just that whatever variance exists is insignificant over the lifetime of the vehicle. In other words, unless something else is wrong, your Blackstone report will come back with everything within specs no matter what you use, and that’s all that matters, right?

Willing to listen if anyone can cite legitimate evidence to the contrary.

 

[Bluesky 07]

P.S. From Blackstone Labs' FAQs:

==
What’s the best oil to use?
Ah, the million dollar question. We are an independent lab, so we don’t make recommendations. It has been our experience that oil is oil, and either petroleum or synthetic-based oil will work well for just about any engine.

Come on, you’re holding out on me. I should use synthetic, right?
Buddy, you should use whatever you want. Synthetic oil won’t guarantee a longer engine life any more than my eating organic food will guarantee I’ll live until I’m 90. We here at Blackstone generally use regular petroleum-based oil because honestly, it works just as well for us.
==

Your truck, your money, your call, but people who make their living analyzing motor oil say it doesn't make a significant difference.

 

[gaber6]

You all change your oil? Kidding..
But I used to just add a quart every 6k in an older v8 and filter once a year and that was good enough.
I go longer than recommended but as long as the oil is brown and liquid, the engine is ok in my opinion.

 

[fishhead]

Mobil 1 synthetic at every years inspection, usually 20-25k miles. Been doing that for as long as they have made the stuff. One year I forgot, so it was probably 45k miles.

 

[BestSyntheticOil]

In the event that there is one thing that this oil is known for, it is for keeping motors wellgreased up and clean. More Detail In this way, from one perspective, you can be sure that the majority of the significant parts will be altogether covered with the oil. At the point when the vehicle is in movement, none of these components will rub together and will, rather, work easily.

 

[firebirdguy]

in the event that there is one thing that this oil is known for, it is for keeping motors wellgreased up and clean. more detail in this way, from one perspective, you can be sure that the majority of the significant parts will be altogether covered with the oil. At the point when the vehicle is in movement, none of these components will rub together and will, rather, work easily.

lol!

 

[wrw4runner]

I went 10k when truck was newer now every 7k.

 

[firebirdguy]

Mobil 1 synthetic at every years inspection, usually 20-25k miles. Been doing that for as long as they have made the stuff. One year I forgot, so it was probably 45k miles.

you're kidding right? 20-25k miles?

have you done any oil analysis at that high of miles? mobil 1 is good but not 25k miles good.

 

[tpetsch]

Have been using Mobil 1 5/30 since the second oil change on my 2003 and change oil/filter every 5K and send a sample to Blackstone about every 3rd change. The story is the same every time - a strong recommendation to extend the OCI to at least 7500 miles. I've talked to them on the phone twice and the engineer was emphatic about going at least 7500 miles and more likely 10,000. I used to drive in heavy traffic in the Washington, DC area - same results. Now drive in low/no traffic Tucson and the results are the same. Only Toyota filters and I still stick to the 5K OCI. BTW, Blackstone has never been a proponent of the time versus miles argument, within reason. It now takes me a year to do 5K miles and they are still comfortable recommending 7500 even though that would run up against 18 months.

This is the type of info I was looking for, Thanks.

 

[Drcoffee]

7,000 to 10,000 miles. Depends on time. Shorter time = longer miles.

 

[patkelly4370]

My vehicles with synthetic, 5,000 mi.
Non-synthetic (older vehicles), 3,000.

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[Berty_K]

Every 5k miles. Mobil-1 or Kirkland full synthetic w/ OEM Toyota Filter (90915-YZZD3).

Oil is cheap.

 

[AE1M]

My vehicles with synthetic, 5,000 mi.
Non-synthetic (older vehicles), 3,000.

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I have a 2008 4R 6cyl with 150K miles. I have changed conventional oil and Toyota OEM filters myself every 5K miles. Now conventional 5W30 is almost impossible to find and I am on my first change with synthetic 5W30, always Pennzoil. Figuring/hoping to extend to 7500.

 

[patkelly4370]

I have a 2008 4R 6cyl with 150K miles. I have changed conventional oil and Toyota OEM filters myself every 5K miles. Now conventional 5W30 is almost impossible to find and I am on my first change with synthetic 5W30, always Pennzoil. Figuring/hoping to extend to 7500.

For older vehicles we have 68 F100. 78, 80, & 83 Yamahas with wet clutches (no synthetic oil), and an 88 Honda quad. All use dino-juice.
The 04 Jeep, 07 Ram, 10 Hyundai, & 17 4runner use synthetic.
Part of my conex looks like an auto parts store (I was parts Mgr at a couple shops and a dealership).

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[Bluesky 07]

I think this video makes a great case for not going as long as 10K miles. Skip to 12:40 in for the explanation of why this 2015 Camry’s engine is toast after 150K miles following Toyota’s recommendation (for that engine) of a 10K OCI.

Car Care Nut Video