Synthetic Oil Change Interval: State Your Opinions!

The common belief is that the oil change interval for full synthetic oil is every 10,000 miles.

Who does every 10,000?

Who does every 5,000?

Who does anything other than these?

I’d love to hear your thoughts and reasoning as to how you choose your interval!

 

I just don't understand the fascination.

 

If it is all highway driving and you put the miles on quickly I say 10k-15k depending on the oil/filter you use. A mix of driving 5k-7k tops. Short hops and a lot of off-road around 3k.

 

5000 miles oil and filter plus rotate tires on my 2016 off road. 115000 miles

 

I drive less than 5000 miles a year, so I change oil/filter once a year. I also change out the engine and cabin filters once a year at the same time as well (probably not needed, but inexpensive when DIY).

 

I have done the 1 year or 16,000km interval changes since new. My truck has 98,250 kms on it and is running just like new. So I have done a grand total of 6 oil changes.

Technology changes. Oil and additives have. The manufacturers don't make recommendations without thoroughly testing the engines first. Can things get by... sure. But they test for long-term.

I can live with my decision to follow the recommendations of 1 year or 16,000km.

Other things to note... I don't idle my engine. And when I am driving I drive at higher speeds.

I recently purchased a travel trailer, and will change the oil more accordingly as a result of summer trips with it.

 

I never do any oil changes.

50k miles and it's still going strong.

If it starts to act up on me, then yeah, I'll do a couple oil changes back to back to get it back in working order.

 

I've been content with 5K OCIs. Mix of highway, city and mild off roading. I think 3k is way too soon for most newer cars nowadays, and I don't really trust 10k as of yet currently. Id say 5k is a safe bet. But it's your truck, do what you want. Seems like there is no right answer to this besides just change your oil regularly.

 

Annually or manufacturer recommendation which ever comes first.

 

We have a 2020 Tacoma with about 60k miles, an FJ (mostly off road driving) with 115k, a RAV4 with 150k, and a (recent purchase) Sequoia with 206k. All get synthetic oil changes at 5000 mile intervals. A person could get real scientific about driving styles, road conditions, age, weather, etc. I just picked a reasonable number on the conservative side and have gone with it.

 

5k since new

 

I change at 5K or less
By the manual, I am in the severe catagory

 

I do a moderate number of short trips and I follow the factory recommendation of 5K oil change intervals. I have also followed this with other vehicles we have and if we do less than 5K a year, it is done once a year. Seems to work pretty well.

 

Im a simple man i see an oil thread , i click.

 

It must be Friday.

 

10k

 

7.5K

Also sending in oil from my next change to Blackstone.

 

Sent 10k to blackstone, came back clean, continued 10k thereafter. I consider myself in the "severe use" category too.

To the people doing 5k changes: why not 1k? Why not 500 miles? Why not while you're waiting for the toilet to flush?

 

because we can