05-27-2008, 03:28 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Legend in my own mind
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunrise, Fl.
Posts: 610
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Synthetic Motor Oil Change Interval
Now that new car companies are pushing 5000 miles between oil changes with standard 5w-30 blend oil what is the oil change interval for a full synthetic like the Mobil-1 0w-20?
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Thx NoCO2; "The biggest FE mod you can make is to adjust the nut behind the wheel"
I am a precisional instrument of speed and aeromatics
If your knees bent in the opposite direction......what would a chair look like???
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05-27-2008, 03:52 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 285
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I don't know, but both of my Hondas (1996 and 2004) specify 7,500 miles between changes. I've changed to a 10,000-mile interval with synthetic now.
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- - - - -Best 8-mile commute: 74.8 mpg
- - - - -Best tank: 66.6 mpg / 730 miles
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05-27-2008, 04:29 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: May 2008
Location: boston ma
Posts: 381
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If you change less often then acids will build up more in the oil.
http://www.oilanalysis.org.uk/analysisacidity.html
Having the used oil analyzed would tell you if there is going to be a problem.
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05-27-2008, 09:04 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Posts: 374
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I highly recommend this forum:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php
It has all the answers wrt to oil. Ask a model specific question wrt to your car and you should get a good interval based on others experience.
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05-27-2008, 09:26 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Davenport,FL
Posts: 209
Eva - '85 300D Turbodiesel 90 day: 25.68 mpg (US)
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I use
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
for oil analysis, I just haven't gotten around to sending in my oil
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|1985|Mercedes Benz| 300D Turbodiesel|290k miles|

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05-27-2008, 11:56 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Fear the Mullet!
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Ashtabula, Ohio
Posts: 1,007
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7500 miles seems like a great mileage for all oil changes synthetic or petrolium. I always went 7500 mile intervals with no problems. Draining at 3000 miles seemed like a waste of good oil when it comes out clean and the oil at 7500 just "looked" right to me.
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05-28-2008, 12:37 AM
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#7 (permalink)
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Recycling Nazi
Join Date: May 2008
Location: People's Republic of Albany
Posts: 207
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Yes, BITOG (BobIsTheOilGuy) is an excellent forum for all things automotive that have to deal with fuel and lubricants.
The best short answer is there is no perfect short answer. I saw one oil analysis of a late-model Honda that used the on-board oil-life-monitor system to let him know when he should change his oil. For those of us that regularly get UOAs done (I too use Blackstone Labs) we thought the oil had been pushed too far. It was not a catastrophic result, but what’s the sense in trying to save $10 per year by pushing oil changes out 20% too long?
If you live in an area of the country that is very moist, sees extremes of hot and cold and/or you make frequent short trips, it’s a good idea to change it a bit more frequently. The OLM takes some of these things into account … but then makes a judgement I don’t agree with.
Without UOAs, I’d use 6,000 miles for a “conventional” motor oil and 8,000 for a synthetic such as Mobil 1, Amsoil, Pennzoil Platinum, Castrol Syntec, etc …
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--- Bror Jace
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05-28-2008, 12:44 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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Master EcoModder
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UCLA
Posts: 666
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6k on the Jeep, once the Insight comes online, it'll see 7-10k changes
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05-29-2008, 11:02 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Lead-Footed EcoModder
Join Date: May 2008
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 13
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Whatever you do, please don't waste Mobil 1 by draining it at 3,000 miles. Don't go any less than 5,000 unless there are known problems with the engine.
Even if you buy the cheapest motor oil you can get your hands on, it will still do fine in 5k intervals.
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------- 100hp/L specific output, naturally aspirated. -------
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05-29-2008, 11:52 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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Legend in my own mind
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunrise, Fl.
Posts: 610
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I ask because I was going for 10K intervals, but many have told me I can go to 15K with no problems. This vibe runs great and has 36K miles on it, I got it with 10K. So I will likely stretch to 10K until evidence proves to the contrary ..
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Thx NoCO2; "The biggest FE mod you can make is to adjust the nut behind the wheel"
I am a precisional instrument of speed and aeromatics
If your knees bent in the opposite direction......what would a chair look like???
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05-30-2008, 02:58 AM
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#11 (permalink)
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Lead-Footed EcoModder
Join Date: May 2008
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 13
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If it was my car, I would get the oil analyzed at 10K if I was going to go that far or more. That's the only "evidence" you're going to find. Otherwise, you wouldn't know when the oil was degraded to the point of damaging your engine. While M1 may be able to protect Engine A for 10k, it may only be enough to protect Engine B for 7,500.
Pennzoil Platinum is a cheaper and I think better alternative to M1. A quick search on the BITOG forums will answer any questions.
Boutique oils like Amsoil (which I'm currently using) have specific oils meant for extended drain intervals. The one I'm using advertises 35,000 miles normal service and 17,500 severe service, though I take it with a grain of salt. It's quite expensive, and only worth the money if you decide to follow their schedule (in which case you would save money).
Does your car have the same Toyota 1.8L 1ZZ-FE as newer Vibes and Corollas? Here is a Used Oil Analysis of an '06 Vibe with 7500+ miles on Havoline synthetic. Results look perfectly okay.
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------- 100hp/L specific output, naturally aspirated. -------
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05-31-2008, 12:42 AM
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#12 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: So. IN.
Posts: 187
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if its mostly highway go 5k and change the filter and top it off,, full service a 10k
Last edited by COMP; 05-31-2008 at 12:54 AM.
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05-31-2008, 01:05 AM
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#13 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: kansas city, mo
Posts: 130
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I'm using amsoil 0w30 in the saturn. I wouldn't go over 10k without a UOA either. I run 0w20 in cooler weather.
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06-02-2008, 04:58 AM
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#14 (permalink)
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Curious....
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 31
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I usually change mine at around 5k.
But don't ask about oil brands, that's like asking what religion everyone is a part of because everyone is so crazy about who's is the best oil LOL!
Some really cool stuff on oil analysis at this site:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/
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06-10-2008, 03:11 PM
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#15 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Colchester, CT
Posts: 38
POS - '97 Aspire 90 day: 47 mpg (US)
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royal purple advertizes 12k intervel
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06-11-2008, 11:08 PM
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#16 (permalink)
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Recycling Nazi
Join Date: May 2008
Location: People's Republic of Albany
Posts: 207
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"Royal Purple advertises 12k interval."
They also would have you believe that Iron Man uses their oil. 
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--- Bror Jace
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