Go by time or miles?

[GMFan]

Current fill: Mobil 1 5w30. So far it has almost 4 months on the oil with about ~2500 miles so far. A fair number of short trips, with 60 mile highway runs fairly regularly. All in all, mostly highway/rural road miles.

Would you drain it out after 6 months or just keep using it until the OLM goes off or until you have about 6k miles on the oil?

I plan on switching back to conventional after this current fill. I plan on heading over to Mobil Clean 5000.

What would be the wisest thing to do in my application?

P.S - I realize I'm not there yet but it is never too early to plan for your next OCI.

 

[drewjp]

I would keep it in until the OLM goes off or 6k.

Mobil 1 has a high TBN so no worries on the time front, except I don't leave oil in my car longer than 9 months.

 

[double vanos]

Why don't use PP and just go with the OLM? PP is a great oil and at around $20 for 5 quarts at WM ii is a super bargain.

Just a thought...

 

[JHZR2]

time if the time is too long, i.e. you rack up miles slow. Miles if you rack up miles fast.

Id look to do once a year, though bi-yearly seems to be OK.

JMH

 

[GMFan]

Ok, thanks for the advice.

The main reason my car doesn't have many miles is because I have been so busy at school I haven't had many opportunities to go home for a weekend.

However, with summer approaching in a few weeks I will be working and driving about 30 miles each day.

Quote:
Why don't use PP and just go with the OLM? PP is a great oil and at around $20 for 5 quarts at WM ii is a super bargain.

Just a thought...


Well, the OLM usually goes off around 5k miles for me, and I'm not real interested in long drain intervals (I like changing the oil) so I think conventional would work fine for my application. I don't put on very many miles as it is.

 

[Cory]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
I'm not real interested in long drain intervals

There's your answer! Go back to conventional oil and change your oil once your OLM reached 10%.
But since you're in college, most students would prefer to save money!? Then I'd consider the extended oil changes, shop for a good rebate or BOGO and save yourself some ca$h.

 

[Audi Junkie]

Change it right before winter and then 6-7 months after using coventional oil. Time intervals are best. They account for both the guy who drives a lot of hwy miles as well as the person who does a lot of short trips. 6 months seems fine in your case. I do 3 months.

 

[Gary Allan]

Neither. Use fuel.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
What would be the wisest thing to do in my application?


I'd use Maxlife and drain it every 4 months.

 

[Nickdfresh]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
Current fill: Mobil 1 5w30. So far it has almost 4 months on the oil with about ~2500 miles so far. A fair number of short trips, with 60 mile highway runs fairly regularly. All in all, mostly highway/rural road miles.

Would you drain it out after 6 months or just keep using it until the OLM goes off or until you have about 6k miles on the oil?
...



Never drain it before six months, or at least 5000 miles, no matter how long it takes. The periodic long trips will keep the contaminants out of the oil...

In fact, I'd go a year (about 7500 miles with your driving habits)...

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
6 months seems fine in your case. I do 3 months.


What?!!? You change your oil every 3 months and have the testicular fortitude to say that out loud on this board?!!? WOW!

 

[tsmay51]

X2 on every 6 months or 5k miles on conventional oil. Since you have mobil 1 in it now I would try to stretch it to 9 months or 7.5k miles on this interval. There is some merit to using the synthetic come wintertime where you are at though.

 

[Steve S]

Use the OLM seems to work. Do a uoa to see how the oil is holding up. No second guessing that way.

 

[Audi Junkie]

3 months = 7500 miles & OLM at 15% to 20%. Yes, 3 months on syn oil.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I`m one of those who goes by the 3000 miles or 3 months oci. Mostly because I drive very short every day trips (work and back). If I didn`t have to wear a suit/tie to work you can bet I`d be on my mountain bike every day to and from work.

 

[ThirdeYe]

You'd rather ride a mountain bike than a Fairlady Z?!

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
You'd rather ride a mountain bike than a Fairlady Z?!

Man I`d probably cry like a baby the whole way!

Then I`d alsolutely HAVE to have some ice cold cervezas waiting for me when I got home

 

[Lost1]

In your case I'd use Maxlife as recommended by another member, and change at 6 mos or 5000 miles.

Most of the miles I drive get put on my Harley, with the F-150 sitting in the driveway. The truck only gets driven on rainy days and occasionally on errands. I use Maxlife semi-synthetic (about $13 for 5 qts at WM) & change it about every 6-8 months, and the oil usually has less than 3000 miles on it.

 

[shortyb]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Neither. Use fuel.


Bingo! This is what I've been using for the past few years. Incidently, the Bimmer's OCI indicator is based on fuel used. Makes the most sense IMHO.