Synthetic oil change mileage
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 45
From: Stockbridge GA
If I were going on an 8000 mile road trip I would change it before I leave and again when I get back, not on the road, even if it was dino 
Other than that 5K or yearly whichever comes first.
Other than that 5K or yearly whichever comes first.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 415
Likes: 2
From: southampton,uk
Ive ibeen told 5000 miles but what if like me you only do approx 1600 miles a year? Do you still change yearly?
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 146
Likes: 2
From: SouthWest Arizona
Its still a good idea to change it yearly. Oil still breaks down over time even if you don't put it through a lot of miles. I personally go every 6 months or 5K, whichever comes first.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 566
Likes: 7
From: Seattle, WA
Change your oil at whatever interval you like and then send a sample in to Blackstone Labs for an oil analysis (be sure to ask for a TBN analysis).
They will analyze your old oil and will be able to tell you if you can go longer between changes than you did before. For $35 ($25 for base analysis, plus $10 for a TBN) it's great peace of mind.
Some people will say to change the oil at specified time intervals, but I don't agree with that anymore based on the analyses I've gotten back. Oil that was in the engine for 18 months and 4,000 miles on my weekend car came back with a clean bill of health from Blackstone with the comment that based on the analysis it would be perfectly safe to run for 2 years/6,000 miles.
If you just want to play it safe, it never hurts to change the oil early, but my experience with analysis has really made me re-think a lot of conventional wisdom.
They will analyze your old oil and will be able to tell you if you can go longer between changes than you did before. For $35 ($25 for base analysis, plus $10 for a TBN) it's great peace of mind.
Some people will say to change the oil at specified time intervals, but I don't agree with that anymore based on the analyses I've gotten back. Oil that was in the engine for 18 months and 4,000 miles on my weekend car came back with a clean bill of health from Blackstone with the comment that based on the analysis it would be perfectly safe to run for 2 years/6,000 miles.
If you just want to play it safe, it never hurts to change the oil early, but my experience with analysis has really made me re-think a lot of conventional wisdom.
Last edited by Zenmervolt; Oct 10, 2014 at 02:40 PM.
