Do You Really Wait 20K Miles or 2 Years?
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,564
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From: Chicago
Why would you bother doing otherwise? The car has been designed to be driven for 20,000 miles between services. Seems excessive to do it more often. And why change your oil every 3000 miles when even the oil companies say it can last much longer? If you want to be charitable maybe I can offer you some names that don't start with BP/Amoco, or Exxon, or Porsche.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
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Originally Posted by JohnnyNarcosis
Not me. I change the oil and filter every 4000 miles and now I'm washing and re-oiling the BMC air filter at 4000, too. I was changing the air filter every 10000 miles (changed it once).
I'd do 10K with Mobil-1 (or once a year)
keep in mind that it's a naturally aspirated engine.. even with a turbo 7-10K with a good synthetic is adequate
easy on the oiling of your filter too much and it can mess up the MAF
if you're going to spend the extra $$$ on oil how 'bout this:
send some samples from a 4K oil change and a 10K change to a lab for analysis and see if they find a difference. May save you some money in the long run and it would be pretty cool to post the findings here
cheers
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From: Los Angeles, CA
I waited and did the service at 18,800, Porsche set the number, who am I to second guess them.
But then again, I won't be keeping the car for many years, have a drposit placed on an '07 and am #4 on the list for a bit more hard core car.
Service at more frequent intervals won't hurt but is not required.
But then again, I won't be keeping the car for many years, have a drposit placed on an '07 and am #4 on the list for a bit more hard core car.
Service at more frequent intervals won't hurt but is not required.
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Race Car
Joined: Dec 2004
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I don't deny the validity of any of the responses. I have this compulsion to put my hands on this car. The rational side of justification would be based on "being cheap insurance", "it can't hurt", etc. And the irrational side of justification would be more spiritual, more tactile... like maintaining physical contact to let her know that I care.
Seriously, I love changing oils, checking torques, updating parts... I'm, well... I'm a gear head. There. I said it.
Seriously, I love changing oils, checking torques, updating parts... I'm, well... I'm a gear head. There. I said it.
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,284
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From: Renton, WA
Thanks for posting this question because I've wondering what people have thought myself. Personally I'm going start getting antsy around 1 yr / 12k miles, but if I can get some good evidence at that point that it isn't necessary then I'll be very happy to wait. If not, I'll probably spring for it for the sake of not having to fret over it.
I service my Mercedes per the FSS recommendation (which monitors oil quality - so adding a fresh quart increases the duration) and it has been coming out to roughly 1 year and 11,500 miles over the last 6 years using Mobil 1. It has run fine and hasn't seem to adversely affected the engine.
I did have some trouble this year with my spark plug wires needing to be replaced, but I don't beleive it had anything to do with the oil not doing its job. I think it was just time given the age of the car.
I service my Mercedes per the FSS recommendation (which monitors oil quality - so adding a fresh quart increases the duration) and it has been coming out to roughly 1 year and 11,500 miles over the last 6 years using Mobil 1. It has run fine and hasn't seem to adversely affected the engine.
I did have some trouble this year with my spark plug wires needing to be replaced, but I don't beleive it had anything to do with the oil not doing its job. I think it was just time given the age of the car.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
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I did mine at 10k. Oil looked pretty clean and should last another 2-5k. I think 10k is good and won't do it more often as it's a bit early. With 9 qts, it's harder to get the oil dirty. Those doing 4-6k probly get light to medium brown oil. I recall oil has many additives that gets burnt over time that allows oil itself to work better. Changing the oil often may not lube engine as well as the engine will keep burning a strong mixture of additive/oil. I wonder if this is true.
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Depends on the time you want to keep the car. 20K mile intervals will catch up to the endurance of mechanicals after a period of time. Really depends on individual driving patterns, I feel the good average is every year and about 5,000 miles for longevity and perhaps better resale value if the buyer is checking records.
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From: In a van down by the Ottawa River ...
I had mine done at 6k, before I put it away for winter hibernation. I had to convince the dealer I reeeeeally wanted it done as, in their opinion, it was completely unnecessary....., which I suspect it was.....
changing mine every year regardless of miles during spring in order to help during the summer heat temps. 