i know its a dumb question but i'm carious? does any of you guys just change it based on milage or do you look at the percent of the oil??... and if its the percentage what percent should i change my on?....

 

I change it every 1000 miles because I could and it doesent bother me much.

 

I change it at 3000 miles. I check it after every spirited drive or every 1000 miles if I haven't done any serious spirited driving and add oil as needed.

 

for me it varied, on i drove, temp conditions between changes etc.... ive changed it at 1k,2k,3k,4k,5k
all on the motor some run cleaner then others

 

3K on good synthetic oil is a waste (I'm not talking about Mobil1 SuperSyn)...


Unless you're boosted

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NightRiderS2K &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">3K on good synthetic oil is a waste (I'm not talking about Mobil1 SuperSyn)...


Unless you're boosted </TD></TR></TABLE>


3k for me too, i could care less about the cost, it's not even that much

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iam7head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


3k for me too, i could care less about the cost, it's not even that much</TD></TR></TABLE>


Which synthetic do you use?
People on s2ki.com have debated this numerous times...

Here's a thread I found.. may be old.
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/ind...01795

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slipstream444 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The 3000 mile oil change interval was created by oil companies to make more money. Most dino oil is good for at least 5000 miles. I won't use the stuff personally (only synthetics for me).
One of the many ways we can get ourselves free of oil dependency from the Middle East, Russia, South America and Africa is to lengthen your oil change interval. Get ready for $4.00 a gallon later this summer. Watch the news - things aren't getting any more stable where I'm stationed.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

If you want a true synthetic, get Amsoil, Redline, German Castrol Syntec, or Royal Purple (might have missed a few, but left out Mobil1 on purpose).

The change intervals vary depending on driving conditions, engine abuse, etc. Best way to determine you're getting adequate protection is to send a sample of your oil into a UOA like blackstone labs. They will tell you how healthy your engine is and if you are changing the oil too soon or too late.

But under normal driving conditions, I change out my dino oils every 4,500-5,000 miles and synthetic at 7,500 or 10,000 miles. Harsher conditions or track events would dictate more frequent changes.

 

I always change my vehicles oil at 3000 regardless of synthetic or not.

People mistakenly think that you change your oil entirely because it breaks down, not realizing that the other (and often more dire) reason is contamination. Oil lubricates, sure, but its other job is to grab dirt and keep it from getting stuck to moving parts.

Whether you pay $3/quart or $30/quart, your oil still gets dirty just as quickly (for the same driving conditions of course).

There's nothing wrong with waiting longer, but your engine will wear faster due to running with dirtier oil. My 88 Prelude is a good counterexample of that - it's got over 200k miles on it and does not burn any noticeable amount of oil between changes - passes emissions with flying colors every year, idles silky smooth, etc.

 

i typically run go about 5k on the S w/ Mobil 1.

 

every 3000

 

every 4k with royal purple and k&n oil filters

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
There's nothing wrong with waiting longer, but your engine will wear faster due to running with dirtier oil. </TD></TR></TABLE>

That is complete BS. Then why don't you change it every 1000 miles? 500 miles? Every night?

Get your oil analyzed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by iam7head &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


3k for me too, i could care less about the cost, it's not even that much</TD></TR></TABLE>

+1

im just over 3k (km though)

 

I used to change it every 3k but I did a few track events and alot of spirited driving (synthetic btw)

 

I don't use the percentage thing. I did 3000 for the first few oil changes, then changed to every 7500 every change with synthetic. It's a new car, and I have every change documented, I never check the dipstick.

Is that smart? I don't know, but that's what I'd doing.....for now. When the mileage gets a little higher and I'm out of warranty, then I'm doing the check every thousand or so, or depending on how I drive.

 

i do it at 3000

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by p nut &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That is complete BS. Then why don't you change it every 1000 miles? 500 miles? Every night?

Get your oil analyzed.</TD></TR></TABLE>
My you're a fiesty one. Little bit insecure about your oil changing habits eh?

Be my guest, use synthetic and (wrongly) assume that you can go 10,000 miles between changes and have the same engine life as someone who only has 3000 miles worth of dirt in their oil when it gets changed.

Sure, if you wanted to you could change it every 1000, but the amount of contaminents suspended in the oil doesn't reach a noteable 'worth changing' level for typically 3000 miles or so, roughly speaking.

And hey if you're a space-case like me you can change your oil twice in 10 mins dumping a full jug of Mobile 1 all over your garage floor because for the first time in 10 years you forgot to put the drain plug back in before refilling

 

Castrol Syntec 0w30 (heavy 30 weight oil) GC (Made in Germany - superior to US counterpart & Mobil1 SuperSyn!!)
Purolator PureONE oil filter (top ranked in SAE Tests)

Oil/Filter change every 4000 miles.
Daily driven S2k.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
My you're a fiesty one. Little bit insecure about your oil changing habits eh?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Insecure? Not the least bit. However, people that spew out crap do irk me.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Be my guest, use synthetic and (wrongly) assume that you can go 10,000 miles between changes and have the same engine life as someone who only has 3000 miles worth of dirt in their oil when it gets changed.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Assume? Did you not read that I recommended a UOA? Do you even know what that is?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Sure, if you wanted to you could change it every 1000, but the amount of contaminents suspended in the oil doesn't reach a noteable 'worth changing' level for typically 3000 miles or so, roughly speaking.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

And I'm sure you've got documented facts of this, of course.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
And hey if you're a space-case like me you can change your oil twice in 10 mins dumping a full jug of Mobile 1 all over your garage floor because for the first time in 10 years you forgot to put the drain plug back in before refilling </TD></TR></TABLE>

That's awesome. Why wouldn't people want to take advice from you?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Be my guest, use synthetic and (wrongly) assume that you can go 10,000 miles between changes and have the same engine life as someone who only has 3000 miles worth of dirt in their oil when it gets changed. </TD></TR></TABLE>

my buddy has an audi A4 and the dealer even suggests that he brings it in every 10,000 miles... i mean wouldnt it be smarter for them to say bring it in every 3K... they would make so much more money... there has got to be a reason why they can go that long without a change...

