Mobil 1 Oil Changes...How often?

[SD Hunter]

I’ve starting using Mobil 1 in my 2000 Z-71 and my wife’s 2003 Grand Prix (3.1). I’ve settled on changing the oil every 4,000 miles but I’m wondering what everyone else is doing and the pros and cons of each? We have a mix of city and highway driving but more highways….1500 to 2000 miles a month on each vehicle.

[snoman]

For many years I used to run Mobile 1 for 5 to 6000 miles and change filters at 3000 and top it off. One of the vehicals I did that to is a 89 4x4 burb and it has 170K on it now and uses no oil still. It has bee cross country more than a dozen times and I would change out filter on the road during those trip around the 3000 miles mark and then change it all a few weeks after we returned. (usually 5 to 6000 miles total). They other when 215K before it was totaled.

[RyanZ71]

I do an oil change and filter change with Mobil 1 10W30 Synthetic and a PF-59 oil filter every 5000 miles, I really see no need to change the filter before 5000 miles if the oil is as good as they say it is.

[Bish]

Every 5K here too. I also do oil analysis and it confirms for my engine, 5-6K is max life before contaminates start getting high.

[tmf6902]

when ever my computer says to...usually somewhere between 5k-6k, depending on how much city and highway driving there is

[snoman]

I do an oil change and filter change with Mobil 1 10W30 Synthetic and a PF-59 oil filter every 5000 miles, I really see no need to change the filter before 5000 miles if the oil is as good as they say it is.

Because combution chamber by products oand road grit that seeps in can build up it the oil and reduce filter effectiveness, especailly if a older engine and the top of freshen the oil a bit as well.

[Black02Silverado]

I ran mine 6k with a 3k filter change and top up with Mobil 1 5w-30 before I changed to AMSOIL. Those are good numbers and work great for a lot of others from what I have read on BITOG.

 

Another area to keep up on is the air filter and keeping the whole inlet system snug with no leaks. Helps to keep silicon down if you pull samples.

[redvett]

I go by the oil moniter on my cars & trucks. Just got rid of my 97 GTP Grand Prix and used Mobil 1 and changed when the moniter called it out. Had 170000 on it and no problems and it was an early build car VIN was # 369 built 3/96. Love my new Monti Carlo SS Supercharged. :-)

[2000 GMC]

I go about 5K miles on my truck. This last oil change went a little over that since we drove from Virgina to Colorado springs.

[QUIKAG]

I also use the oil life monitor in my truck with the Mobil One. It usually goes about 6,500 miles or so before the oil/filter needs to be changed. I use a Mobil 1 filter as well, so it doesn't need to be changed out early. Truck runs very strong and cold starts very quietly.

[fastdrvr23]

I was changing my Mobil synthetic every 5,000 miles, along with the factory PF59 filter.

 

At 20K, when I had the oil pick up tube o-ring replaced under warranty, I asked the mechanic that worked on my truck what he thought about mobil 1. He said it was great stuff, but he said a Semi-synthetic would about the same in the wretchedly hot climate we have down here... He suggested, and I swapped to Valvoline Durablend 10W-30, and plan on changing it every 5K as well. It's been ~4k on it's current change, and it looks as clean as the mobil 1 did at that time... I might swap back, who knows, I do like the fact that it costs less though.

 

I used regular valvoline 5w-30 in my old 1990 Mazda Protege that I used for autoX, and it never burnt a bit of oil. The two years worth of autoX'ing, was probably equivalent to 15 years of normal driving... lol, as I drove it hard as hell. (4 sets of tires in two years, 2 complete sets of new brake rotors, and new brake pads three times...)

 

On a side note, I've never seen the oil life monitor come on, as I guess I reset it before it thinks it needs it. I've been 5,100 miles or so as the longest interval.

[rcj_houston]

I switched to Amsoil 0-30w. I only have to change the oil every 25,000 miles. I change the filter at 12,500 miles, or 6 months, which ever comes first. I will be buying the Dual filter system in a few months. By doing this, I will only need to have the oil analyzed once a year and change the filters once a year. I run Amsoil in both my 03' Tahoe and my 03'buick Lesabre. No, I am not a sales person or a dealer for Amsoil, but I am a firm believer in their products. Check it out for yourself:

 

http://www.amsoil.com/sitemap.htm

 

Also, there is a link to one truck that has over 400,000 miles without an oil change, I hope you find it interesting to say the least.

 

http://www.amsoil.com/testimonials/index.htm (hit the Truck link)

 

I see this being a huge savings for dielsel owners that run about 15 quarts per oil change on Super Duties.

 

Cheers all...

[tmf6902]

wow....25K......it is interesting....but I don't think my b*lls are big enough to do that....I get peice of mind changing my oil every now and again.....shoot it is hard enough for me to go 5K-6K with the oil monitor.

 

When you get your your oil analyzed it comes back ok?? I've never had that done so I have no idea what they check for, or where you even get that done?

[Markeaux]

I change when the computer says to or 6months

[rcj_houston]

wow....25K......it is interesting....but I don't think my b*lls are big enough to do that....I get peice of mind changing my oil every now and again.....shoot it is hard enough for me to go 5K-6K with the oil monitor.

 

When you get your your oil analyzed it comes back ok?? I've never had that done so I have no idea what they check for, or where you even get that done?

I can relate. It was a huge step for me, but so far I am into it big time. My wife travels alot so she is really benefitting from it. I have not done the analysis yet as I have not switched to the dual filter set up. I will keep everyone updated whenIi do so. The cool thing is, Amsoil guarentees your engine with their product. If your engine fails due to an OIL breakdown problem, they will replace it including labor. My friend Herb, who turned me onto Amsoil, had an 02 F250 and has not changed the oil with the dual filter system yet. He has over 30k miles and its a diesel. He had is oil analzed last month and everything cam out perfect. Based upon that, he willcontinue to run the same oil. You do have to top off the oil when you change the filter, but thats it.

 

(This is directed at no one, and is my own little pet pieve)

 

Another thing that bothers me some is when someone says "I checked the dipstick and the oil seemed dirty, so I changed it". This makes no sense to me. This is also an old ploy at the oil change facilities to talk people into getting their oil changed because its dirty. The color of the oil has no bearing on wether the oil is still functioning in its capacity. I am searching for an article I read awhile back concerning this. When I find it, I will post it. Take a simple diesel F250 truck. The oilis dirty 50 miles after it is changed. Is that oil now not functioning properly because its black with sut?

 

Keep in mind, the manufacturer will not void your warrenty based upon longer oil change intervals. They can only void your warrenty should you fail to use the recommended oil weight. If you call your dealer and they refuse to warrenty your new truck should you decide to use Amsoil, simply call Amsoil and they call that dealer and find out why. Based upon what they find, they will most likely take the dealer to court. They have not lost yet.