How often do you change your oil

[Black03Marauder]

I remember long ago I was getting my oil changed and guy changing it said, "You know there's nothing really wrong with this oil, you could probably get away with putting 8,000 miles on this oil." But I said change it anyway because it was at the foreboding 5,000 mark.

Do you guys change it at 5,000 miles regardless or do you use some other criteria figure out how often you change oil?

[Local Boy]

3,000 miles...always

I run it hard, and have a few mods...That is why it is frequent...

3-5K if you are stock and drive easy...

ALOHA

[RF Overlord]

Be prepared for about a million different answers... :rolleyes:

MOST people change their oil way too often and try to justify it by claiming that it's "cheap insurance". Actually it isn't. Changing your oil sooner than necessary is a waste of your money and of our precious natural resources, and doesn't increase the life of the motor at all.

Today's conventional oils can do 5,000 miles easy, synthetic blend oils can do 7,500 and full synthetics can do 10,000 miles without blinking.

I would recommend that you not exceed the above limits without having an oil analysis done to determine if it's acceptable in your specific case.

[Breadfan]

I used to change every 3-5k, but my Eaton blower sealed the oil system and is good for 100k so I haven't had to change since.

(kidding btw!)

[Breadfan]

^^^ j/k btw. ;)

I still do 3-5k, I used 5w20 synthetic and may be changing to early but sometimes I'm stuck on what works.

For those who aren't daily drivers, should a timeframe be included instead of mileage? What if you're car does 5k a year? Would condensation/contamination be a worry to change before the 5k interval?

[RF Overlord]

Breadfan, you had me worried...I was just about to call the guys in white coats to come get you... ;)

To answer your question, if in your hypothetical situation the 5,000 miles were done all in a short time period, and the vehicle sat for the rest of the time. and the car was allowed to warm up properly each time it was started, then changing the oil yearly would be fine. If, however, the car was used for lots of short trips throughout that same interval, then I would change it sooner, even if it didn't reach 5,000 miles.

[arejayesss]

Well, its actually a complicated formula.

Many factors are involved.

1. Hours that the car has been driven between 20-30mph for a period of at least one minute but no longer than 10 minutes. Assign 1 point
2. Hours that the car has been driven between 30-40mph for a period of at least one minute but no longer than 10 minutes. Assign 2 points
3. Hours that the car has been driven between 40-50mph for a period of at least one minute but no longer than 10 minutes. Assign 3 points
4. Hours that the car has been driven between 50-60mph for a period of at least one minute but no longer than 10 minutes. Assign 4 points
5. Hours that the car has been driven between 60-70mph for a period of at least one minute but no longer than 10 minutes. Assign 5 points
6. Hours that the car has been driven between 70-80mph for a period of at least one minute but no longer than 10 minutes. Assign 6 points

7. Hours that the car has been running in idle. Assign 1/2 point

Now take the summation of all of your answers and divide it by the number of entries you had. Keep this number handy

Next, you must factor in the climate aspect. Degree variance will have a large impact on your oils life. Take an average temperature of the time the car was above 50mph and average that with the temperature average when the car running below 50mph.

Make sure during this process that you keep an accurate count of stop signs and traffic lights. You will need that nuber later in our final formula.

Burnouts, donuts and other hazardous maneuvers will shorten your oils life by 7 minutes each, because of the extra stress.

You should first gather this data at 1,000 miles, then again at 2,000 miles. Once the average has exceeded 4.937 on your formula, you will have approx. 490 miles per week you have driven on this oil. Do not exceed this average as this will certainly render your engine inoperable.





Or you could just change it every 5,000 like me, Mobil 1 synthetic ;)

[DOOM]

I change my oil EVERY 3k miles on both cars. MY vic has over 200k miles on it not smoking or burning at all. Man i love these cars.

[Dragcity]

Every 3 to 5 K. Driven daily, usualy long distances.

[ckadiddle]

Owner's manuals usually say 5000 miles, unless under severe duty conditions. I consider city traffic driving in Florida humid heat ten months out of the year a "severe duty condition". Oil and fluids get changed using the severe duty schedule (usually 3000 miles for oil) or sooner. I try to get trans fluid done once a year at beginning of spring/summer before the temps hit 95F.

If I take good care of my cars, they take good care of me. Your mileage may vary.

