About oil change, and the synthetic oil

[BigMeatballDave]

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.

You can do 5000 on conventional.

[penguinz]

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.

Listen to your vehicle.

[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.

[Bearcat]

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.

Brought that up with a dealer one day when I took it in for other routine maintenance... the manual says "at least once per year" or when the computer says so, a lot of people say 5k or even 10k is fine these days, the computer says I'm at 60% life.... and they still tried to convince me that it's strictly every 3k, of course so I could have them do it for some stupid price.

And even then, 3k is so ingrained, I kind of felt bad waiting for 5k, and even then the computer's still at like 40% remaining.

New car is 15k or one year, and I'll definitely hit one year first.

[Otter]

I use Mobile 1 synthetic and Mobile 1 filters. Best I could find via research and word of mechanic mouth. Never any problems and engine purrs like a kitten.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Otter

I use Mobile 1 synthetic and Mobile 1 filters. Best I could find via research and word of mechanic mouth. Never any problems and engine purrs like a kitten.

This. I like Mobile 1.

[Manila-Chief]

Thanks guys ... hadn't realized this.

I believe synthetic is more expensive ... Correct??? If so how does that play into the mix?

I change mine ever 5K ... coz almost all my miles are on the interstate.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by Manila-Chief

Thanks guys ... hadn't realized this.

I believe synthetic is more expensive ... Correct??? If so how does that play into the mix?

I change mine ever 5K ... coz almost all my miles are on the interstate.

It is, but since most people change synthetic oil every 10k, the added cost is nil.

[CoMoChief]

fully synthetic ....changed every 5K miles. easier to keep track that way....105k, 110k etc.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

fully synthetic ....changed every 5K miles. easier to keep track that way....105k, 110k etc.

You're just wasting money. May as well use conventional. What is so difficult about remembering to do it every 10k? 110k, 120k, 130k...

[SLAG]

I take my 07 Silverado with 85K mi and my 03 Suburban with 218k mi to Firestone and they get the Kendall Synthetic Blend around 4k mi

The 03 Saab 9-3 gets Ful Synth Mobil 1 around 9-10k

[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)?

[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.

[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?