Synthetic Engine Oil

[YellowSubmarine]

When Mobile introduced Mobile-1 in the late 70s it was much more costly than organic oil. The advantage that was touted...it does not break down and you can drive 25,000 miles between oil changes. The only caveat is the oil filter needs to be changed on factory required intervals -typically 5-10k miles per mfg. Yes, the oil still gets dirty but the filter takes care of that aspect. In recent years most folks ascribe to the synthetic oil but continue the conventional oil changes interval of 5-10k miles. Personally, I change my filter annually at 6-8k miles; but change the oil every other year at 12-15k miles. I do it myself and I know it was done correctly with 100% synthetic. What's your thoughts...do you stay with the traditional oil change interval? I know some folks doing the change every 3k miles. Also some cars signal with a dash light when oil needs replaced. I doubt the sensing mechanism measure anything but time elapse between last change... but not sure. Any mechanic care to weigh in?

 

[HighFlight]

We are a Toyota/Lexus family (2 4Runners, 1 GX460)-I change the oil in all three every 7500 miles (+/-) along with the filter (use Toyota filters), using Kirkland 0W-20 full synthetic. Our intent is that our trucks will make it to 250,000 miles, at least. I hope my 2019 GX460 makes it to 400K. We put between 13K-20K miles annually on each vehicle so I think my change interval is a reasonable compromise.

 

[Car-Guy]

What oil and filters to use and how often to change them is like talking about politics, religion, guns, etc.... Everyone has an opinion on what is best. For for me, I change my oil every 5k miles and filters every 10k miles. I do use premium synthetic oils (Mobil1 or Pennzoil Ultra) and premium filters. I do the same for my regular new cars/trucks and my performance vehicles. Never had an engine problem with any of them. YMMV

However back in the day, when we used leaded gas, non synthetic oils and poorer quality filters, I changed both a lot more often.

 

[zinger1457]

Seems like the last few vehicles (Toyota/Hyundai) I've owned the manufacturers oil change interval (8-10K miles) is based on and required the use of synthetic motor oil.

 

[REWahoo]

Our Toyota hybrid uses 0w16 full synthetic, which for you Monty Python fans, is like making love in a canoe. I change it and the filter every 5,000 miles or 9 months, whichever comes first.

On our other car, I'm going to see how many miles I can get out of it without ever changing the oil or filter.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I should mention that my driving is mostly open highway and not dusty side roads. Also, the victim is a '16 Subaru Outback with 65,ooo miles..

 

[frank]

I change the oil and filters in my rav4 and prius every 10k miles have it done at the dealer so I hope they are using toyota oil and filter. so far have had no problems. I also do not drive on gravel roads and I assume that makes a difference.

 

[tutan]

Is it not a big mess to remove the oil filter without draining the oil first? I never tried with the Toyota, Honda, and Kia we’ve owned. Or the oil pools below the filter when engine is off? The exception was my 82 Mercedes 240D with the filter located on top just beneath the hood.

 

[frank05]

Change mine as per manufacturer every 10k engine miles using synthetic. Since its is a PHEV, I actually get 20k between changes since I get about10k on electric.

 

[tfudtuckerpucker]

Like Car-guy says, there are lots of opinions about oil change intervals. A couple of comments-

1- many newer cars are turbo-charged, and are lubed and cooled by engine oil. They spin at very high speeds, and the engine oil will reach much higher temperatures. This will affect oil life. That's why it's not a good idea to exceed the recommendations. Personally, I would change at 5K, unless I rarely used the turbo. Newer non-turbo cars can go longer, in many cases, but I would never exceed the recommendations. Oil is cheap, engines are expensive.

2- car manufacturers use extended oil change recommendations as a selling bullet, so there's already pressure to maximize that as much as possible. Also, the engine warranties end after 36K - 100K miles. It doesn't matter to them after that. You can gamble, but you could lose.

 

[pacergal]

We change ours approximately every 5000 miles.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

Is it not a big mess to remove the oil filter without draining the oil first? I never tried with the Toyota, Honda, and Kia we’ve owned. Or the oil pools below the filter when engine is off? The exception was my 82 Mercedes 240D with the filter located on top just beneath the hood.

Subaru has the filter as you described...right under the hood, so easy to replace. Draining the oil can be a mess. I use a large sheet of cardboard and lots of rags on hand just in case I miss the drain pan. I have a 50% chance of a clean job; but I am ready for the other half.

 

[Pointby2]

I didn't know it was possible to change just the filter without draining all the oil. I used to change my own oil, and when you undo the filter the oil comes gushing out too.

My current car is a highly stressed four banger with a big turbo. It gets fully synthetic oil that is changed yearly with about 2,000 miles or so on it.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

Since there's not much cost difference, synthetic oil in all our cars.

