Oil change every 3k miles...

sixstringthing · Feb 3, 2004

I use synthetic and change it every 3k miles... and it gets REALLY expensive (especially for a student) Im wondering if im just wasting my cash. The manual that came with the car says to change the oil every 5k miles under normal conditions. I don't know what's normal but I don't drive my car hard at all; put about 9k miles on it per year, rarely shift over 3k rpm, i dont even think ive ever been stuck in rush-hour traffic. Basically im thinking I can continue using synthetic and change it every 5k or switch to the natural stuff and keep changing it every 3k, it would cost about the same, what would be better? Also what about synthetic blends, are they any good? (like castrol syntec)

Islander03GT · Feb 3, 2004

funny.. i was gonna ask about this as well.

just bought the car havent gotten to an oil change yet, wondering if i should do it at 3k or go till 5k since the manual says it.

also wondering if there is a benefit to using sythetic... if i go every 5k i can afford the swtich, is it worth the extra cash?

SLOW98GT · Feb 3, 2004

I am pretty sure you can't change change back to conventional oil once you have used synthetic. I heard it can ruin the seals. Anyone know for sure. Also, you will be fine changing your oil every 5,000 miles. Some people I know go even longer than that by just replacing their filter around 4,000 miles.

DeadLurker · Feb 3, 2004

check here:

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=399051

sixstringthing · Feb 3, 2004

Reading some other posts, seems like alot of people do the 5k thing. I guess if synthetic is REALLY better than regular I will do the 5k change. LOL my mom changes her oil once a year (not synthetic, she buys the cheapest she can find) on her minivan.. she sells houses so she drives around ALL day, it has 250,000 miles and still running.

Bone Racing · Feb 3, 2004

5k on synthetic is fine

NasaGT · Feb 3, 2004

Motorcraft 5w20 synthetic blend here. I would like to use Mobil1 but they don't make a 5w20 yet. So far I've only changed the oil twice at 500 and 3000 miles. I'll be changing every 3K from here on out.

abouttobeglue · Feb 3, 2004

i change my oil everytime either at havoloine or valvoline quick lubes,5w20 conventional, no problems. like the guy above i drive around selling houses all day, ive got 34000 on my 03 on a year no complaints

'96&'01Stang · Feb 3, 2004

Changing synthetic every 3000 miles is a waste of money. If you want to change that often just use reg. oil

merc123 · Feb 3, 2004

My dad went 7k on synthetic. Works on a dusty road and it was still clean.

'96&'01Stang · Feb 3, 2004

you can go even more than 7k on the right synthetic

Aaron 4.6 · Feb 3, 2004

You can go a lot longer than 3k. I go about 12k in my Exploder and about 6-8k in my Cobra.

EDIT- Let me inject some tech into my post. There are 5 basic grade of industrial lubricants. Grade 1 to Grade 5, duh. As you go from 1 to 5 you find increasing stability and longevity. A Grade 1 oil (cheap stuff) is typically a 5000 hour oil. Car companies recommend changing at 3k miles....

Lets do some math. Assuming an average driving speed of 30 mph, 3000 miles/30 mph = 100 hours. 100 hours is MUCH less than 5000 hours, so the oil life is not in question. What really limits you is degradation of oil additives due to inclusion of combustion products into the oil. The better quality oil you buy, the better quality additive pack you get. Since additive packs are not always complimentary, it is important not to mix oils. When you top off, top off with the same stuff. The additives in Mobil1 are much better than the 99 cent stuff, and can go much longer between changes. HOWEVER, this also means that the 99 cent stuff is PERFECTLY good for beater cars, or if you are going to change it more often.

'96&'01Stang · Feb 3, 2004

Aaron 4.6 said:
You can go a lot longer than 3k. I go about 12k in my Exploder and about 6-8k in my Cobra.

What oil do you use?

Aaron 4.6 · Feb 3, 2004

Mobil1 5w-30

StangLou · Feb 3, 2004

Most actual synthetics say you can go for around 7000 miles. I had the dealer put synthetic in mine after a good break in. They still put change you oil after 4000 or on date XXX on my sticker. I trust synthetics, but I still change mine every 3000-4000 miles. Just habit is most of what mine is If your that pinched for $$$, go every 5000 between oil changes. I do mine every 3000-4000 so if the dealer tries to give me crap about an oil change, I can tell them Ive done their recommended changing schedule. Then again I know if I play I pay so whatever happens happens.

triggz · Feb 3, 2004

often at 2k, some at 3k, never gone over 4k (dealer does one every 5k, i do one in between)....run 'er hard w/ motorcraft 5w20-30... purs like a kitten at 38K

an oil change w/ the motorcraft filter & oil is like $10 from walmart. if you cant afford that, maybe a mustang wasn't your best investment anyway

dkshadow · Feb 4, 2004

NasaGT said:
Motorcraft 5w20 synthetic blend here. I would like to use Mobil1 but they don't make a 5w20 yet. So far I've only changed the oil twice at 500 and 3000 miles. I'll be changing every 3K from here on out.

But they do... its 0w20

I change mine every 4500 mi

01MustangGT · Feb 4, 2004

Funny thing is the guy at Karen ( i might spell wrong) told me that if u have a high milage car, like 50000 miles or something like that, u should use 10W-30 because of the thickness. And the Mobil 0W-40 is for new European car cause' the layer of oil is thin.
that why i am using Mobil 10W-30. Mine is 53000 miles.

spree · Feb 4, 2004

fyi...costco sells their oil for real cheap. I bought 2 cases (6 quarts per case) of Mobil 1 5w30 for $25 a pop

SHOStang · Feb 4, 2004

Everything you ever wanted to know about Oil & Lubrication.
http://subtopics.freeyellow.com/Oil.htm

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