3,00 mile oil changes vs 6,000 mile ones

[kms1990]

ok so i am confused i run 5w 30 oil castrol syntec with a premium filter at 6k mile changes (rotate tires at this interval too) i have recently been informed that the 2.0 FS engine in the protege/protege 5 likes regular 3k oil change intervals with conventional oil rather than the longer one with synthetic. what, if any harm am i imposing on my engine by doing the synthetic with those longer changes?

should i stick with 3k changes with good conventional oil or is what i am doing fine?

i would still buy a premium brand filter as i do not trust the stp or fram ones. i prefer castrol oil as it seems to keep my engines cleaner than the other brands.

what would be the benifits of a 3k conventional change vs a 6k synthetic change?

 

[tweety2300]

Depends if you burn oil or if it's been maintained well before.

I changed my oil when I bought my celica, went to change it at 3k but when I checked it it was still clean. So it gets it at 5k.

Basically if the oil is dark at 3k change it, if it still looks new go for 5k

 

[kms1990]

it looks good until 6k at minimum in my p5 it does not burn or leak any and it has been very well maintained (my dad has had it since early 04 i recently got it after we traded in my suv for his new car ( i needed a car with better mpg)

 

[Nouse4aname]

Color of oil is not an indicator of when it needs to be changed. If you really want an answer to this specific to your driving style get a used oil analysis from blackstone labs or similar. Which will also give you some insight into the health of the engine.

 

[kms1990]

wish i could afford that nouse but i cannot. i think i will just go back to 3k changes and a good conventional oil

 

[pcb]

Color of oil is not an indicator of when it needs to be changed. If you really want an answer to this specific to your driving style get a used oil analysis from blackstone labs or similar. Which will also give you some insight into the health of the engine.

I use Castrol GTX that I get for $10-$12 (4.4 liter) on sale and the Fram filter for the 626 and change it religiously at 3k miles. (as well as Seafoam in the oil all the time)

Do you see any advantage to switching to Castrol syntec 5w30 for $25 and trying to double the oil change interval ?? (and still spending more)

I am personally convinced that the regular oil changed at 3k is better than any specialty oil changed at 5 or 6k ?? Especially if your car is old and wearing out and burning oil.

 

[kms1990]

I use Castrol GTX that I get for $10-$12 (4.4 liter) on sale and the Fram filter for the 626 and change it religiously at 3k miles. (as well as Seafoam in the oil all the time)

Do you see any advantage to switching to Castrol syntec 5w30 for $25 and trying to double the oil change interval ?? (and still spending more)

I am personally convinced that the regular oil changed at 3k is better than any specialty oil changed at 5 or 6k ?? Especially if your car is old and wearing out and burning oil.

my car is getting old, but burns no oil but i have decided to go back to 3k changes and castrol gtx conventional and the bosch filter for the 626 and many nissans that i like

 

[pcb]

I'm a firm believer in regular oil changes but I think doing it every 300 miles is a bit over-kill,... that's almost two oil changes for every tank of gas.

(Yea,... I know,... It was a typo,... I'm being a smart-ass)

 

[kms1990]

lol ya i saw it after i posted it

 

[Nouse4aname]

wish i could afford that nouse but i cannot. i think i will just go back to 3k changes and a good conventional oil

It's only $25. If that adds a few thousand miles to your intervals or shows you the beginning of an engine problem it will pay for itself many, many times over.

Heck if you just let the dealer do it they'll give you a 6k reminder.

 

[Maroon]

I do 5,000 mile changes, but honestly, with how much oil this s*** mobile leaks and burns I should only have to ever add more oil. It's widely accepted by everyone that doesn't stand to make any money off oil changes that 3,000 miles is too soon.

And as mentioned the color of the oil does not indicate whether or not it's still good.

 

[rit14623]

As for lonegevity, I've been doing 6,000 mile oil changes with full-synthetic oil from Walmart and Fram oil filters. I used to use Rotella-T and Fram oil filters. My Protege5 now has over 205,000 miles.