For those who use Synthetic oil

[Roscoe]

How many miles do you go between oil changes?

[PatrickJohnson]

I'll go anywhere from 5000 to 7500

[R2D2]

I've gone 5 to 15k mi depending on vehicle, the oil and driving conditions. I recommend oil analysis-anything else is a guess. What works for some may not work for others due to engine and operational differences. If you stick to 5k or 6 month any syn (or non syn for that matter) should get you there.

R2

[Henry G.]

4-4500 miles. Using Mobil 0-30w now in winter. Oil is dirty when changed but not black. Using Baldwin B33 filter, good stuff. I need this car to last, gonna own it for 200-300k, otherwise I would go longer and let any problems be that of a future owner. Also I drive the crap outta the car. 39k now in 20 months. Cheap insurance.

[Hershey]

under 5 thou due to warranty .

[YAR1S]

I change mine every 5k, this time its been 5.5.k though, filling her back up tomorrow! :D

[Lazerdot]

Check your air filter if your oil is 'dirty'. Oil analysis may show silicon etc..., indicating air fitration issues. I have to clean my MAF now and then. I'm using an AFE till I find the right size Amsoil filter. So far clean oil even so. The AFE is a good filter so far.

[Lewis]

5K- that's what my manual calls for and I want to have warranty coverage.

[Indianspringsaz]

I run 5W-30 Amsoil and change it every 6 months. It might be around 10K miles by then.

[schleppy]

I'm going to change mine between 4-5k, depending on the severity of my driving (highway vs. city).

[mark schofield]

Mobil 1 5/30 and a Toyota filter. Every 5000 miles on my Yaris, wife's Scion, and daughter's Echo.

[vten]

I bring my yaris to a valvoline shop.... valvoline syn 5/30 + valvoline filter , 5000 miles interval....$60 each time .

I can change it myself, but there's some cute chicks in the store that kept me coming back :biggrin:

[Hershey]

or 6 months , which ever comes first .

[jamal1984]

5k for now after 70k Miles i will change it every 3k. Lately my oil is look terrible after 4k.

[marcus]

amsoil here.. change every 10k km.

[AlexNet0]

under 5 thou due to warranty .


you dont need to get your oil changed every 5k at the dealer to keep your warranty.

[POORSHA]

15,000 amsoil, I have the oil analyzed 75,000 no problems

[anonymous user]

ON synthetic, anything less than 10k mi is a waste.

[rningonfumes]

Just went over 36,000 (warranty)... will now go on 10-15k miles changes. Before the warranty went out, I had to no problem doing every 5k.

Mobil1 Extended Performance.

[RedRide]

Personally I have a big problem with extended oil changes.
The reason being is even with full snyth, you stiil have al the contaminates bulding up that could/will effect your seals, etc.

Besides, 15k miles is about a year or more for most drivers and I don't think a couple, three oil changes a year to be excessive

It doesn't make sense to me not to spend an aditiional $40 a year to protect a $12k investment.

[Lazerdot]

What evidence do you have that an extended oil drain using oil designed for such intervals causes the issues you talk about?

[RedRide]

What evidence do you have that an extended oil drain using oil designed for such intervals causes the issues you talk about?

What evdence yous ask?
Just logic and common sense. :wink:

Just because an oil is clasified as synthetic does not mean it prevents its self from being contaminated.
Shure, synthetic may have extended lubricating properties but, as I said the that doesn't tell the full story.
There are various factors that should determine how long oil change intevals are, not just the fact that synthetic oli is used

[Lazerdot]

When things are said that contradict the evidence garnered from years of sales by Amsoil I think proof is needed. Amsoil will tell you the following:

AMSOIL synthetic oils will not damage your seals and will not
cause an engine oil leak. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils have an inherent detergency and natural solvency, which can clean and remove deposits left by conventional oils. The removal of extensive oil deposits can
expose marginal or damaged oil seals that may then leak. However, motor oils are designed to help swell seals slightly to prevent leakage. As long as a vehicle has been well maintained, and in good mechanical condition, AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils can be used in any vehicle without fear.

I suspect they have heard the issues you have brought up and feel confident from testing and real world use that they are not based on verifiable evidence.

Please check out TruLube.com for more information about extended drain intervals etc...

