Oil change interval.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 157
Likes: 48
From: Charlevoix, Mi
I never store an engine (car, boat, generator, lawn tractor, etc) with old oil in it. Once the additives are compromised you could get an acid buildup in the oil. If it’s bad enough oil on the crank and bearings can start to etch the surfaces. According to marine mechanics most marine engine failures are caused by this long before the engines are worn out in northern climates where boats are stored for many months. So I think oil changing advice should be different depending on where you live.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 157
Likes: 48
From: Charlevoix, Mi
I have heard that going from regular to synthetic may present some oil leaks as the synthetic is smaller at molecular level or something like that. But in your case it's fine. Syntheric is what the engine is designed for so it will be better actually. Kind of like how your c5 will run off of 87 octane, but it is designed for higher octane fuel and will run better with it.
Last edited by Bubba1951; Jan 2, 2021 at 09:26 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,860
Likes: 4,661
One pet peeve I have, because I still see it occasionally in magazine articles, is cams having "236° lift"!!!!! When newbies are given bad info from the beginning, it's harder to change their way of thinking.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,002
Likes: 722
well sure. That’s when I check it. After I change it. 
Seriously I change with Mobile 1 about every 15,000 miles. Oil I drain is clean and clear. Use the old oil in lawn mower and other general lube. Daily driver (only car) 130k miles. Uses no oil between changes. Seems to run better now than 16 years ago. It is particular about fuel. Use 93 octane no ethanol whenever possible. Clatters on 10% and hard acceleration. 2004 CE convertible A4.
Seriously I change with Mobile 1 about every 15,000 miles. Oil I drain is clean and clear. Use the old oil in lawn mower and other general lube. Daily driver (only car) 130k miles. Uses no oil between changes. Seems to run better now than 16 years ago. It is particular about fuel. Use 93 octane no ethanol whenever possible. Clatters on 10% and hard acceleration. 2004 CE convertible A4.
I didnt even think about cutting open the 1.99 quaker state oil filter but next time i do an oil change i'll show picks to see what's in there. I'm over 13k so should be soon depending on the weather in the chicagoland area. cold ground and drag radials are not a good combination expressly over 1k hp. Driving around like a granny is not my style.Thats a good ideal about utilizing your oil. But i didn't know we had to change the oil. Will to late to start it's over 20yrs old, good old craftsman. But on the other hand changed many part. Bald tires, air filter, cables etc.. But missed the oil.
Last edited by helga203; Jan 2, 2021 at 12:00 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 366
Likes: 17
So great to know that I am so in the clear as far as change intervals. Now let me ask this: is there any negatives to changing once a year at under 3k mile.intervals when I never store the vehicle for more than a week or two? Excluding of course the extra cost and/or labor of extra changes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,002
Likes: 722
So great to know that I am so in the clear as far as change intervals. Now let me ask this: is there any negatives to changing once a year at under 3k mile.intervals when I never store the vehicle for more than a week or two? Excluding of course the extra cost and/or labor of extra changes.
Buy the way I wish i lived by u. I would never have to buy oil again.
Last edited by helga203; Jan 2, 2021 at 03:33 PM.
.
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,025
Likes: 1,151
From: Oregon
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
So great to know that I am so in the clear as far as change intervals. Now let me ask this: is there any negatives to changing once a year at under 3k mile.intervals when I never store the vehicle for more than a week or two? Excluding of course the extra cost and/or labor of extra changes.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
So great to know that I am so in the clear as far as change intervals. Now let me ask this: is there any negatives to changing once a year at under 3k mile.intervals when I never store the vehicle for more than a week or two? Excluding of course the extra cost and/or labor of extra changes.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 159
From: Lafayette Louisiana
So great to know that I am so in the clear as far as change intervals. Now let me ask this: is there any negatives to changing once a year at under 3k mile.intervals when I never store the vehicle for more than a week or two? Excluding of course the extra cost and/or labor of extra changes.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
Never had a problem with a car that I used synthetic oil in until my Suzuki XL7 that used the GM 3.6 liter V6. Followed the oil life monitor. It would come on at around 10k miles and the oil looked pretty black. Did that for awhile because I have always used synthetic oil in all my cars and would change that around 10k miles. Never had an issue with any other car. At around 50k miles it started using oil. When it got to 103k the timing chain went on it and it was using a quart of oil every 600 miles. Apparently this engine is very hard on its oil and you better not wait till the oil life monitor comes on to change your oil. In my Corvette I changed it once a year.