I, nor the original poster, specifically mentioned an oil change with regard to hardcore racing.

My statement follows your posts: If you're racing your car all of this goes out the window.

Racing is different and I wouldn't be surprised if people add larger filter and/or remote filters to both increase capacity and ease during service.

 

I was also talking about the street before you guys jumped down my throat. In a race setting, you're going to change your oil and filter prior to each event anyway...so it's not really relevant.

My only point was that you CAN extend your oil change intervals past 3K miles if you want to (on a street car ... even if it gets driven hard). But you'll still want to change your filter at 3K. And as long as you're changing the filter, most of us will just go ahead and change the oil at the same time.

Again, we have a relatively small volume of oil cooling a high-stress engine plus turbo and relying on a relatively tiny filter. On top of that, many of us are running open element (cone type) filters, which allow more dust into the engine. All of that means that the oil filter takes a beating.

You can extend your oil change intervals if you like, but changing filters regularly is still a good idea. That was my whole point.

Emre

 

So you guys are saying to ignore a bunch of Mitsu engineers that designed the engine, and ignore their 5k recomendation and still change the oil at 2.5k-3k miles

 

Emre,
It sounds like we're in agreement...you're saying the same things I believe.

xmaciek...no, for harder driving 3750 or less per Mitsu.

 

Check your owner's manual. Mitsubishi recommends more frequent oil changes for cars that see heavy duty use. For those of us who live in the northeast, drive our cars hard, and take to the track regularly, the 5K intervals are probably too long.

Anyway, all of these questions can easily be answered by a good oil analysis. I use Blackstone Labs myself. That will tell you all you need to know about your oil and how well it's protecting your engine.

Emre

 

About 2k - 2500 in my turbo cars after break in and 3K in the NA car. That car has to go.

 

Without any evidence otherwise, I would say that the more often the better specially with heavy use. Obviously one has to balance it with economics of ownging the car.

 

I also recommend Blackstone Labs for oil analysis.