[Raudermaster]

I run full Synthetic and change it about 4500 miles.

[Thunderace]

Every 3000 mi. on Marauder w/5-20 Motorcraft synt.-blend,every 5000 mi. on GMarq.w/5-30 Mobil 1

[fastblackmerc]

Best thing to do is get your oil analyzed. I use Blackstone Labs.

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

Test kits are free, analysis is $22.50.

They will tell you how long you can go between oil changes based on what is found in your oil sample.

[LordVader]

[quote=Breadfan;595149]^^^ j/k btw. ;)

I still do 3-5k, I used 5w20 synthetic and may be changing to early but sometimes I'm stuck on what works.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Same for me...just the way it has always been. For me it's usally 3k, but no more than 4K.

[ctrlraven]

3k if driven hard or after hitting the track
5k if driven normal

I start looking at getting it changed at 3k and will do so if I have the oil/filter and the time but I never let it go past 5k.

[Breadfan]

3k if driven hard or after hitting the track
5k if driven normal

I start looking at getting it changed at 3k and will do so if I have the oil/filter and the time but I never let it go past 5k.

I also found that I would put a fresh oil and filter on before hitting the track. It would make me feel better, whether or not it was needed or not is anyone's guess but fresh oil and fresh filter can't hurt.

[bob6364]

Usually every 3,000 miles but I don't get upset if it goes to 5,000 but never over,I run all my vehicles well into the 100k miles before selling, My good friend changes his oil and filter every 5 seconds! never guess what he does on the weekends :D

[RoyLPita]

I change mine every 2500 miles w/5-20 syn blend and MC 820S filter. In fact, it is due this saturday for another one.

[Mike Poore]

I know you guys are gonna have an MI; but I change oil (Mobil I) and filter (NAPA GOLD) every 10,000 miles or slightly sooner, but never longer. Every bit of literature and data we read, excepting from those oil change places, recommend that this a reasonable interval with 100% synthetics. My '02 F-150 has exceeded 100,000 miles and shown no signs of giving up ..no smoke, no nasty noises.

I'm a firm believer in my pal, Bob's thesis, that you're throwing good money down the drain, not to mention the environmental impact of all those extra 6 quart batches of waste oil, thrown away after only 1/3 of their useful life. :hide:

[Breadfan]

I know you guys are gonna have an MI; but I change oil (Mobil I) and filter (NAPA GOLD) every 10,000 miles or slightly sooner, but never longer. Every bit of literature and data we read, excepting from those oil change places, recommend that this a reasonable interval with 100% synthetics. My '02 F-150 has exceeded 100,000 miles and shown no signs of giving up ..no smoke, no nasty noises.

I'm a firm believer in my pal, Bob's thesis, that you're throwing good money down the drain, not to mention the environmental impact of all those extra 6 quart batches of waste oil, thrown away after only 1/3 of their useful life. :hide:

I take all my used oil to a recylcing center, I'm assuming it really gets recycled from that point.

[TooManyFords]

Around 10K for me too. never had a problem, even on the motor that let go. The remaining 5 pistons looked perfect as did the bearings we were able to find.

:D

[Mike Poore]

I take all my used oil to a recylcing center, I'm assuming it really gets recycled from that point.

Yeah, to McDonalds.....:rofl:

[carfixer]

Bob (RF) has the correct answer. I've sent synthetic blend samples to Blackstone labs with 5K on it and they tell me "too soon". I'll run my Royal Purple for 8K

[red]

I concur with having the oil analysis done. Also, keep in mind that though the oil may be designed for extended life, your filter isn't necessarily. I use Mobil 1 5W20 and change it at 2500 miles.

[CanadaMarauder]

I change mine every 5000km on the dot..or every 3 months which may be over kill but "drive it like you stole it" especially since I only drive it 5-6 months a year!

[magindat]

And I think Red has the answer.

As the filter begins filling with contaminants, it resists flow. The greater the flow resistance the more often it bypasses. The more it bypasses, the less crap gets filtered out of the oil.

If Blackstone told me I could - and they just might, someday when I finally send a sample - I'd change the FILTER at 1/2 the Blackstone recommended interval and add a quart for what came out in the filter.

That would do 2 things. 1) prevent bypass to help ensure filtration to the end of the interval and 2) refresh some of the additive package.

