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Mobil 1 synthetic, what should the oil change interval be? (was: oil changes....)

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Old 10-19-2006, 02:08 PM
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oil changes....

how many miles could one go safely with mobil1 5w30 synthetic oil before doing another change? i drive it easy, shift 3-4k average.
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Old 10-19-2006, 02:13 PM
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I change regularly at 3k miles or 3 months, not necessarily that the oil is dirty, but the additives are possibly depleted.
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Old 10-19-2006, 02:37 PM
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I could help you with that answer if you want to come on by and get an oil change done...

...and have an extra $20 to spare for blackstone labs oil analysis.

I have the kits, so you can send in a sample. I know that the samples we send in from the Forester XT usually come back with good results, and they have us spacing the intervals upwards of 5k+...with no negative results.
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Old 10-19-2006, 02:50 PM
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I used Mobil1 5w30 synthetic oil with a K&N oil filter (higher performance, supposedly, and higher mileage) and I changed it every 10,000 or so. That's one of the benefits of going with synthetic, just make sure you have a high mileage filter to match.

Most people will say don't go over 3-5000 miles on a change. Seriously though, I've said it before, we had an 89 Astro van that had about 300,000 miles on it, and a TOTAL (I kid you not) of 10 oil changes in it's entire life, on conventional oil and filters. We ended up giving it away and it still ran fine. I don't believe in changing it every 3500 miles, I think it's a waste of time, but most others will disagree. Just my opinion and experience.
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Old 10-19-2006, 03:11 PM
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im guessing the biggest factor would be the filter. gets clogged up before the oil needs to be changed 100%
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Old 10-19-2006, 03:17 PM
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normally i change my oil every 3K miles, when i fill up i usually check my oil levels too.

-Ave
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Old 10-19-2006, 04:11 PM
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Originally Posted by slvrsubywgn
I used Mobil1 5w30 synthetic oil with a K&N oil filter (higher performance, supposedly, and higher mileage) and I changed it every 10,000 or so. That's one of the benefits of going with synthetic, just make sure you have a high mileage filter to match.

Most people will say don't go over 3-5000 miles on a change. Seriously though, I've said it before, we had an 89 Astro van that had about 300,000 miles on it, and a TOTAL (I kid you not) of 10 oil changes in it's entire life, on conventional oil and filters. We ended up giving it away and it still ran fine. I don't believe in changing it every 3500 miles, I think it's a waste of time, but most others will disagree. Just my opinion and experience.
yeah I agree 3000 miles is too soon unless u redlining ur car everywhere u go. I say 5000 miles is just about right.
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Old 10-19-2006, 04:43 PM
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that would remove all these guessing games... different driver, oil, filter, environment would definitly have different results. That would sure give you a good indicator for YOU.

Originally Posted by Roo
blackstone labs oil analysis.
nvm, google is my friend...
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
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Old 10-19-2006, 05:43 PM
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I 've been using the 15w50 mobil 1 and my car is loving it. The 911 turbo guys use it and its meant for turbo or supercharged cars. The bay area is not Alaska so you don't need a 5w unless you plan on seing some sub freezing temps.

Rau is right about sending the oil out for analysis. Send some out with 3k and then send some out at 5k to see the change. I'm sending mine out soon but plan to change it every 4k just to be safe.

Last edited by STIdevildog; 10-19-2006 at 05:53 PM.
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Old 10-19-2006, 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by evsoul
how many miles could one go safely with mobil1 5w30 synthetic oil before doing another change? i drive it easy, shift 3-4k average.
5-7k on my RS

-Gagan
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Old 10-19-2006, 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by STIdevildog
I 've been using the 15w50 mobil 1 and my car is loving it. The 911 turbo guys use it and its meant for turbo or supercharged cars. The bay area is not Alaska so you don't need a 5w unless you plan on seing some sub freezing temps.

Rau is right about sending the oil out for analysis. Send some out with 3k and then send some out at 5k to see the change. I'm sending mine out soon but plan to change it every 4k just to be safe.
or if you don't want to rob power from your car, which all that 15w oil is doing for you.

None of our engines, and probably not even close on those porsches, need that kind of thickness in oil weight.

5w for new cars, up to like, 70k-100k, and 10w for pretty much any higher mileage motors.

-Gagan
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Old 10-19-2006, 06:07 PM
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Doesnt the manual say...like 3750 for severe and 7500 for normal/freeway?

I change my wrx every ~ 5Kwith redline 5w30 and oem filter. My driving is severe, 95% street/short trips.
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Old 10-19-2006, 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by tamashi523
yeah I agree 3000 miles is too soon unless u redlining ur car everywhere u go. I say 5000 miles is just about right.
I do this 10-15 times a day in 1st/2nd/3rd gears getting onto freeways. I change my oil every 5-7k, and even waited 10k once.

I run Mobil 1 Super Syn (the regular stuff, not the 7k/15k etc ones) and FRAM Tough Guard filters.

I have 167k on my car. That's 117k on my current shortblock. 7k with the previous owner, and 110k on me. That's 110k miles of redline shifting, high RPM holding, autoxing the later 50k, hitting fuel cut from time to time, beating the living **** out my car... to have Adam at LIC in Dec say "Your motor looks nearly new... I can't believe that. Considering, how you drive."

He remove my valve covers to replace the gasket, and do a valve adjust, and inspected the oil in there and looked at the passages and the condition of the lifters etc.

I then asked him to do a compression check, not believing that my motor could be as mint as it was, and the result was 125psi on all 4 cylinders. Some of that could be slight carbon build up on the piston tops, but I'm pretty much now a believer that mobil 1 Super Syn is probably the best buy in oil today. Walmart sells it in 5qt jug for about $22. It last at least twice as long as the recommended oil changes.

I call it inexpensive insurance.

-Gagan
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Old 10-19-2006, 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by subie OCD
Doesnt the manual say...like 3750 for severe and 7500 for normal/freeway?

I change my wrx every ~ 5Kwith redline 5w30 and oem filter. My driving is severe, 95% street/short trips.
redline every oil change?

how much does that run you?
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Old 10-19-2006, 06:15 PM
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I think its like $40something. I buy the big gallon jugs from Monument Car Parts.

During the last year the prices have gone up a lot! I bought the car used with 19K miles and the original owner had used it since the car was broken in. I figure why change brands? I diy so the cost isnt bad at all.

I want to run it past 5K but Im too lazy to get an analysis done
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