 

Apparently you are irked when someone posts something that doesn't jive with the way you do things as well

Gee no, I have no idea what oil analysis is or how it's helpful gimme a break...

Hey if you want to pay for it you're more than encouraged to send in 3000m used oil and 10000m used oil to see for yourself. I've read numerous articles about it and seen it IRL enough (worked in a shop for 2 years) to have all the 'convincing' I needed and I'm sure not about to run any car of my own for 10k miles on the same oil.

Like I said, go right ahead and change your oil every 7500 or 10000 miles in all your cars - it won't bother me in the least; after all, it's your engine longevity not mine.
Oh I'm sorry - did you think I was giving advice? Seems pretty obvious that myself as well as the other posters have been simply answering the OP's question of how often we change our oil. But hey, one scatterbrained mistake on my own car in 10 years is definitely enough to discredit anything and everything I know, right? Thank Buddha I don't live in your world
Actually they wouldn't make more money. Technically you could probably go 100,000 miles without changing a brand new car's oil and it would still run (assuming normal driving conditions).

What is smarter for them is to give the maximum-safe intervals for maintainance to give the car a 'typical' lifespan. If you look at car mileage expenctancy in the US, people typically assume that cars after 100k miles are on their way out. With that in mind, it's advantageous of car makers to give customers a maintainance schedule that will allow the vehicle to operate just fine for a bit beyond 100,000 miles at which time they will have had plenty of 'wearing out' signs such that they'll want a new car.

In other words they make more money by having the cars serviced less frequently because you will (ideally) come back for a new car much sooner.

My old Prelude is a perfect example of the reverse position. It's 20 years old, has a bit over 200k miles, has been driven hard for the last 6 years (acquired it with 120k miles) and even now doesn't burn any oil, has no mechanical problems, idles smoothly and gets it's original advertised gas mileage. 1st owner changed oil at 4k, I have always changed it at 3k. Let's see how many motors your buddies Audi goes through to hit 200,xxx miles with 10,000 mile oil change intervals

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Actually they wouldn't make more money. Technically you could probably go 100,000 miles without changing a brand new car's oil and it would still run (assuming normal driving conditions).

What is smarter for them is to give the maximum-safe intervals for maintainance to give the car a 'typical' lifespan. If you look at car mileage expenctancy in the US, people typically assume that cars after 100k miles are on their way out. With that in mind, it's advantageous of car makers to give customers a maintainance schedule that will allow the vehicle to operate just fine for a bit beyond 100,000 miles at which time they will have had plenty of 'wearing out' signs such that they'll want a new car.

In other words they make more money by having the cars serviced less frequently because you will (ideally) come back for a new car much sooner.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

well actually they are losing out on money... if each service was set for 3K miles... thats 3 times the amount of times and money each customer will have to spend on having there car serviced... and i think we all know that a honda engine and an audi engine dont compare when it comes to life expectancy... i had a 82 honda accord that had 278,000 miles on it before i got rid of it, and it was still kicking...

and the thing that i dont get is that not all car makers are telling people go for 10,000 miles... most are saying 3K, 4.5K, 7.5K etc...

 

You're basically right with what you said Killa, but remember many people won't take even their brand new car to the dealer for just an oil change primarily because dealers are generally farther away from residential areas than a local oil-change shop.

You're definitely right about the different intervals too, and I'm not sure why they're all so different. My old Prelude's manual recommends a 5000 mile change, S2k one says 7500, and my mom's Prism (Corolla) says 6000 IIRC.

of course I just change it at 3 due to how dirty the oil is, not based on any manufacturer recommendation or on lifespan of the oil itself so I'm definitely the wrong person to try and figure that out

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Apparently you are irked when someone posts something that doesn't jive with the way you do things as well </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yup, I'm a dick. In fact, this forum is based on the principles of dickology. Get used to it.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Gee no, I have no idea what oil analysis is or how it's helpful gimme a break...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Something tells me you don't.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey if you want to pay for it you're more than encouraged to send in 3000m used oil and 10000m used oil to see for yourself. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I have seen it for myself. That's what I'm basing my postings on. How about yours? Meanwhile, you're spending more on your 3000 mile intervals (with your group III syn oil, I might add) than I do with my $20 analysis.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've read numerous articles about it and seen it IRL enough (worked in a shop for 2 years) to have all the 'convincing' I needed and I'm sure not about to run any car of my own for 10k miles on the same oil.

Like I said, go right ahead and change your oil every 7500 or 10000 miles in all your cars - it won't bother me in the least; after all, it's your engine longevity not mine.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Read numerous articles? Have any CREDIBLE link? I'm not talking about the ones written by Jiffy Lube, either. Or is that the "shop" where you worked?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Oh I'm sorry - did you think I was giving advice? Seems pretty obvious that myself as well as the other posters have been simply answering the OP's question of how often we change our oil. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Per m-w.com
Advice - 1 : recommendation regarding a decision or course of conduct.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kalm_traveler &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
But hey, one scatterbrained mistake on my own car in 10 years is definitely enough to discredit anything and everything I know, right? Thank Buddha I don't live in your world </TD></TR></TABLE>

On your own car? 10 years? You're 22. You didn't have a car when you were 12. Unless, of course, you're lying. In either case, it further discredits what you're saying, on top of providing no concrete evidence of the supposed extra engine wear with an extended oil change.