Lots of folks pay 30+ dollars an oil change to have it done for them. Amsoil savings are very substatial in those cases. I just went a full year on my F250, my wife will go 17,000+ on her car. My Yaris uses Racing oil so I'll go around OEM (filter can't go as long as the oil due to the toyota issue). I have no fear of the drain intervals and will save alot of money too.

[Yaris Hilton]

What evidence do you have that extended oil drain intervals are safe with synthetics?

[supmet]

http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/TechnologyDevelopment/OPPTD_FLY_High-Efficiency-Oil-Filters.cfm

[severous01]

i go until it's dirty. i check it every fill up and check tires as well. any way, as long as you got a high quality filter, and good oil, and a clean engine to start with, why change it if ther'es no need to do so? as the oil burns or collects dirt/debris, then you'll need to change it more often. if it's not dirty or collecting anything cuz the filter is still catching stuff, why change it?

the oil will turn dark and deposits will collect into a napkin when it's time to change it. now i'm not talkin black here....the oil will go from an amber/gold color to a dark yellow, then brown (time to change) and then black...when sludge starts to form and oil is past due.

[DerFlosser]

It blows my mind that anybody would go any longer than 5K miles per oil change. By that duration, the oil is contaminated. Period. I personally change oil every 3K miles and use a full synthetic.

[Lazerdot]

I think some of the information contained here may help prove what 37 years of sales needs help proving.

https://www.amsoil.com/comparison/motor-oil-3f-test.aspx
https://www.amsoil.com/comparison/400,000-mile-motor-oil.aspx
https://www.amsoil.com/performancetests/gerlach_trucking/index.aspx
https://www.amsoil.com/lit/g2156.pdf

I hope this helps a bit. The top one is an independent test of motor oil that does speak to deposits etc. The next two show a breakdown of a Deisel engine after over 400,000 miles with Amsoil, shows a lack of sludge ect. The Third is another trucking companies experience.
I through in the 2009 Motorcycle comparisons as well. I have yet to see anything indicating AMSOILs extended drain intervals cause the problems previously mentioned.
Previously extended drain intervals were being held suspect for contamination and damage to seals, again were is the evidence?
Amsoil stands behind it's claims, "Et tu, Brute"

[supmet]

Marc Graham, president of Pennzoil-Quaker State-owned Jiffy Lube International, was quoted in a 2001 Lubricants World interview as saying, “At [PQS] we use a number internally that if we [shortened the drain interval] by 100 miles [for each car serviced], it would mean an additional $20 million in revenue for the company.” He also explained that “if we could move our customers to get one more oil change per year, it’s worth $294 million for the oil change alone and $441 million in revenue, when you include the ancillary products and services customers typically buy along with the oil change.

[Lazerdot]

For the major oil compainies it's like "come early come often".
The Valvoline deal means something like 56 oil changes over 225,000 miles, using a 4000 mile interval, verses 15 using Amsoil with 15,000 mile drain intervals.
Filtration is a huge issue. Micro fiber filters do a much better job then normal fiters helping make longer drain intervals feasible.

[R2D2]

RedRide and others,

Common sense has nothing to do with it. Where would science be if we all just followed common sense? If the great minds of history had stopped where common sense dictated where would the world be? Just deciding "that's the way it is" doesn't make it true. Do you have any facts AT ALL to support your opinion?

I do very much agree with your statement about not running x number of miles JUST because an oil is synthetic. I didn't just pick numbers out of a hat in regards to my oil drains-they were backed up with oil analysis. I'm not saying extended drains are for everyone and certainly don't begrudge people doing as they see fit but to blindly dismiss something with no proof is wrong. There are plenty of oils out there that will go far beyond 5k because they are DESIGNED to suspend contamination, prevent deposits, resist acid formation and oxidation and maintain there physical properties for longer periods of time. How long varies greatly depending on the oil the engine, and the operating conditions..

There are people out there in the world that continue to push the envelope in regards to what oils are capable of and the technology is changing ALL THE TIME!

There is nothing wrong with shorter intervals AND nothing wrong with extended drains if done properly-it's a matter of personal comfort.

Also, color is a poor indicator of oil life. An oil suspending contaminents is simply doing it's job. A clean looking oil could be spent for a host of reasons but many would be happy because "it's clean" while in reality it may be trashing the engine.

