Synthetic oil: how long do you go between changes?

[ac1617]

He never recommended to anyone to do what he is doing. He simply posted what he does like everyone else has been.

BTW I've seen a timing belt explode well under the 100k mark and some are fine at 200k so I don't think that comparison is accurate. There can be defective timing belts, but you can't really screw up an oil change.

And I never said he suggested people to do so. I just said others shouldn't follow what he does.

 

[hinmo24t]

my exes dad was a jet mechanic and amsoil supporter. he used their 10 or 20k interval oil/filters on his FJ cruiser/tundra/matrix. i like the 5k conventional change and 5-10k synthetic interval. i do believe people buy into dealer/oil company recommendations but an additional 50% - 100% time interval has never compromised any of my vehicles in the last 15 years.

 

[Levinz11]

I use whatever full syn is on sale. Change it around 7-8k miles with OEM filter.

Wife's car is 2.0 turbo Fusion with 10k intervals. She drives more so right around the time she is ready for OC, I do both with the same oil.

 

[470SNC]

Mobil 1 every 5 to 7k

 

[Falcon3]

Used Oil Analysis shows my 4.0 with synthetic was getting close to the end of the oil at 10,000 miles, but considering most of my driving is stop-and-go with the 4runner for now, I usually do 5,000. I would do 7500 and sleep well, but I don't like having to remember the odd numbers, so 5k is easy to remember and the oil is cheap.

 

[MT Runner]

Castrol Edge High Mileage 5-30 every 5-6k.

I know I could go a little longer but as others have said, oil is cheap, engine repairs are not, why not just make sure the oil is fresh and have that extra piece of mind?

I drive about 16k a year, so I’m changing my oil three times when I could probably be doing it twice. For me that $35 or so per year is well worth the piece of mind knowing my oil is never near being too worn out. And my engine probably likes me for it.

 

[Wardbird]

Because of where I live, northern Virginia DC area, and my commute is usually little driving, and mostly Metro (subway), I tend to change oil based on seasons not miles. The changes between hot and cold weather and the build-up of condensation, or lack of driving time to burn it off, is what usually cause me to change the oil. For instance one of my vehicles gets driven just over three miles a day. So, the engine doesn't heat up enough to burn off internal condensation in the winter.

With the next oil change I am going to switch to Mobil 1 high mileage and I do think quality filters make a difference.

 

[hgill]

Mobil 1 5w30 with Toyota oem filter - Every 5k miles (Do oil change & tire rotation at the same time).

 

[AZ07Runner]

Mobil 1 0w40 every 5k which is about one years mileage. I did go 14 months once, had the oil tested due to a possible antifreeze seep and it tested fine...could have probably gone a few more months, too. OEM filter.

 

[tom4416]

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.

 

[drewj]

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.

Awesome info. Makes me feel better about my infrequent oil changes. I think I went 18 months last time to get to 10k.

 

[ran]

Retired, I do about 150-200 miles a month. 2007 SE V6. 2 free oil changes a year? I use the larger 909 filters. stay with this??

 

[derekdevasia]

Aside from having no sludge, were you able to verify there was no premature wear in the rod bearings? How about the cam lobes?
What about the oil? Were you able to verify the oil additive pack was still sufficient to protect your engine? How about verifying the oil still had a 30 viscosity and didn't sheer down to a 20 weight?

This is the danger of listening to posts on the internet or making blind assumptions that just because you haven't had any "issues" YET... doesn't mean you aren't causing premature engine wear by extending your oil change intervals past Toyota's recommendations. Oil and oil analysis is cheap, engine repairs are not. An oil analysis would be able to tell you if the oil's additive pack is still sufficient, any premature wear is happening (ex. excessive lead in the oil), and if your oil is sheering. I will never understanding blindly assuming you can extend your drain intervals by 7000 miles because you don't hear a knock from the engine yet just to save $18. Once you DO notice a problem it's too late.

This is not an attack on you derekdevasia but others should not follow your oil change regiment just because your engine hasn't blown up yet. That's as reckless as telling someone "It's been 200,000 miles since I changed my timing belt and I haven't had any issues yet. My wife's 02 has been pushing 250,000 miles on her timing belt without issues!"

I'm really not telling anyone to follow my oil change regiment at all. Everyone is unique. This thread stated to post your oil change interval...exactly what I did. Oil has gotten superiorly better over the years. Using full synthetic and doing oil changes every 5k is overkill to me. When Toyota made these recommendations in 2004 when my truck was built, surely they couldn't have seen the advances in oil technology in our present age. Sure, I'm saving a few bucks but those few bucks add up to me. I don't recommend anyone to follow my oil change interval to a tee, I'm just letting you know my experience thus far. I'll let you know if my engine dies of wear anytime soon... I'm sure the rust will kill it before that.

 

[derekdevasia]

He never recommended to anyone to do what he is doing. He simply posted what he does like everyone else has been.

BTW I've seen a timing belt explode well under the 100k mark and some are fine at 200k so I don't think that comparison is accurate. There can be defective timing belts, but you can't really screw up an oil change.

Thank you :guitar3:

 

[AuSeeker]

2004 V8, I use a full synthetic oil, no specific brand as long as it a quality brand, I change my oil sometime after my "maint" comes on @ 5000 miles, usually within a 1000 to 2000 miles at the most, so that's somewhere between 5000 to 7000 miles, OEM filter, I do all my own vehicle work so the mileage depends on my regular work schedule.

Just an little FYI on synthetic oil technology, it was first used by Germany in WWII because of the shortage of crude oil, the first commercial synthetic oil (Mobil 1) for automotive use was created over 45 years ago in 1971, first released in Europe in 1973 and then in the USA in 1974, in the late 60s the first Mobil synthetic oil was used in diesel engines on the north slope of Alaska on oil drilling rigs.

Synthetic motor oil brand – Mobil 1 History | Mobil™ Motor Oils

I was a young mechanic in 1974 and remember it well when Mobil 1 was released and the OCI then recommend by Mobil was up to 10,000 miles.

I also remember Mobil trying to sue Castrol for the use of the term "Full Synthetic" they lost the lawsuit, as the term full synthetic was determined to be a marketing term and not a trademark and Castrol proved their base oil was changed/modified enough to be considered "Full Synthetic".

Also Mobil before creating synthetic oil created synthetic grease used in aircraft wheel bearings in cold environments.

 

[drewj]

When Toyota made these recommendations in 2004 when my truck was built, surely they couldn't have seen the advances in oil technology in our present age.

Agree with everything except this. In the US, oil change intervals have always been stated as lower than the rest of the world. Dealers want the extra money of getting suckers to come in and spend the $500 minimum for "regularly scheduled maintenance" and thus reduced the interval to help themselves out a bit.

Don't mean to start a religious war here, but that's my own belief and the 10k interval is adequate to my thinking.

 

[Burt]

2008 V6 w/139k miles. Usually Pennzoil, Valvoline full synthetic w/ Pure-one filter. Change every 7-8K intervals, which is ~10 months due to my early retirement a year ago.

 

[UrbanRunnerNY]

Though it may be a bit early, I change M1 at 5,000.

 

[06_V8_4R]

I use castrol gtx magnatec full synthetic and change it every 5000 miles with a toyota filter.. castrol claims this oil helps reduce engine wear during warm up, but who knows if it actually does *

 

[SportScoop]

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