Longevity of Synthetic oils?

[Blackhawk3D]

At my last oil change I switched to synthetic, and I was wondering what kind of milage I should run on each change? it's at 4500 right now so I'm wondering if I still need to change it at 5000, or longer? I know that my dad's deisel can run up to 15000 on the synthetic (Mobil 1 or Redline) but I don't know about my car. It's a 96 5sfe with 104,000 miles.

Thanks,
Nate

[touringcamry]

Your dad's diesel can go longer because the oil sump is much larger. The only way to be sure if your oil is still good is to sample your oil and have it analyzed.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

[Blackhawk3D]

Anybody with experience with these motors and synthetic? What are you running? I was thinking of just changing it at 5000 this time, because there could still be some dino oil in there breaking down etc. if it didn't drain quite all the way.

[Kitto]

what oil are u using?
I use Mobil1 EP and max I go is 6000miles.
I don't feel good beyond 6000miles, maybe just me.
95 5S with 115000miles.

[Toysrme]

At that time, the OEM recommended oil change was 6mo/4500 miles, 12mo/7500 miles.
Test it @ 7500 miles, ditch the filter & top-off the oil.

[Edmo83]

i use Mobil1 Syn, it feels burnt after 4500-5000 miles for me

i drive fast, and change oil early as a precaution, not so much as a necessity.

I have a 1MZ in a 01 Camry, with 57K miles

[SwampFox]

Mileage__________________________________Change__I nterval
__4946___Quaker_State_Oil_and_Filter_______5-30-95_____4946
__9956___Quaker_State_Oil_and_Filter______10-04-95_____5010
_14997___Quaker_State_Oil_and_Filter_______4-12-96_____5041
_20000___Quaker_State_Oil_and_Filter_______7-27-96_____5003
_25094___Quaker_State_Oil_and_Filter_______9-07-96_____5094
_30348___Quaker_State_Oil_and_Filter_______1-06-97_____5254
_35233___Quaker_State_Oil_and_Filter_______4-12-97_____4885
----------------------------------------------------------------
_40350___Synthetic_Q.S.Oil_and_Filter_______7-03-97_____5117
_47438___Synthetic_Q.S.Oil_and_Filter______12-04-97_____7088
_55071___Synthetic_Q.S.Oil_and_Filter_______4-06-98_____7633
_62725___Synthetic_Q.S.Oil_and_Filter_______7-01_98_____7654
_70850___Synthetic_Q.S.Oil_and_Filter______11-02-98_____8125
_77517___Synthetic_Q.S.Oil_and_Filter_______3-04-99_____6667
_84997___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______6-26-99_____7480
_96885___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter______12-27-99_____11888
108696___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______5-27-00_____11811
119928___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter______10-14-00_____11232
132028___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______5-04-01_____12100
143947___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______8-24-01_____11919
156082___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______2-19-02_____12135
168012___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______8-05-02_____11930
179969___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______3-15-03_____11957
192220___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______9-20-03_____12251
204077___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______4-01-04_____11857
215993___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter______11-10-04_____11916
229400___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______9-11-05_____13407
242422___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter_______7-20-06_____13022
254422___Synthetic_Mobile_and_Filter______00-00-00_____00000

[csaxon]

This is what I used in my 1974 Mercedes 450SL with an 8qt oil sump. I changed it every 10,000 and never had a problem with it. I sold it to my brother in law last year.

NOTE THE 25,000 mile oil change interval on the can compared to the newer? Mobil I EP 15000 mile interval.

[stephenson]

I would suggest that you and your Dad have it backwards re interval - sure the sump size is important, but the particulates are the issue on diesels. Oils formulated for diesels can suspend more particles, but, at the end of the day, ya gotta get the particles out. My MB diesel (189K miles) will take clean M1 syn from clear to black in minutes.

Many trucking companies using syns use testing to assist in determining when to change - and some of them pair this with different sorts of filtering systems to further extend. European companies tend to push much longer intervals than Americans - dual cost and environmental issues. They use more science to help them determine when.

Your Dad should likely be changing not later than 10K miles - earlier if the time exceeds 6-9 months - this is with syns. Without syns somewhat earlier.

Your gas engine, on the other hand, produces far less particulates - the oil chemistry package is much more able to stand the longer drain intervals. It would be scary (we are all driven by psychology and marketing), but you could probably go 20K, change the filter and add a half quart, go another 20K and change the oil and filter. For the most part Americans are just preloaded to change it more often than needed.

Me? I change diesel at around 6K (it is likely older than your Dad's with more combustion materials getting into the oil), and my gas engines at around 10k. Mobil 1 cause it is easiest to find - there are other good oils, and other companies are beginning to crowd Mobil a bit.

[etc]

I just installed some Mobil 1 5w20 and Purolator Pure One filter.

My drive is "severe conditions", a few miles each way every day.

[94CoupeV6]

I change my synthetic oil on my 1994 V6 whenever it starts to get dark/blackish brown. This is usually between 3,000-4,000 miles. I would never go over 5,000 without an oil/filter change, it's just how I am with my car.

[armrsm]

I have a 95 v6 with 239000 miles on it. I have used syn Moble 1 with an OEM Toyota filter for years and change it out every 3000 to 3500 miles. My engine does not smoke, runs like a top, and uses no oil between changes.

[kamrhee]

This is just my formulation. I use 5-30 mobil 1 syn. in the highlander 1mz-fe. Just change every 4 months regardless of mileage. most likely I'm not going to hit beyond 15k a year so that's about 5k per change. Just peace of mind for me and since both of our vehicle falls under the "sludge" category, the extra cost is worth it. If you look at it, you're not spending that much on oil, just time and effort.

kamrhee

[etc]

Actually, my 2.2L engine is the first engine I ever had that doesn't use any oil between changes.

[stephenson]

Only testing can provide real information regarding whether engine is suitable for continued use.

My understanding is that the color of the oil is irrelevant - means zip. On diesel engines the issue is how much particulate matter can be suspended in the oil - this is the normal limiting factor. Given this, particulate filters are in use on marine and long range trucking systems that do remove the particulates with oil being use for tnes of thousands of miles ...

Bottom line is that M1 is a very high quality synthetic - comparable to Redline and Amsoil, etc - at much lower cost.

On a gas engine it is comfortable to go 10K in most cases - not on regular oil, though ... however, it is really a matter on type of driving and conditions ... no promises and nothing really matters except repetitive testing ...

Me? 10K on my gas engines, 6K on my diesels.

Haven't used non-syn in 20 years ... engines, transmissions, differentials, wheel bearings, etc ... simply better stuff.