How often do you change your oil?

[D'z Nutz]

This weekend I gave my car its second oil change (ever) at just under 19K. The first one was about the 9K mark if I recall correctly. I've always been a "two oil changes a year" type of guy, irregardless of how much driving I do: once at the start of the spring and another just before winter. My dad's been an "every 3000mi/5000km oil change" guy, but I've always thought of that as a little excessive. Maybe it's because I think it's inconvenient to do it so frequently. Maybe it's because I'm cheap. Or maybe I like to think in the last 40+ years research and development's come along enough that the old 3000mi/5000km rule of thumb our parents had no longer applies.

So I'm curious; how often do you guys (and gals) change your oil?

I'm sure some of you follow the 3000mi/5000km rule (some maybe even 3000km), others just what the manual tells you, and some neither. I was doing some Googling on the topic and found this interesting article:

Consumer Rant – Oil Change Interval (http://skepticblog.org/2009/02/22/oilchange-rant/)

It's a lengthy read, but interesting nonetheless. I was especially surprised at the part that said different parts of the world had different suggested intervals for the same vehicle and when he sent his oil samples in for testing.

And for the record: I am not a car guy, nor do I claim to know the inner workings and mechanics of a car to any expert level.


(Waiting for BCS to post that BMW link in, 5... 4... 3... 2...)

[Jynx]

My mechanic says 10k max but my BMW oil change indicator says 20-24k... No idea what is actually right so I just go with the 10k to be safe.

[Sentry]

5000km, or sooner if it's dark as hell.

[Disoblige]

Originally posted by Sentry
5000km, or sooner if it's dark as hell.

:werd: 5000 always on the Z, but I could go 6000 on the Honda.

5000 seems to be too soon for the Honda.

[v2kai]

used to follow the 5K rule pretty religiously. since reading articles about the subject a while back, I'm now around the 10K mark per change usually.

on a completely unrelated side note irregardless.... preeeetty sure it's not a word. as it is actually a double negative making what you meant to say regarding how much driving you do?:dunno:


:poosie: Irregardless is an informal term meaning regardless or irrespective, which has caused controversy since it first appeared in the early twentieth century. Most dictionaries list it as "incorrect" or "nonstandard".:hijack:

[2Valve0]

Originally posted by v2kai
used to follow the 5K rule pretty religiously. since reading articles about the subject a while back, I'm now around the 10K mark per change usually.

on a completely unrelated side note irregardless.... preeeetty sure it's not a word. as it is actually a double negative making what you meant to say regarding how much driving you do?:dunno:


:poosie: Irregardless is an informal term meaning regardless or irrespective, which has caused controversy since it first appeared in the early twentieth century. Most dictionaries list it as "incorrect" or "nonstandard".:hijack:

Get a life and GTFO.

I follow the 5k rule most of the time but sometimes and lazy and can go up around 7

[JordanAndrew]

My manual says to change the oil every 8,000km or 4 months. I don't do that much driving so even after 4 months I'm still only around 5500-6000km so I end up still following the 5K rule.

When I had my prelude I also followed the 5K rule or 3 months, whichever came first.

[derpderp]

Every 5000 miles on fully synthetic, which is around 8000km (My car is in miles, so I follow miles.)

[TomcoPDR]

I've notice my oil gets dark around 5-6k... I tried going to the 8-10k mark, but when I changed it that shit disgusted me. :barf:

Where's that forum link with the BMW owner who's NEVER EVER changed his oil.

[Rat Fink]

.

[heavyD]

FYI: Oil color has nothing to do with the quality of oil. If you are using that as an indicator you may be wasting money. Obviously if it's thick and black it's been in there too long but dark brown is completely normal and a sign the oil is doing it's job.

[Neil4Speed]

I am pretty strict to about 5000km, last time I went to about 6000k, but I always use synthetic, it wasn't really very dark when I changed it.

I got to say that I think that 5k is excessive, but it keeps my mind at peace, so I Will keep doing it

:)

[Dj_Stylz]

I try and stay between 5000-6000

[AndyL]

Depends on what I'm doing to some extent... 95% of the time I'm going with the old 5000km/3month rule...

The rest of the time, when I'm packing on the mileage - typically I wont stress about the km's as much as the look - and often will change the filter only at 5000km; just for piece of mind...

Got the amsoil bypass oil filter setup for the toyota - will have to re-examine my thinking for that one... No intention to run synthetic in the turbo diesel, but that oil should remain clean as a whistle. Probably continue on with my cheap oil use, and 5000km/3month rules... (or in the toyota's case a change after every 4x4'ing trip that includes water).

[Pollywog]

My previous vehicles that were running dino-oil were getting changed every 3000-5000, and my benz gets a change every 15,000.

[YamahaV8]

There is no option for the appearance interval. I change my oil on the basis of color. When my oil is a dark brown at operating temperature I change my oil. On my 99 civic I use a synthetic like Mobil 1 or syntec and I usually get 7-8k before I feel the need to change.