For now, I'll continue to order my Redline Power Pack when I'm hitting 3000 and then change the oil the next conveniently available weekend even if it takes another 1000 to get to that weekend.

I keep WIX filters on hand (for the Durango, too). I bought a case of 12 re-branded WIX filters (for each) last year that were being clearanced due to the badged company going belly-up!!

[ctrlraven]

I also found that I would put a fresh oil and filter on before hitting the track. It would make me feel better, whether or not it was needed or not is anyone's guess but fresh oil and fresh filter can't hurt.

Yep same here or if I am under 1k miles on the current oil change otherwise it gets changed a day or two before racing.

[QWK SVT]

I change mine every 5000km on the dot..or every 3 months which may be over kill but "drive it like you stole it" especially since I only drive it 5-6 months a year!

Exact same intervals for me - Every 5000km I replace the Mobil 1 and Motorcraft filter... It's a daily commuter in heavy stop and go traffic, and I drive it hard when given the opportunity. Also do the same in the truck, which has two settings - gas pedal to the floor, or brake pedal to the floor ;)

[Bluerauder]

Every 3,153 miles (give or take). ;)

[Taemian]

Exact same intervals for me - Every 5000km I replace the Mobil 1 and Motorcraft filter... It's a daily commuter in heavy stop and go traffic, and I drive it hard when given the opportunity. Also do the same in the truck, which has two settings - gas pedal to the floor, or brake pedal to the floor ;)

Hmmm....I do a "hybrid" type oil maintenance. Since I bought my MM with 9156 miles on it this past September, I just did my first oil change this weekend at 14,000 miles. (This is a US, not Canadian market MM.)

What I have done for 10 years is to use full synthetic and go 10,000kms (6000 miles) but with TWO filter changes. After the original filter change, I change JUST THE FILTER at 5000km (3000 miles) and add however much new synthetic is needed. Next time I replace all the oil and the filter, etc....

Remember, it's not the oil that breaks down per se, it's the contaminants that reduce the oil's thermal efficiency. Re-refined oil or antifreeze that many chains now offer is just your old waste oil, totally cleaned with minor detergents etc added. It is then exactly the same as when you bought it brand new, and the "additives" that are put in are a very small part of a synthetic's equation. Your new filter will clean alot of it up and safely extend the oil change frequency.

The whole thing about changing it too frequently is slowly going the way of the dinosaur. Remember that we now have 100k mile antifreeze, 100k mile sparkplugs, and other such goodies.

There is nothing wrong with changing it more frequently than you have to, but it seems like a waste to me. Cheap insurance? I think not. Everyone here I've heard from takes good care of their MM. The only way I've seen an engine fail due to oil related problems, was from a 50k mile car that NEVER had it changed, and used up enough to run lower and lower and lower....you get the picture.

Also, if I think about it now, I just realized this is a similar idea to the well-accepted method of trans fluid replacement, right? Empty the pan, new filter, add appropriate fluid amount to top it off, right? You're only changing about 5-6 litres of the total amount, as much is still the the converter. That, and the new filter seem to have done the trick for just about everyone on this board, from what I've read. Any thoughts on my observations?

Edit: Oh yeah, I also put a small old speaker magnet on my oil filter end to keep any debris in the filter itself.

[MarauderTJA]

I change mine before 3K with Mobil One. It is the lifeblood of the engine and is cheap maintainence overall. Does depend on how you drive or race your car though. I do it myself and save money. Worth it to keep the oil fresh.

[JVJ]

2k To 3k Miles!

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/1/0/0/TIPSCVLXS.JPG

[RF Overlord]

There is nothing wrong with changing it more frequently than you have to,Actually, there is...

Empirical evidence (I'm looking for the links now) suggests that wear metals spike upwards immediately after an oil change, then settle down as the oil "ages". This may be partially due to the "dry start" that occurs after each oil change. Changing your oil at intervals more frequent than the owner's manual recommends may NOT be better for your engine.

Obviously each case is unique and I'm speaking in generalities here. YMMV.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

6k changes on mobil 1. LOL at the 2-3k guys w/ mobil 1. Whatever floats your panther chassied boat.

[MMMAN]

Often.....I change mine every few months regardless of mileage.
I've tried Mobil 1 and Royal Purple and cannot notice a difference in the two other than the price.

For the money, I would recommend Mobil 1 10w30 with a Motorcraft oil filter.