FYI look at the recommended oil change interval in your owners manual. I have the infamous "best backed cars'' promo on my car which covers all normal maintenance for the first 60K miles for free. I wish I could get oil changes every 3K miles, I wouldn't be running Mobil 1 then! Check w/ your local auto part store and try for the 5 qt container of Mobil 1. With the slightly larger filter discussed elsewhere your engine will fill all 5 qts in and the jug makes it alot easier to turn in the old for recyling. But in any case let your dipstick be your guide

 

I use royal purple 5W30 and a K&N high performance oil filter. In all it cost me about 55 bucks to change my oil, but i think its worth it. I also do my own oil change, which i am sure most of the people on these fourms do.

 

well i could do my own oil change but since i am at a college dorm i dont have tools here...so i got to take it to the nearest dealership

 

They told me the same thing, using Synthetic on the RA was pointless because it wasn't a "performance" car. They either want you to come in more or don't know what the hell they are talking about. They also said it was going to be almost $100 for a change.

I've heard countless people also say the oil holds up fine, you just need to change the filter every 3k miles.... Funny though, I know(from people stating this) that Porsche and VW recommending oil changes at very high intervals...I though one was 7,500 and the other 13k miles.

 

I would never run my car that long between changes.. Just becase you run synthentic doesn't mean that there is not junk and grim.

You can run synthetic longer, I still would change out the filter at regular intervals and then just top it off. Otherwise the pressure release valve in the oil filter can pop open and you will be running completely unfiltered oil. (Basically, the filter still can get clogged up)




-Zach

 

synthetic oil does not create "sludge" build up on the engine like regular motor oil thus making higher intervals. If the interval of 6k miles is not safe the manual or the companies that sell their product wouldnt back up those claims....

P.S..........changing the filter in between oil changes is really something i should look into?....ive heard this practice in many post around this forum

 

Synthetic oils are proven to last a very long time without breaking down, the issue is buildup of deposits, which is why you hear people talking about changing the oil filters more often than the synthetic oil.

 

Your engine will still develop varnish and deposits with a 6k oil change... Its inherent to a Gas engine design... I run Mobil 1 Full Synthetic and change it every 3750 miles... I know its overkill, but I'd like to be on the safe side, because this car is going to last 150K in my hands... I still want it to be a nice car when that day comes... Changing you oil more often gets those deposits out of the oil, and then they don't start to stick to the internals of your engine...


Pull your dipstick some day... If its not shiny and silver, then you need to change your oil more often... If it has varnish, or a sludge on it, then so does the rest of your motor... The Manual for our cars will tell you to go 7500 miles on an oil change... This is so they can meet certain epa standards, and its a sales pitch as well, telling you that your new car requires minimal maintenance... Almost all new cars recommend a 7.5K interval now...

Technicians HATE oil changes, they get paid 2 Tenths of an hour to do one typically... It usually takes 3-4 tenths to do one properly and check all your fluids and tire pressures... The tech is not trying to sell you more oil changes than you need...


I have a Toyota truck with over 430K on it right now with the original engine... No deposits at all... I run regular oil in it, but change it every 3500 miles... The dipstick is shiny like new, and when I adjust the valves, then head looks like new aluminum... Frequent oil changes make a huge difference...

 

What is cheaper?

Oil
or
Engine

Who cares what they say it is good for. Changing it every 3k is the safest.


There are some things to be cheap about and others not to. The three most import variables to any vehicle:
1. Gas
2. Oil
3. Tires

All of these will dramatically affect everything else.

Just by your post you sound smarter than this.

 

Just as a Reminder, most Mitsu Dealerships will change oil with oil that you provide. For awhile now, I've been buying 5 quart Jugs of Mobile one synthetic at Wallmart for about $21, bringing it to the mitsu dealership and they charge me about $19 for filter and change. Thats a full oem synthetic oil change at the dealer with filter for $40. Convinient and resonable.

 

Yes, most dealerships do not care if you bring your own oil... If they have to provide it, it is marked up...

 

Or DIY it is about $21 + 6 = $27.

Oil filter and crush washer is $6. And you get to get dirty, not convenient but always fun to get a look under the car.

 

well i got my oil change for around $40 with me providing mobil1 for the change. The funny thing is they didnt want me to put synthetic oil on my car. They didnt said it was wise on the long run......Basically i said synthetic will make less or not any sludge at all and will have anyother byproducts reduced to a minimum and because im paying....and some guy had the nerve to say synth make makes sludge than conventional oil....OMG....im nervous that my car will blow up or something after having those ppl from the dealership work on it

 

I bet a service advisor told you that... They aren't the sharpest sometimes... I seriously doubt any accredited tech would tell you that...

 

You may want to look into amsoil they will recommend even longer periods between changes with there oil and filter. remember this is a RA not an evo. Even still the amsoil change interval for turbo cars is longer that 6000 miles.