Yeah, but you still have to change the oil filter...so, why waste money? Are you really in the "severe" category? For me, it is 7500 miles intervals. And at that interval, there is no need for synthetics.
Oil-Regular or Synthetic
I'm torn on whether to switch from using regular oil to synthetic. The one advantage I see is less trips in for an oil changes - 3750 miles (severe condition) to 7500 miles. Thoughts, please.
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Same mileage with conventional for me.I have used Mobil 1 since day 1. Believe I get better mileage. Average 27-28 mpg, can get upwards of 31-33 mpg on highway, depending on wind, AC, etc.
IMO, oil changes every 3-4k miles is wasteful. There was an article a while back (link no longer working), but this is what it concluded:
"Based on the results we've got here, we'd recommend 8,000 miles between oil changes on an engine that uses no oil at all, perhaps 10,000 miles on an engine that uses some oil, and 15,000 miles or beyond with a filter change every 5,000 miles. This, of course, isn't any kind of guarantee, and you must evaluate for yourself what your engine requires. One thing we're pretty sure about though: 3,000-mile intervals is a huge waste of resources."
NOTE: this is for Mobil 1 Synthetic. My opinion is that if you're gonna change every 8k miles, then why use synthetic at all?
"Based on the results we've got here, we'd recommend 8,000 miles between oil changes on an engine that uses no oil at all, perhaps 10,000 miles on an engine that uses some oil, and 15,000 miles or beyond with a filter change every 5,000 miles. This, of course, isn't any kind of guarantee, and you must evaluate for yourself what your engine requires. One thing we're pretty sure about though: 3,000-mile intervals is a huge waste of resources."
NOTE: this is for Mobil 1 Synthetic. My opinion is that if you're gonna change every 8k miles, then why use synthetic at all?
Engine wear actually decreases as oil ages. This has also been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips, and reported in SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119. What this means is that compulsive oil changers are actually causing more engine wear than the people who let their engine's oil get some age on it.
Sorry, you gonna have to google it. The article is old and is archived.Link?
BUT, i wonder if the article may have swayed OEMs into prolonging the oil change intervals on newer powertrains.
Hate to quote myself, but there is some controversy in interpreting that SAE article:Sorry, you gonna have to google it. The article is old and is archived.
BUT, i wonder if the article may have swayed OEMs into prolonging the oil change intervals on newer powertrains.
"This is a gross miss-representation of what SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119
determined. The title of the paper is - "Antiwear Performance of Low
Phosphorus Engine Oils on Tappet Inserts in Motored Sliding Valvetrain Test"
The test was a pure wear test using externally driven valve train
components. A complete engine was not involved. There was no dilution of the
oil by blow-by, no combustion products added to the oil, and no water added
to the oil. The results might matter if you are building a sealed machine
driven by an electric motor, but trying to claim this paper is a basis for
extending oil change intervals is not reasonable."
Here is a good link for further discussions: Compulsive Oil Changers Cause More Engine Wear
And for synthetic fans, here is a long article for your reading pleasures: http://www.mr2.com/TEXT/synth_oil.txt
Yup, that's the extent of my limited knowledge on the matter...you guys can read and decide. For me, even in Texas heat, i am sticking to 7500 mile intervals with regular oil.
And for synthetic fans, here is a long article for your reading pleasures: http://www.mr2.com/TEXT/synth_oil.txt
Yup, that's the extent of my limited knowledge on the matter...you guys can read and decide. For me, even in Texas heat, i am sticking to 7500 mile intervals with regular oil.
I may go to 5000 interval after warranty period only because it is easier for my mind to do the math! 
Thanks dude...but did you even bother to read my next post following that one? SEE POST #16. The BIG question is...did YOU buy the article or is what you wrote just from the web also?!This junk is quoted all over the web. If you're tempted to give it credence, buy the article and read it for yourself:
Antiwear Performance of Low Phosphorus Engine Oils on Tappet Inserts in Motored Sliding Valvetrain Test
To me, the conclusion is completely unjustified. This article involves an experiment with an externally powered test rig and an experimental oil formulation, not a real engine with store bought oil. The most important finding isn't that wear metals in general increased quickly at the outset of the test (what was the starting condition of the equipment?), but that lead levels, in particular, rose throughout the test (lead indicates bearing wear). Oil discussions always seem to end up with selective interpretations.
Every engine and driver is different. If your plan is to extend drain intervals, protect yourself and your engine by getting an occasional oil analysis. My opinion, a $20 oil analysis every 5000 miles vs. a routine $40 oil change every 7500 is close enough to break even to make it not worthwhile. Want help deciding? Read the owner's manual.
That's a good idea! The problem is remembering to reset it.I reset my "B" trip counter to reflect the oil changes, so no math necessary (until I unplug the battery for some reason--like I did this time around to run a power cable for my under-seat sub).
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