Conventional Oil only lasts 3K miles and Synthetic lasts 7.5K?

[DPsSube3]

Well, I worked for Mobil Oil when Mobil 1 was developed. We used two test fleets.... Took the engines apart in each fleet and measured all engine tolerances related to oil wear affected parts before the beginning of the test. Both fleets of cars were driven for 100,000 miles. The Mobil 1 test fleet did NOT have the oil changed for 100,000 miles, BUT the filter was changed every 3,000 miles and the filter oil loss was added. The other test fleet of cars with conventional oil had the oil and filter changed every 3,000 miles. Every 3,000 miles the engines in both test fleets were torn down and measured. After 100,000 miles the Mobil 1 fleet showed less wear than the conventional oil fleet showed after 3,000 miles.

Since the mid 70's I have only used synthetic oil in my cars. I have never had an engine problem. I have always changed to synthetic at 3,000 miles and then followed the car company interval which ranges from 3,000 miles to 15,000 miles (BMW). Subaru has gone to synthetic oil in the 2013 Outback. On a new Outback they want the oil and filter changed at 3,000 miles and then 7,500 mile intervals. With synthetic oil one can go beyond the change interval without too much worry. Note that the filter size on the new 2013 Outback is fairly small, which is why I would not extend out the interval. If you ever saw a BMW oil filter you would recognize why they are able to push out the interval to 15,000 miles.

I would not recommend synthetic oil on an older car where conventional oil has been used for multiple years.... The engine wear is already done. Synthetic oil will have little benefit and if anything may show up as leaks in the gasket areas etc....

My 2 cents worth... I hope this helps...

[jogosub]

In Germany and elsewhere in EU the price of oil and gasoline is appx twice or 3 times more than here, depending on country. Oh well, those thrifty Europeans....

[Hudsoner]

Originally Posted by Looby

OTOH, Soobie of Germany sez 15,000 km (= 9320 miles):

It seems to me that the German air and the high speed driving on the Autobahn must be better for engines than it is here in the US.

Volkswagen in Germany recommends to follow the internal oil change indicator, which, by most vehicles there recommend oil changes between 15000 or 18000 miles. For the US, the indicator is disabled and VWoA recommends oil changes every 10000 miles. Pressed by some German car magazines to explain the difference, VW said they do this to bring a little more business into their US dealers.

Maybe that Subaru has a similar reason?

[Looby]

Originally Posted by jogosub

In Germany and elsewhere in EU the price of oil and gasoline is
appx twice or 3 times more than here, depending on country.
Oh well, those thrifty Europeans....

OTOH, those "thrifty Europeans" would be unlikely to skimp
on routine maintenance for their $50,000 - $65,000 Outbacks.

Yep, much higher fuel prices -- due MAINLY to higher taxes --
for useless things like good roads, universal health care, top
quality public schools, free or nearly free university education,
paid maternity leave, pensions, etc., etc..

...you pay for what you get,

Looby

[subiesailor]

Originally Posted by Looby

OTOH, those "thrifty Europeans" would be unlikely to skimp
on routine maintenance for their $50,000 - $65,000 Outbacks.

Yep, much higher fuel prices -- due MAINLY to higher taxes --
for useless things like good roads, universal health care, top
quality public schools, free or nearly free university education,
paid maternity leave, pensions, etc., etc..

...you pay for what you get,

Looby

;-) LOL

We drive a crap load more here in the States and regardless of the Autobaun they for the most part don't drive anywhere as fast as we do here in the states. Christ there isn't a place in all of Europe where you can drive nearly 1700 miles non stop at 70+mph - but CA Through Colorado people do it every day.

[jogosub]

Originally Posted by subiesailor

;-) LOL

We drive a crap load more here in the States and regardless of the Autobaun they for the most part don't drive anywhere as fast as we do here in the states. Christ there isn't a place in all of Europe where you can drive nearly 1700 miles non stop at 70+mph - but CA Through Colorado people do it every day.

That's true. I order to drive real fast in EU, you have to chose the country. In Germany, you could do it only at 2 or 3 am...and be way up North otherwise you always have moderate to heavy traffic and what they call "stau" (gridlock). Anywhere South of Frankfurt, you can forget about driving fast. Autobahns there are "infested" with Dutch tourists hauling their overloaded RVs going camping to Southern EU - those Dutch drive like most folks drive in Palm Springs, CA - staying in left lanes and would not move and give way even if you are 1 foot behind them flashing high beams ...Most EU drivers don't like the option, that some cars have, that will not allow you to be real close behind someone.... In Italy and France, in order to drive fast, you have to go onto "toll" roads (autostradas in Italy) and you pay for it. Italians found elaborate ways to avoid toll booths like people did in Westchester County, NY. In Austria, if you see a crash on autobahn, you can be sure that all drivers and passengers are dead. Too many trees close to autobahns.
And that's the way it is in EU nowadays! Born there, lived there.....LOL

[Hudsoner]

Originally Posted by jogosub

That's true. I order to drive real fast in EU, you have to chose the country. In Germany, you could do it only at 2 or 3 am...and be way up North otherwise you always have moderate to heavy traffic and what they call "stau" (gridlock). Anywhere South of Frankfurt, you can forget about driving fast. Autobahns there are "infested" with Dutch tourists hauling their overloaded RVs going camping to Southern EU - those Dutch drive like most folks drive in Palm Springs, CA - staying in left lanes and would not move and give way even if you are 1 foot behind them flashing high beams ...Most EU drivers don't like the option, that some cars have, that will not allow you to be real close behind someone.... In Italy and France, in order to drive fast, you have to go onto "toll" roads (autostradas in Italy) and you pay for it. Italians found elaborate ways to avoid toll booths like people did in Westchester County, NY. In Austria, if you see a crash on autobahn, you can be sure that all drivers and passengers are dead. Too many trees close to autobahns.
And that's the way it is in EU nowadays! Born there, lived there.....LOL

Also born there, lived there, and still drive there every year for a few weeks. The Dutch are only a problem for a few weeks every year, bigger problem are the French who prefer the toll free German Freeways over their toll roads for going south.

There are plenty of roads that allow high speed driving 24/7 in Germany, the A31 , the A61, the A6 and the A96 are only a few of them.

[jogosub]

Hudsoner:
Oh yeah - the French connection! You are right though.... I just know the "stau" around Stuttgart and Munich; i.e. Southern Germany. The high speed driving there is sporadic, to say the least - at least that is/was my experience. How do you like your 2013 OB? I was looking at some Audis before I bought 2013 OB but the prices are out of control here...there and everywhere!

[number 41]

But back to oil change frequency for a quick question. I could not read the tech pages for the Euro oil change showing 9230 mile intervals. I'll take your word for it.

My question though is "what is the time interval for Euro oil changes in the Subaru manuals if you don't rack up the miles quickly enough. U.S. manuals state 7,500 miles or 7.5 months. Euro states 9230 miles or ??

[gomjabber]

Originally Posted by jogosub

Hudsoner:
Oh yeah - the French connection! You are right though.... I just know the "stau" around Stuttgart and Munich; i.e. Southern Germany. The high speed driving there is sporadic, to say the least - at least that is/was my experience. How do you like your 2013 OB? I was looking at some Audis before I bought 2013 OB but the prices are out of control here...there and everywhere!

During my time there I had an Opel Commodore with the straight 6 with 2 carbs but everytime I went to Bavaria I opted for the train. The traffic reports from around Munich just sounded brutal. It seemed that's where the 300 car pileups always occurred. Otherwise, loved driving there, the way driving is supposed to be.