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How often do you change your oil and why?

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:28 am
by RacerZX
Just curious what other people do... I'm in the habit at this point of changing my oil every 10K/3 miles and just go by the OD. I know that's a bit obsessive but it works for me...

For the record, officially Schedule 1 (more aggressive usage) calls for 3.75K Miles, while Schedule 2 (Soccer Mom) calls for 7.5K Miles.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:53 am
by disallow
Every 5k kms for me.

That or every 3 months.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 11:37 am
by deermjd
I usually go 6-7000 miles between changes using full synthetic oil. That's about every 3 months for me. Most of my driving is highway. I used to change my oil religiously every 3000 miles but now I've realized that's unnecesary for this engine and my driving conditions.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 12:48 pm
by mar1
every 6000 miles in about 2-3 months. full synthetic.

and because of your last poll option, i remembered i havent changed my transmission oil in 50,000 miles :shock:

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 1:20 pm
by Tzvier
about 5k miles/6 months for me...the path doesn't see to many miles these days, mainly road trips.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 1:47 pm
by Calicajun
Voted 7.5k miles but that's what why 2011 Honda Pilot (traded for the PF)manual said to do, haven't read the PF manual yet.

Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 1:54 pm
by JAHBLESSINGS
i used to do it every 3k synthetic but since time i don't have as much free time anymore i extended it to 5k.

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 9:18 am
by NVSteve
4 or 5k for me.

Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:21 pm
by Oly 22
6000 to 8000 kilometres or 4000 to 5000 miles for me

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:50 pm
by smj999smj
My driving fits in within the "normal" driving catagory so I go by the manufacturer's recommended 7500 mile intervals, using synthetic oil and genuine Nissan or Purolator Pure One oil filters.

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2012 8:51 pm
by Oly 22
Interesting, my Canadian service manual suggests to change the oil every 6000km's. That is just over 3700 miles. If smj999smj follows the USA recommendation of 7500 miles that is just over 12000km's. That is twice as long as the Canadian recommendation and is a huge difference, I wonder why?

Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:27 am
by Captain
I use standard 5w30 Valvoline, I try to change it every 3-3.5k miles when I used to drive 30-45 min every day to and from work. But now I live 2 miles from he fire station I can not remember when I had my oil changed. I'm now at the 3.2k miles since so it's time.

I was wondering about going syn, the guys that live in cold NE or NW with temps that can get in the -0F or -23c, do you think the syn makes a difference with cold starts?

Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 5:51 pm
by 00pathySE
Every 3 months with 5W-30 conventional oil. Usualy try to get the cheapest name brand I can find. Usually about 12$. Change the oil filter every 6 months. I probably put about 6k miles a year on the Pathfinder.

Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 1:26 am
by smj999smj
Oly 22 wrote:Interesting, my Canadian service manual suggests to change the oil every 6000km's. That is just over 3700 miles. If smj999smj follows the USA recommendation of 7500 miles that is just over 12000km's. That is twice as long as the Canadian recommendation and is a huge difference, I wonder why?
They must consider driving conditions in Canada as "severe duty!" :wink:
I remember in the 90's Nissan changed the interval from 3750 miles to 7500 miles and then a couple of years later they switched back. I don't think they can make up their mind!

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:17 pm
by Sayantsi
I change it at 5k miles with dino oil simply because the truck is on the severe schedule - 3 miles to work, so it never fully heats up, or 700+ mile trips hauling about 2-3000 pounds in a trailer.

Now, my car and motorcycle get annual oil changes only, more because it fits into my schedule for work every fall. Blackstone UOAs always show the oil could go longer but I keep to my schedule, not the oil's.

Fwiw, I think a UOA is the only thing to follow unless you are keeping to a warranty term. I've seen the shock on people's faces when they get the results back and learn that their synth oil changes still have like 90% life after a 3 month interval.