POLL: The ultimate "how often do you change your oil" survey.

[prontospyder]

My family's cars:

Chrysler Van - every 3000 miles with Castrol dino oil
Dodge Intrepid - every 3000 miles with Valvoline Maxlife
Nissan - changed it at 1000 miles, then every 3000 miles with Valvoline dino oil, and I will switch it to Mobil 1 synthetic after 7000 miles on the odometer. Will then change the oil every 4000 miles.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: Tominator

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
on the BMW my brother does 12000 mile rotations.. well this was before the car crossed 100K.. now he does 12000 mile BMW oil service (technically he is to check and top off at 6000 but he does a minor oil change at EasyLube at 6000).

If he doesnt do it you can feel the power difference when you inch to 10K.. BMW uses Mobil1 on the car.. its synth.. and they do something else to it too .. it comes back smooth.. the easy lube place is just for making sure the engine lasts.. plus its only 25 bucks...

for the GS500 I do it something between 1500-2000 miles. Basically once in spring and once in fall. I am due for an oil change in a few days.. I crossed 3K and have done past 1600 miles on it. But I am reluctant to do so because its running sooo smooth.. oh well I have to do it.. suck it up and do it.

Its more needed for me in winter because I ride all year.. I ride during the rainy season too.. so I need to do my oil change.. I am a HardCore Biker.

Sorry, but thinking a car can gain measurable power, let alone power you can feel, through a oil change is all in your mind....

Actually I have to disagree. I know a guy who used to be a spring and shock man for several NASCAR teams. Any hi-performance engine can lose or pick up HP with different types of oil. I too always rolled my eyes at the thought of picking up or gaining any power with different types of oil. He then showed me postcards and letters from several different Winston Cup drivers thanking him for their suspension set-up and they also went on to say that his oil recommendations made a difference in power and longevity and power. He perfers Redline Synthetic Motor Oil. I was using Mobil 1 and he convinced me to switch. It seems that the guy who started the Mobil 1 synthetic program left Mobil 1 to create Redline.

FWIW

 

[Vic]

The owners manual for my car calls for 7,500 mile oil changes uses regular oil, so I do it every 6,000 with synthetic and figure I'm more than good. Hell, it never burns any, not one single drop, and the oil is still practically fresh at every change.
I agree with Amused on this. Every 3,000 miles is a total scam to sell oil and oil changes. Follow your owners manual, not some crooked oil change place that doesn't even hire certified technicians/mechanics.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: PSYWVic
The owners manual for my car calls for 7,500 mile oil changes uses regular oil, so I do it every 6,000 with synthetic and figure I'm more than good. Hell, it never burns any, not one single drop, and the oil is still practically fresh at every change.
I agree with Amused on this. Every 3,000 miles is a total scam to sell oil and oil changes. Follow your owners manual, not some crooked oil change place that doesn't even hire certified technicians/mechanics.

I don't go to the quick lube places anyway. My engine builder recommended 1500 mile changes with full synthetic. It varys on vehicles but I wouldn't go over 5000 on any engine. The price of oil and filter isn't that expensive when you compare it to a new engine.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Millenium

I know a guy who used to be a spring and shock man for several NASCAR teams... ...postcards and letters from several different Winston Cup drivers thanking him for their suspension set-up...
FWIW

:Q nascars have suspensions!?!

 

[StageLeft]

I was doing quick oil changes at the nissan dealership but realized that not only is $25 more than the $10 I can do it for myself, but also when I do it I know it's being done properly - last time I got it done they overfilled badly by probably around a quart I'd estimate, and an overfill is not good. This was at nissan as well. The manual specifies 3 quarts and 3 puts it dead on the full mark, but they overfilled quite a lot.

 

[ohtwell]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I was doing quick oil changes at the nissan dealership but realized that not only is $25 more than the $10 I can do it for myself, but also when I do it I know it's being done properly - last time I got it done they overfilled badly by probably around a quart I'd estimate, and an overfill is not good. This was at nissan as well. The manual specifies 3 quarts and 3 puts it dead on the full mark, but they overfilled quite a lot.

I can go kick them in the noots for you if you want.


: ) Amanda

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: ohtwell

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I was doing quick oil changes at the nissan dealership but realized that not only is $25 more than the $10 I can do it for myself, but also when I do it I know it's being done properly - last time I got it done they overfilled badly by probably around a quart I'd estimate, and an overfill is not good. This was at nissan as well. The manual specifies 3 quarts and 3 puts it dead on the full mark, but they overfilled quite a lot.

I can go kick them in the noots for you if you want.


: ) Amanda

Good idea. They cant hit back.

Skoorb- My integra takes 3.2 qts. It takes 4 to get to the full level on the dipstick. The japs surea are interesting.

-PAB

 

[FoBoT]

you should have put a 2500-3500 option, i try to change it close to 3000, but usually go a little over or under

 

[StageLeft]

Skoorb- My integra takes 3.2 qts. It takes 4 to get to the full level on the dipstick. The japs surea are interesting.

-PAB

That's cause you bought an integra. In mine 3 quarts like the manual says makes it dead on the H mark!!

 

[Electric Amish]

Unfortunately I don't track the time or mileage as well as I should, so I just change it when I get the urge.

I usually use synthetic, or a blend.

Amish

 

[fastz28]

Truck - dino oil, changes whenever the light says, usually around 5k
Car - Mobil 1, every 1k or a year, whichever comes first. I usually drive it around 1-2k miles a year.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: PsychoAndyGood idea. They cant hit back.

Skoorb- My integra takes 3.2 qts. It takes 4 to get to the full level on the dipstick. The japs surea are interesting.

-PAB

eh? My Integra GSR manual says 4.25 quarts and that's exactly what it takes.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: PSYWVic

Originally posted by: PsychoAndyGood idea. They cant hit back.

Skoorb- My integra takes 3.2 qts. It takes 4 to get to the full level on the dipstick. The japs surea are interesting.

-PAB

eh? My Integra GSR manual says 4.25 quarts and that's exactly what it takes.

I have no clue why. The block says 3.2 and the dipstick says otherwise....hey, I have PM's!

-PAB

 

[ultimatebob]

I heard that BMW's have a light that goes on whenever it needs an oil change, and that they average 10,000 miles between changes with synthetic oil. Is this true, or was this guy pulling my leg?

 

[kduncan5]

I only have 800 miles on my Saturn SC2 so far, but the manual recommends regular 10w30 at 3000 mi., or when the sensor tells me it's broken down & needs changed..... -kd5-

 

[cbuchach]

I usually never make it to the specified mile amount so always change according to the time interval. So I get my oil changed with the cheapest oil every 3-4 months.

 

[RambleOn]

94 Chevy Corsica 3.1v6, 84k miles- Oil change every 4000-5000miles - Havoline Full Synthetic 5w-30

 

[woodie1]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
I heard that BMW's have a light that goes on whenever it needs an oil change, and that they average 10,000 miles between changes with synthetic oil. Is this true, or was this guy pulling my leg?

This is true. Also, Audi, Mercedes and a few others have this feature.

 

[wyvrn]

I drive mostly highway miles, so manual says every 7500 miles. But I change it every 4000 because of heat in Texas.