Change both oil and filter every 5-6k miles, or every 12 months, whichever comes first.

I do all the cars myself, so it's only about $30 per car. One of the car's only had a couple hundred miles after 12 months, but it still gets changed then. $30/year is cheap insurance against engine repairs.

 

[latexman]

Synthetic oil and filters are changed every 10k or 12 months.

 

[jazz4cash]

I worked on the oil life monitor systems for hydraulic systems. Most use time or miles plus speed and temperature to estimate oil life but a few have turbidity sensors as well. When we introduced full synthetic fluids to our products we estimated double the life (at 4x cost) based early field testing. More testing revealed the fluid life was more than 5x so it was actually cheaper than conventional fluid with many additional benefits including disposal expense and product performance. I change fluid and filter in the 15% oil life range or every 12 months. My 1988 hobby car uses Mobil1 and I change it every 2 years which I don’t recommend but I put <10k miles on it in 15yrs.

 

[38Chevy454]

As said, synthetic oils are better and are now most common. It's hard to find a pure conventional oil anymore, the cheapest are blends. As to change intervals I DIY, so I just use 5K oil and filter. It's cheap and easy insurance. Synthetic oil with premium filters.

Now on my old classic vehicles, they go 2-3K, and not time based. Could be 3-4 years between changes. Stored inside and when driven they get up to full temp.

 

[Out of Steam]

What oil and filters to use and how often to change them is like talking about politics, religion, guns, etc.... Everyone has an opinion on what is best.

A visit to the Bob is the Oil Guy forum will provide discussion in unimaginable detail. I say that as someone who worked in this field for a few years early in my career.

Lake Speed, Jr. is a lubrication engineer who provides good information on this by YouTube. If his name is familiar, it's probably because his father was a NASCAR driver in the 1980s and 90s.

 

[SnowballCamper]

This thread reminds me of the Slick-50 display tractor at the county fair, running for hours with no oil and the glass jar with no oil filter where it should be. When I did my own oil changes, I used synthetic for the 5000 mile interval instead of the 3000 with conventional oil. Many manufacturers call for synthetic now, and the API oil ratings continue to improve.

 

[Gallaher]

As said, synthetic oils are better and are now most common. It's hard to find a pure conventional oil anymore, the cheapest are blends. As to change intervals I DIY, so I just use 5K oil and filter. It's cheap and easy insurance. Synthetic oil with premium filters.


This exactly. I don’t know about changing the filter and letting oil go longer. But I do know changing both more frequent is not harmful. Sure, cost a bit but good insurance.
Also notable, oil sure looks grungy after 5-7k miles.

 

[38Chevy454]

For those wondering about changing the filter only and why the rest of oil doesn't come out. The answer is because the filter is after the oil pump. The oil pump keeps any more oil than what's in the filter and minuscule amount in oil passages post filter from draining out. Plus most filters are above the sump oil level anyway.

So if you change just the filter, all you have to replace with new oil is the capacity of the filter, typically 1 quart or less.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

I didn't know it was possible to change just the filter without draining all the oil. I used to change my own oil, and when you undo the filter the oil comes gushing out too.

My current car is a highly stressed four banger with a big turbo. It gets fully synthetic oil that is changed yearly with about 2,000 miles or so on it.

Loose about a quart to quart and a half when changing out the filter. The only exception I know is the old VW Beetle where the filter is a metal basket and part of the drain procedure.

 

[aja8888]

When I drove diesels, I changed the oil every 10,000 miles (with filter) using the correct oil to neutralize the SO2 build up in the crankcase. Driving a conventional 4 cylinder with a turbo and overhead camshafts, I used the recommended 0W 20 synthetic and follow the manufacturer's 7,500 mile intervals. Easy peasy!

When I had my last Vette years ago, and it was a monster, I was more anal about which oil and length of service intervals.

When I drive the EV, I look for places to charge.

 

[bada bing]

I do the oil changes on 5 autos. I keep an Outback in Arizona, a Tundra in Alaska and a Camry at DGF's in Oregon. She has an Escalade in Oregon and a CR-V in Tucson. I change them all yearly, which works out to ~5K miles each. I like Pennzoil Platinum oil. No particular reason, I like the yellow jug.

I'm a "buy new and drive until it dies" type. DGF isn't a full convert to that line of thinking. If you keep autos for a lot of miles/years, it's worth keeping up on all the fluid change intervals that happen at multi-year marks. In particular, the manufacturer's idea of permanent transmission fluid is stupid. I change them all every 3 years. Coolant is another that gets forgotten, but can bite you after the years pile up.

 

[Jerry1]

I change mine every 5K miles or annually. On my truck, that’s about two oil changes per year and on our suv, it’s once per year. I use a full synthetic and view it as simply a basic maintenance item that just goes along with owning the vehicle.