Oil change schedule

[quick66ss]

I change the oil filter only at 3000 and then the oil and the filter at 6000. At 3000 the oil looks some what dirty. Once the new filter is on the oil cleans back up until 6000 when I drop the oil and the filter.

 

[LVyukyuk]

I change the oil filter only at 3000 and then the oil and the filter at 6000. At 3000 the oil looks some what dirty. Once the new filter is on the oil cleans back up until 6000 when I drop the oil and the filter.

I have never heard this before...learn something new every day. How did you come across this practice? I've just never heard of it before is all. I guess it makes sense as the oil is not broken down at 3K, just dirty as you say.

 

[quick66ss]

I have never heard this before...learn something new every day. How did you come across this practice? I've just never heard of it before is all. I guess it makes sense as the oil is not broken down at 3K, just dirty as you say.

Its just the way I was brought up. I run Mobil 1 synthetic and by 3000 it looks pretty dirty but I know its got life left in it so I throw a $5 filter and $4 worth of oil and go another 6000 miles with the oil looking good. If it looks good at 6000 I have done a filter swap and run it to 9000 with no problems. My 85 S-15 had 300,000 miles on it when I sold it 3 years ago and the motor had never had any work done on it.

 

[02Lightning]

why send off to the lab if you change at 3000 miles? As engine wears, get looser tolerances, etc, the lab results will vary depending on age.

If you want to get prolonged oil changes, send it off at 3k so you know how long your oil is good, otherwise your just guessing. A lab tests will also tell you the condition of your motor.

---------- Post added at 09:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:51 PM ----------

I change the oil filter only at 3000 and then the oil and the filter at 6000. At 3000 the oil looks some what dirty. Once the new filter is on the oil cleans back up until 6000 when I drop the oil and the filter.

Are you saying the oil filters fail prior to 3k and start letting contaminates through then the new filter cleans everything up?

 

[quick66ss]

Are you saying the oil filters fail prior to 3k and start letting contaminates through then the new filter cleans everything up?

All I am saying is at 3000 the oil does not look like new. After the filter swap it cleans up again. This is just what I do. I don't care what anyone else says this is how I take care of my rides. I only posted in to offer my 2 cents on the topic.

 

[02Lightning]

I’m just trying to understand your train of thought not trying to offend you. My .02 is changing the filter at 3k isn’t going to filter the oil any better or clean it up unless your filter is clogged and oil is going through the internal bypass. Or if the filter had something catastrophic happen to the filter material to let contaminants through. Also don’t use Fram filters, they are garbage, even the so called better quality filter.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/
http://people.msoe.edu/~yoderw/oilfilterstudy/oilfilterstudy.html

 

[Z15]

Follow the owners manual. Changing your car’s oil at 3,000 miles is a myth.

Oil companies and quick-lube shops like to promote this idea that engine oil should be changed every 3,000 miles.

A recent survey published by a the quick lube industry (National Oil and Lube News June 2009) tells a lot about them such as these excerpts;

Did You Know that 32% of customers change their oil whenever the sticker on their windshield tell them to?
Meaning, put 3,000 or 3 months on there and they will be back

More the 90% of customers believe the drive under normal conditions?
Meaning, if we convince them they drive under severe conditions they will come back more often to spend money

62% use a quick lube and only 6.5% change their own oil, 9.1% go to the dealer, 11.7% use a mass merchant (i.e.Walmart)

 

[blueflamed03]

If you want to get prolonged oil changes, send it off at 3k so you know how long your oil is good, otherwise your just guessing. A lab tests will also tell you the condition of your motor.

I'd just guess it'd be cheaper to just change the oil versus paying a lab to check my used oil is all.

 

[Conor]

All I am saying is at 3000 the oil does not look like new. After the filter swap it cleans up again. This is just what I do. I don't care what anyone else says this is how I take care of my rides. I only posted in to offer my 2 cents on the topic.

I do not see how changing the filter would clean up the oil. You still have 7 or 8 quarts of dirty oil in the sump. Also, how is it possible to pull off the oil filter and not loose all the oil in the process?

I hope you dont think I am being condescending, I have just been around cars and dealerships for a long time and I have never heard anything like this.

I work for a company thats owns and manages the largest fleet of cars and trucks in the world and I often work directly with the manufacturer about service intervals. With newer cars the oil is never changed before 5K because that is when the manufacturers recommend it be done.

 

[02Lightning]

I'd just guess it'd be cheaper to just change the oil versus paying a lab to check my used oil is all.

I just do this one time as a guide on the cars I drive every day to give me an idea how long the oil really last. Or if I want to know if I have a bearing failing or leaking head gasket.

---------- Post added at 12:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 AM ----------

Also, how is it possible to pull off the oil filter and not loose all the oil in the process?

It will not drain the pan pulling the filter off, you will just loose what is in the filter it's self, maybe a little more.