Let me say this first, I am a freeway commuter who drive 75-90 mph for 100 miles a day, plus about 15 mins of city driving stop and go. If I change my oil every 3k it will be pain in the butt (jack up the car, when you don't have free time during the weekend, etc).

I am currently changing my oil every 6k with synthetic, or 4k with regular. I don't rev high at all and is driving a 97RS automatic, all stock. The most I go is about 3500rpm.

Do you think I can change oil every 7k with regular or 10k with synthetic?

Thanks


[Modified by PandaBear, 6:16 AM 7/9/2002]


[Modified by PandaBear, 6:51 AM 7/9/2002]

 

my boss (car nut, synthetic believer) tells me to go 10k since I use redline synthetic. I go 5k so I'm happy, cars happy, and wallet's happy. If you use good enough synthetic and you don't drive too hard I guess you can go 10k maybe. But seriously, is it worth the risk? And to me, 75-90mph for 100 miles a day + 15 miles of SF city traffic isn't easy on the car. I'd go 5-6k if I was you. PS...how do you drive 90mph without going over 3500rpm?

 

There is no real answer as it depends on your driving habit. If you race your car, your oil can get dirty within 1000miles, but if you daily drive without hitting Vtec every other stop light, with synthetic you can go 6-8k no problem.

Hope that answers your question. You will never get a stright milage answer as it is different with everyone's driving habit.

 

Thanks guys, the reason I "think" my driving is easy is because I accelerate slowly and smoothly, and stay at that speed crusing along the traffic. Most of my speed is at 80 and I usually slow down within minutes from 85 and rarely get to 90 really. But I do get stuck on the bridge once in a while. When I drive at 85 the rpm is at exactly 35k. Oh, the engine oil I use is Mobil 1 5W30 and Honda OEM filter.

Also, I just came back from a 60000 mile service from the factory and aafter 4000miles my regular oil is still only lightly browned, it was still clear at 3000 miles, so I guess according to the kind of driving I would probably be fine. But as you say, it is not really about saving $ but the inconvenient to take out a morning to jack up the car and change the filter and oil, but I am paranoid to let others to change my oil, because last time they added 1 extra quart and good thing I caught it before I leave the shop.

 

I'm just stating what I do w/ my own car (this is just my maintenance/routine schedule.. not based on anythng scientific)... but I think even if the synthetic oil can keep up the oil filter might not be able to go for 10K and be able to filter all the harmful particles efficiently and effectively...the best oil and oil filter are the ones changed at proper maintenance intervals.. I do mine every 3K...

anyway I use Mobil 1 5W-30 (or 10W-30 sometimes because thats what my local Costco carries) and either a Mobil 1, STP, Bosch, or Purolator Pure One or OEM filter... I change my oil every 3K.. even though its synthetic and I'm using good quality filters.. also I drive pretty hard and I know it and I live in So Cal/La area so there is a lot of stop and go traffic.. it doesn't cost much (~$20 synthetic oil and filter) or take much time (~15-20 mins).. so I'd rather do it every 3K and treat my car well than to lag and save 20 mins and let the oil get old, dirty or sludge up, etc..

since I do my own oil and filter changes (along w/ all the other maintenances) it really doesn't cost to much and to me its peace of mind.. also it doesnt take that much time (about 20 mins).. which is less time spent than if I were to take it to somewhere to get it changed (cheaper too).. because then I would have to drive to the place, wait for them to do the service write up, get to my car, perform the change, and drive back home.. in less time I can have my car jacked up, raised on stands, drain the oil while its draining remove the oil filter and put a new one on.. by then the oil is drained out of the drain pan.. then put back the plug, new washer and new oil.. takes me about 15-20 minutes...

I went to college in Nor Cal and would visit my ex gf in So Cal (400+ miles) every weekend.. I used to change my oil every 3-4 weeks Lolz...

 

by the way you drive and your driving habits, sounds like it wouldn't be so bad changing your oil at those intervals. lots of people here run their cars hard, so, your intervals seem a little long for their standards... just make sure that the oil level is maintained during those intervals, and top off as needed--you should be good to go.

 

Maybe N/A, but not a good idea with forced induction.

 

Check your manual. On the owner's website, all honda's and acura's 97+ are recommended to change oil at least every 7500 miles under normal driving. The new Civic's recommend at 10k believe it or not. Under extreme conditions do you revert back to the 3000 mile interval. What is the difference? Well if you drive mostly in city, stop and go. Or you are the old lady who drives to the grocery store once a week, then you should follow the 3000 mile schedule. If you drive some city, mostly highway longer than 10 minutes then you can stick with the normal intervals.

Oh yeah checking the color of your oil is not a good indication of anything because oil's come with additives to loosen deposits on the insides. So sometimes its good if it comes out black because it means the oil is doing its job of cleaning, it doesn't mean it ran out of the properties that lubricate the engine. Contrary if it comes out still clear, could mean it's not cleaning very well.


[Modified by Red GSR, 9:58 AM 7/9/2002]

 

I think your good to go 5k miles. Especially considering you dont beat on your car much. I beat on mine all the time but I stil try to change my oil every 3k. But I dont freak out if its like 3.5k. I use synthetic also.

Doesnt the Integra manual even say somehting weird like change it every 7500 or something?

 

Yeah, the manual say 7500 under normal driving condition, but that is for regular oil right? I heard from amsoil and mobil1 that their oil is designed to run for 12500 to 25000 miles, but still recommend 7500 (maybe to avoid legal problems if something happen?).

 

just curious, Is it a good idea to use synthetic oil in new cars (brand new) all the time summer and winter? What are the disadvantages beside high cost of synthetic oil?

 

For newer car there isn't any disadvantage of synthetic other than higher cost. Some people with oil leak found synthetic to leak faster so they switch to a thicker oil or reg oil.

 

Damn... was getting all happy there for a second....

 

synthetic will last longer but i dunno if id go 10 thats kinda long....id do it every 7

 

I belive Synthetic is just made to resist oil breakdown better than a non-synthetic. I'm with gsrracerboi with the fact that if you can change your own oil, Mobil-1 with OEM Honda Blue (or hamp!!) oil filter every 3k (or 5000km) is the best thing you can do for your car.

Long driving periods, winter driving etc. is all considered under the harsh conditions section on the owners manual (so change water pump/timing belt every 37k etc..)

-Rage