About oil change, and the synthetic oil

[Msmith]

Sorry if it is a Q.

Do you use synthetic oil for oil change in your car?

I have this link here about oil change: http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/top-...motor-oil.html

But the technical terms are a bit too technical for me.

[MahiMike]

Originally Posted by TEX

I use synthetics in my vehicles from the start and change every 10K. BUT you should not switch to synthetic oil if u have regularly changed your oil in an older vehicle with 75k + miles. Your seals and gaskets can start leaking.

Interesting. The stuff you learn here...

[lewdog]

My FIL ran Royal Purple in my car and changed the oil every year since the car didn't get driven 3k in a year anyway. He is telling me to still use Royal Purple (which is fine) and still change every 3k anyway. He's also one of those old quirky guys who just likes to stay busy and that doesn't make much sense to me. Thoughts? Every 5k for that engine (4.6L) for a Mustang GT (15k miles)?

[Silock]

My 98 Jimmy has 260,000 miles and still gets conventional. **** synthetic. Shit's too expensive.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Silock

My 98 Jimmy has 260,000 miles and still gets conventional. **** synthetic. Shit's too expensive.

I don't care one way or the other, but what's the cost difference between using conventional and changing it every 3000 vs using synthetic and changing it every 10,000?

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by BigMeatballDave

10,000 on synthetic is good. I do this, but I change the filter every 5000.

This thought process is in conflict.

The point of synthetics is you have less wear on the motor, therefore less stuff in your filter, therefore no need to change the filter before the oil.

Its not just that the oil "last longer" it last longer because there isn't crud in it.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by srvy

If you live where there is cold weather in winter and your car sets outside syn is for you also.

How about heat?

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by BigMeatballDave

10,000 on synthetic is good. I do this, but I change the filter every 5000.

How do you change a filter without changing the oil?

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Buzz

How do you change a filter without changing the oil?

Unscrew the filter, screw a new one on. Very similar to the procedure for changing the filter when you change the oil.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by srvy

If you live where there is cold weather in winter and your car sets outside syn is for you also.

This. So much this. It gets real cold where I live and using a light weight synthetic helps a lot.

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by MTG#10

I'm glad this was brought up.

I recently purchased a 2011 F150. I've always changed the oil in every vehicle I've ever owned every 3-4k miles but I'm at 3000 now and the truck's computer is telling me it's "oil life" is still at 75%. Should I listen to it or change the oil anyway? According to the manual I should base oil changes on the system info (computers) recommendation. I know for a fact it has regular oil in it, not synthetic.

Today's oils (conventional oil too, not just synthetic) are so vastly superior to oils made even 20 years ago that yes, you are ok to believe what the truck computer says. Yes, modern oils are that good.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by Brock

I don't care one way or the other, but what's the cost difference between using conventional and changing it every 3000 vs using synthetic and changing it every 10,000?

A lot because I don't change every 3,000. 10,000 is fine.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Silock

A lot because I don't change every 3,000. 10,000 is fine.

Jesus. You are cheap.

[Silock]

Originally Posted by Brock

Jesus. You are cheap.

More like lazy. Why do more work than I have to? It's clearly not hurting the longevity of my engine.

[eDave]

Originally Posted by Brock

Jesus. You are cheap.

Perspective man. I never keep a car past 3 years. Don't give a shit about oil changes. I do it once a year. Which is twice per car.

And it's BS that my current car requires a change every 2500. The number goes down all the time, while engines get better and better.

Scam.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by lewdog

My FIL ran Royal Purple in my car and changed the oil every year since the car didn't get driven 3k in a year anyway. He is telling me to still use Royal Purple (which is fine) and still change every 3k anyway. He's also one of those old quirky guys who just likes to stay busy and that doesn't make much sense to me. Thoughts? Every 5k for that engine (4.6L) for a Mustang GT (15k miles)?

Many manufactures have a schedule of 10-15k on good quality synthetic. Suspect a little of that number may be due to the maintenance programs included with new cars. Have read some arguments on performance cars that you may be driving hard so you should change every 7.5k but many say 10k is fine if you are not doing stuff like tracking it.