[R!zz0]

I use to do it every month...Yes every month.
Now since i have 4 cars, i have gotten really lazy and do it every 3K

[Sentry]

Originally posted by heavyD
FYI: Oil color has nothing to do with the quality of oil. If you are using that as an indicator you may be wasting money. Obviously if it's thick and black it's been in there too long but dark brown is completely normal and a sign the oil is doing it's job.
Yeah, brown, not black. If I can't see the dipstick through the oil it's probably time to change it.

[beyond_ban]

I usually change it myself at around 5000km. On a side note, does anyone know of a place in the NW that offers Royal Purple?

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally posted by D'z Nutz



(Waiting for BCS to post that BMW link in, 5... 4... 3... 2...)

Well, you don't drive a BMW, now do you? So I guess you're stuck doing oil changes like the rest of us plebs. :D

For me, I mostly go by the factory service manual, which recommends every 12,000km on dino oil. So, I generally do it whenever I have time between 10,000 and 12,000km.

[Skyline_Addict]

I agree that it's very dependant on the type/frequency of usage that the car gets.

For my daily driver, I follow the in-car maintenance minder which tends to recommend a change every 7000-8000km based on the type of driving I do with it (just a commuter car). This is for the 2007 Honda Fit.

The s2000 will get an oil change after every track day I do, so it can be as little as 1000-3000 km during track season, as I do leisurely drive the car when not tracking. If I didn't track, I would probably change every 5000km. Of course, while the car sits for the winter, it would have already had its pre-winter oil change and the oil won't be changed till the next spring/summer season.

[Redlyne_mr2]

Every track day for the MR, every 8000km on synthetic for the DD.

[Zero102]

Here is my answer:
Under warranty? Exactly as the book says, every time. Saving $30 every 5000km is not worth having a warranty claim denied.

Out of warranty? As UOA indicates. After break-in I only run synthetic oils in my cars and for the most part UOA indicates I need to change between 16,000 and 25,000km depending on driving conditions. If I keep a car long enough to work out the exact right change interval I may stop doing UOA but that would take at least 10 change intervals and I haven't liked any one car enough to keep it for that long.

This method applies for daily-drivers only, not for track cars.


Changing the filter at 5k for peace of mind is pointless. The filters will last 20,000-30,000km or more if you buy decent filters (hell, even a Fram should last more than 10,000km) before they show any measurable restriction or reduction in filtering ability. Change it when you change the oil.


For anybody who is uncertain about the best way to maintain their engines in regards to oil type, change interval or specifications, head over to bob is the oil guy and read through their site/forums. Your mind will melt, but you will know more than ever.

[Tomaz]

Every 8000km on the Mazda, 4000-5000km with the Volvo. The more crap I keep floating around the engine, the better.

[npham]

Originally posted by beyond_ban
I usually change it myself at around 5000km. On a side note, does anyone know of a place in the NW that offers Royal Purple?

Mopac on 16th Ave near Centre Street has it. This is where I bought mine.

8000km or so on Royal Purple. I could probably push it further, but I don't want to chance it.

[benyl]

Once a year on the BMW.

haha, I am too cheap to do it sooner than what BMW will pay for.

First one on the benz I did at 3K kms with the rear diff oil change. I did another at 7.5K kms and will do the next at 15K km and every 7.5K kms there after.

Probably over kill given it takes 9L of Mobil 1 synthetic.

[Kennyredline]

I just changed mine on the weekend at 7600km. I last changed it last summer, so it's gone through the cold of winter. I'm glad that Castrol makes a 5-40 oil so I don't have to take the car to Mr. Lube and get ripped off.

[heavyD]

Originally posted by YamahaV8
There is no option for the appearance interval.

There is no option for appearance interval because there's no such thing. Appearance will tell you nothing about how much life is left in the oil.

[Aleks]

every 8,000kms on the Forester (or 2 times per year)
every 20,000kms on the BMW (or once per year)

[Pollywog]

Originally posted by heavyD


There is no option for appearance interval because there's no such thing. Appearance will tell you nothing about how much life is left in the oil.

:werd: , common misconception.

[Ashers]

16,000 KM on the Golf.
12,000 KM on anything running synthetic.
8,000 KM on anything with regular oil.
If it doesn't make it to that mileage within 1 year (IE, my dads S-Class), then I change it once a year. All the german cars with cartridge filters use OEM (MAHL for example), spin-on's are Purolator PureONE only.

[scat19]

8-10ish!

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

2000-3000km on my car and 5000km on our truck.

Every 4-10 rides on my ATV.

[benyl]

Originally posted by D'z Nutz

(Waiting for BCS to post that BMW link in, 5... 4... 3... 2...)

Where is that link... I can't find it.

[FiveFreshFish]

If your car burns or regularly leaks oil and you top it up, you're partially rejuvenating the remaining oil in crankcase. This can extend oil change intervals.

[Shlade]

4000-5000kms

6000kms MAX, New car or not, I like my oil clean

[BerserkerCatSplat]

Originally posted by benyl


Where is that link... I can't find it.

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/286811/60000-miles-between-oil-changes-is-ok-right/

[Tik-Tok]

Every 5000 km on the Audi... peace of mind, I know it doesn't need to be changed that often.

Once a year for the MR2 and winter beater, as they don't even get driven 5000km in a year.

