With modern engines and oils, especially synthetics, 3000-mile is overrated. Personally I use synthetic blend oil at 5000, the spec for my Toyota.

I do my own so cost isn't a big issue and around 5000 miles. Probably overkill nowadays.
Mobil 1 and a high filtration Wix filter.

IMHO it’s not needed if your using full synthetic oil today. In the end it depends on the engine and oil.

I was going about 8000 in my old Acura TL but that had a J series engine that was well build. I was using Mobile One full synthetic.

My current car had a small turbo charged engine. Not a fan of these new little turbo engine but it’s what I have. I change the oil in that when it says to but that’s around 6000 which I’m comfortable with. I wouldn’t let that engine go as far.

BTW who has changed a car with 0w-20. OMG that stuff is like water and splashed all over and out of my oil catch pan I’ve used for years without issue until now.

I change our oil about every 3,000 miles ( once a year ) ... being retired we do not drive much any more.



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This message has been edited. Last edited by: old dino,

I usually change oil engine oil around 4K - 4.5K or every year what ever comes 1st. Having said that oil should be changed by hours and conditions of environment and oil sump capacity. 10K on the oil driving mostly in city areas is many more hours on the oil than mostly highway driving.

10,000 miles at 70 MPH average = 142.8 hours on engine oil.

10,000 miles at 37 MPH average = 270 hours on engine oil. 37 MPH is typical average for my vehicle's

10,000 miles at 21 MPH average = 476 hours on engine oil.

Seasonally. In the fall, then in spring. Probably overkill, since my owner's manual calls for yearly or 10K miles.

quote:

Originally posted by taguin:
2019 toyota prius awd e
0W-16 TGMO & toyota factory oil filter.
Oil looked like espresso at 3K.

Something must be wrong for it to look like espresso.

I know of a 2010 prius with 150k miles, 6k oil changes and the oil ALWAYS looks brand new!

three things come into pay. Mileage, how hard you've driven it and time. No matter what my driving mileage is I balance it with duty. Towing, off-roading, short trips vs a bit of highway driving etc. Most people know if they are pushing their engine. So, 5000 miles for the heavy users, and 10,000 miles for those that Drive like a grandma (me). You want to change at 3000 like old protocol, go for it. You.re not hurting anything except maybe you're wallet

Of course it can't hurt . It's a huge waste of money , but it's your money to waste . Nissan recommends 5k for my truck . After it's out of warranty I'm going to stretch that to at least 6k .

I’m a 5k on Amsoil OE line oil.
Both vehicles “call” for 0w-20 in the states. Almost all other locations they call for 5w-30 I swapped to 5w-30 and both are SO much more quieter. Especially the Suburban.

quote:

Originally posted by Chowser:

I use FCP Euro to buy the oil so after the first initial purchase, all oil is free with their return program, so an oil change is just the cost of a filter and time for us.

Please explain further.
I am reading their site and wondering how this is possible.
I will gladly switch from Amsoil to LuqiMoli is this is legit.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
Please explain further.

I have only done it for oil. It was mainly a local thing but with paypal free return shipping, I decided to try it.

I buy my stuff from fcp with paypal to take advantage of the free return shipping.

I haven't tried it with brake pads or filters or anything else, but it's supposed to work?
I've only done it with oil.

First purchase is on you. Save the bottles.
Make sure you have an account at fcp so you can reference it later.

When it's almost time again to change the oil, order the new oil. After it gets there, change your oil and put the used oil back in the containers you just got. Log in to your account and start a return, select the oil you just bought now. They'll give you something to print out and put in the package with the used oil.

I like to tape the lids shut and then put the bottles in a sealed bag in case of damage or leaks. Box everything up. Log in to paypal and do the return shipping. Print label. Take everything to get shipped. In about a week, FCP will refund that oil purchase to you.

I've been doing it for over a year now.
They don't have filters for my daughter's Subaru so I haven't tried a filter return. I actually bought a bunch of filters for her car and my car off before kmart/sears closed up while it was on clearance.

Both our cars take 0W20 so it was easy to buy for both cars from them.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/page/lifetime-guarantee


Before I knew about paypal's return shipping, it would cost me $19 to ship it back via USPS large flat rate box.

3,000 is way outdated IMO

That was from the era of regular oil and when cars only made it to 100,000 if that.

I just go by what my car’s manual says. Currently get mine changed at 6,000 but have owned cars that were 7,500

I once owned a Mini Cooper S that had 10,000 mile oil change intervals.

I fall in the 5k camp too.

I used to do it per the manual every 2,500 miles and that was with regular oil. It was a Mazda GLC.

After that car, it was every 5,000 miles. Past 100,000 miles, I go every 10,000 miles or every year whichever comes first.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:

Both vehicles “call” for 0w-20 in the states. Almost all other locations they call for 5w-30 I swapped to 5w-30 and both are SO much more quieter. Especially the Suburban.

I did the same with my Subaru. It is much quieter, and less oil consumption. There are some long downhills on the interstate, like 7 miles long, where the engine turns 3000 rpm at idle throttle. High vacuum which sucks the oil past the rings.

My older rigs I just spin a new filter on once in a while.
They get topped off enough it's pretty much always fresh.

My newest car just went over 5K with 30% oil life to go.
Usually hits 5% around 7500 miles.
Oil always looks good, 0-20 wt oil.

I've followed posts on drive accord where people have sent in oil samples at the 0% mark and the oil is still good.

When I used to drive my Prelude a lot, I changed it at 3K, but then used the same oil in my work van for 3K too. Talk about Scrooge!

Last truck I had I sent oil in for analysis every other oil change till 95,000. At 20,000 that became 20,000 intervals. Each time the oil was considered good for longer service. The last sample was deemed the best of them all, lab figured I could wait till 15,000 miles. 5 liter Ford Coyote driven interstate miles.

New 3.5 Ecoboost started same sampling regime. 7500 miles is about like 12,000 in the Coyote as far as oil life goes. I’m dropping it at 5000 miles.

The point? Send your oil in and get it tested. $40 and you’ll know for a fact, Im happy for the peace of mind.

3k is way to soon. If your an average driver 5k to 7,500k is good and with synthetic oil you could go a little longer.
With modern engines no one is going to shorten the life of an engine because they went to 5k instead of 3k.

I change the oil in my 4Runner every 5k with full synthetic. The vehicle is a dinosaur technology wise and I know I can go 10k, but I plan on keeping it until the hippies outlaw it.