R2

[Yaris Hilton]

Oil analysis is doubtless the best answer, changing the oil when testing shows it needs changing. Modern "conventional" oils would often safely go considerably farther than factory recommended intervals as well, but knowing when it needs changing is key to extended intervals. I was an early adopter of Mobil 1 back in the '70s-'80s, when they recommended and heavily promoted a 25,000 mile change interval. I had a couple of engines suffer failures like a badly stretched cam chain and excessive oil burning before I thought they should have. I went back to factory recommended oil change intervals ("severe service") or less, and believe that if you're attentive to regular, reasonably frequent oil changes the only real advantage to "synthetic" oils is in extreme temperature operations. I no longer use them.

[serious]

It blows my mind that anybody would go any longer than 5K miles per oil change. By that duration, the oil is contaminated. Period. I personally change oil every 3K miles and use a full synthetic.

+1

[RedRide]

.......AMSOIL synthetic oils will not damage your seals and will not
cause an engine oil leak. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils have an inherent detergency and natural solvency, which can clean and remove deposits left by conventional oils. The removal of extensive oil deposits can
expose marginal or damaged oil seals that may then leak. However, motor oils are designed to help swell seals slightly to prevent leakage. As long as a vehicle has been well maintained, and in good mechanical condition, AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils can be used in any vehicle without fear.......


You have to be wary of advertising copy as that is all that is.

Granted the oil will not damagage seals or cause leaks, etc.

However, it is the contaminates (not the oil) that build up in the oil are the problem.
If an oil will clen and remove deposits, wehe do you think they can remain? ? Yes, right in the oil
Many deosits and contaminate can not be filtered either

I maintain that changing oil at least twice a year is not excessive.
Yes, Synthetic oil is better in some respects but one would be foolish to leave it in for 15,000 miles IMO.

Also, it is still recomended that you change the filter regurlarly. :smile:

[Lazerdot]

I'll be at 17,500 on the oil in my wifes honda civic in a few more thousand miles. The SSO we are using is designed to retain acids and other contaminates throughout it's usefull life without creating engine issues.
As far as using copy, I use what I can get from Amsoil. Most is either verified from independant labs or from results verified from actual analysis and engine inspection. I trust our information, period.
I am weary of hype when it come to AMSOIL. Over hype is bad for my business. Thats why I sell AMSOIL using the severe conditions recommendations.
Anyway I hope whatever everyone does works for them. If you choose the longer drain intervals AMSOIL can provide, I hope Trulube.com will be your choice for your lubrication needs.

[Henry G.]

Looking at Amsoil own tests are interesting, especially the motorcycle test which showed that the oil I use, Maxima Ultra was one of the best tested. But asking Amsoil for test results of their products is kinda like asking the Catholic Church for proof of God dontcha think? I would be interested in any INDEPENDENT oil test results...
That said I'm sticking to the 4-5k rule, synthetic only and Baldwin filters I have used for my cars and diesel the last dozen or so years...the mechanic that I let change my Duramax engine oil now n then says my truck is one of the only ones he's seen that after the oil change the new oil still looks clean....I'm gonna drive that thing until even thing else besides the engine is worn out...that engine is 10k, at least half that to be rebuilt, not including the turbo, and I cant tell you what its worth (to me) not to be stuck on the side of the road during a family vacation trip in the middle of nowhere....

[aca72]

How many miles do you go between oil changes?

U.S. spec Yaris calls for 5000-mile OCI.

[Indianspringsaz]

Looking at Amsoil own tests are interesting, especially the motorcycle test which showed that the oil I use, Maxima Ultra was one of the best tested. But asking Amsoil for test results of their products is kinda like asking the Catholic Church for proof of God dontcha think? I would be interested in any INDEPENDENT oil test results...
That said I'm sticking to the 4-5k rule, synthetic only and Baldwin filters I have used for my cars and diesel the last dozen or so years...the mechanic that I let change my Duramax engine oil now n then says my truck is one of the only ones he's seen that after the oil change the new oil still looks clean....I'm gonna drive that thing until even thing else besides the engine is worn out...that engine is 10k, at least half that to be rebuilt, not including the turbo, and I cant tell you what its worth (to me) not to be stuck on the side of the road during a family vacation trip in the middle of nowhere....