[benyl]

Originally posted by BerserkerCatSplat


http://forums.beyond.ca/st/286811/60000-miles-between-oil-changes-is-ok-right/

hmm, that wasn't the one I was thinking of. I saw one where they compared two e46 M3s. One did the changes recommended by BMW (25K kms) and one did changes at half that mileage.

I will see if I can find it.

[dimi]

Depends on the oil you use and your driving habits. I do around 10-15K on the s2000 but during that time it probably burns a quart which

Oh yea and by the way, if you are going to say what oil you use, mention why, cause as far as I am concerned 90+% of people run a certain brand of oil due to the label/marketing/how cool the name sounds/claims.

[Bizzareo]

On my DD twice a year, last time I changed the oil it was only moderately black, I use castrol GTX (~$20 4/L), and I burn up approximately 1/4L.

On the family hot rods its like every 5000k - 6000k (depends on how much racing we do) . But this is only after the car has been broken in, we do like every 1500km for the first 40000km.

We use mobil synthec on our performance vehicles. Since our hot rods are 400whp, 510whp, and 510whp @ 10psi, we need to push a lot of oil through. This is the same stuff nascar uses. Our family friends use royal purple on there Bonneville car and they have broken two connecting rods in two years due to them not passing enough oil through the engine. Hopefully this year they listen to us and use the mobil...

[dimi]

Originally posted by Bizzareo

We use mobil synthec on our performance vehicles. Since our hot rods are 400whp, 510whp, and 510whp @ 10psi, we need to push a lot of oil through. This is the same stuff nascar uses. Our family friends use royal purple on there Bonneville car and they have broken two connecting rods in two years due to them not passing enough oil through the engine. Hopefully this year they listen to us and use the mobil...

You actually think that Nascar cars use the same off the shelf Mobil 1 that you put in your engine? :rofl: Can you say MARKETING!

[Rat Fink]

.

[Pollywog]

Originally posted by dimi


You actually think that Nascar cars use the same off the shelf Mobil 1 that you put in your engine? :rofl: Can you say MARKETING! Can you say "not far from the truth"? The only thing that differs between the Mobil1 Racing 0w30 and 0w50 I sell you and what is used in NASCAR vehicles is that certain teams have their oil slightly altered to their personal specifications but using basically the same formula. Formula One is a completely different story - the fluids are highly customized per application. Racing oil is all about high Zinc and Phosphorus content, both of which are detrimental to emissions requirements and hence the much lower content in conventional oils. I don't however see how any marketing has advertised the basic Mobil1 synthetic with being the same as what is used in NASCAR vehicles - but besides the point, it isn't much different from their readily available racing oils.


Originally posted by Rat Fink
Never cheap out on the filter. You can often get away with buying a lesser brand of oil.....but don't cheap out on the filter!!
QFT. WIX ftw - and before anyone says FRAM, you are a moron.

[FiveFreshFish]

Originally posted by Pollywog
0w50

0W50? Is this a specialty grade? I've never see it sold in stores.

[schocker]

about every 3000miles, so around 5k. Did 5w30 previously but tried 0w30 castrol syntec the latest time.

[Pollywog]

Originally posted by FiveFreshFish


0W50? Is this a specialty grade? I've never see it sold in stores.

0W50 is an available weight of synthetic oil from multiple manufacturers, but not commonly sought-after.

[benyl]

Some info for you N54 owners out there:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280168

[Zero102]

Originally posted by Rat Fink


Depends on the filter, but have you ever taken apart a Fram filter? We cut one apart at work before. The folded pleats in the filter are very cheap paper compared to other brands and where it gets to the bonded seam that most have....these fram filters were just folded over on itself. We cut a used one apart when one came into our shop and the fold had actually split open so there was a large amount of unfiltered oil circulating around in that engine.

Ford (and I'm sure other manufacturers as well) have documented cases of cheap filters deteriorating and plugging up oil passages leading to oil starvation in the top end of the engine and they won't warranty an engine that has blown because of this. (so much for Mr. Lube's warranty approved oil change LOL).

Never cheap out on the filter. You can often get away with buying a lesser brand of oil.....but don't cheap out on the filter!!


Allow me to clarify, Fram filters are of such horrible quality that they should not legally be allowed to print the words "oil filter" on the box, only "oil holder". Quite frankly they are shit. I haven't put one on any of my cars since I was 16, and I don't plan on ever having one on any of my vehicles again.

To restate my earlier post, any __DECENT__ filter should go no less than 20,000km without any measurable restriction or reduction in filtering ability. If you have a fram filter on your engine, it's longevity is in fate's hands no matter how often you change it.

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by schocker
about every 3000miles, so around 5k. Did 5w30 previously but tried 0w30 castrol syntec the latest time.

:thumbsup:

That's my favorite, it's also the only true synthetic castrol has in North America for the general public

[schocker]

Originally posted by Tik-Tok

That's my favorite, it's also the only true synthetic castrol has in North America for the general public
I got it after hearing about that and it went on sale at cdn tire for around $7/L so I picked up 5 bottles instead of my regular jug of 5w30.