That was an independent test

[Lazerdot]

The latest motorcycle oil test "White Paper" put out by AMSOIL was done by five different lads using ASTM procedures. Blind samples were submitted. A notarized affidavit certifying compliance with ASTM methodology and the accuracy of the tests was included with the test results in the Paper.

12 different tests were conducted. The over all results determined the number 1, 2, 3...position. Scoring was done as if playing golf. Lower total got first position and so on. Between 2 grades of oil 40 and 50, 32 oils were tested.

Many of the oils tested are some of the most popular on the market. I understand Maxima is a good oil as well. In fact Maxima tied with Royal Purple at number 7 overall for the 50 group with a score of 82 and number 3 overall in the 40 group with a score of 59. Amsoil's score was 30 and 32 repectively. Consider the following regarding Maxima:

It's viscousity is 10 higher then the AMSOIL SAE 40 group and 4 higher then AMSOIL in the SAE 50 group. However its shear stability (difference in viscousity from initial point and that at the end of each cycle point, 15, 30 and 90 cycles) is below viscousity grade required for both the 40 and 50 group after less then 1/4 of the max cycles used for the test. After the max cycles used (90) for the tests AMSOIL remained the highest in the 40 group and was within .2 or.3 of the number one oil in the 50 group. AMSOIL viscousity was higher then the number one oil in the 50 group. Does the higher viscousity of AMSOIL in that group make it the best or does the higher shear stability of the number one oil in that group make it the best?

As the paper indicates AMSOIL did not get the highest marks on every test and published those results in it's White Paper. This, of course will allow many to say AMSOIL is inferior. However, the overall result is what matters to most people. AMSOIL did get the highest overall rating. The above example illustrates the point I hope. A higher viscousity oil that loses viscousity over fewer cycles may not be the oil you want.

Though synthetic oils have drasticly improved over the years. AMSOIL has contnued to develope oils that remain some of the best available.

[UTVitz]

Every 5000 while under warranty

[Henry G.]

I want to try Amsoil. Why wont they sell it in a store like a regular oil, its like a MLM scheme or something. By the time you pay shipping it damn expensive, No?
Is there a place where I can just put 4 quarts in a shopping cart and walk out with it? If I could buy some and not pay ridiculous CA sales tax that would make things even I guess.

[Indianspringsaz]

Get it shipped to your door

[DevilGirl]

I want to try Amsoil. Why wont they sell it in a store like a regular oil, its like a MLM scheme or something. By the time you pay shipping it damn expensive, No?
Is there a place where I can just put 4 quarts in a shopping cart and walk out with it? If I could buy some and not pay ridiculous CA sales tax that would make things even I guess.

Any local car shows? There's usually an Amsoil seller at the car shows near me. That's where my boyfriend gets his supply from. He'll buy a case at a time from them.

[Lazerdot]

Shipping costs can be offset. Go to Trulube.com, online store . On the left there is a perferred customers save section. $10 dollars for six months gets you All Amsoil products at dealer cost. Saves about 20-25% off retail.

[PHXDEMON]

every 10000 miles.

[bearda]

I run about every 6-7k miles with Pennzoil Platinum. I normally don't have any problem with extended drain intervals provided I'm using a good filter (I run Amsoil SSO in my Mazda3) but the sludge tendencies in other Toyotas worries me a bit. Amsoil now recommends OEM intervals on all Toyotas, and has stopped selling the EAO spin-on filter for the Yaris.

[supmet]

Has sludge really been a problem with the 1nz, or really any small toyota engines? All the oil gelling recalls I read seemed to be mainly about larger engines, and the only 4 cylinders on the recall was the 2.0 camry if I remember correctly.

[Lazerdot]

MANN oil fiters are now being recommended by Amsoil for the Yaris I have, an 08. 7500 miles between filter changes if using Amsoil.

[Indianspringsaz]

I run about every 6-7k miles with Pennzoil Platinum. I normally don't have any problem with extended drain intervals provided I'm using a good filter (I run Amsoil SSO in my Mazda3) but the sludge tendencies in other Toyotas worries me a bit. Amsoil now recommends OEM intervals on all Toyotas, and has stopped selling the EAO spin-on filter for the Yaris.
I cant find where Amsoil recommends OEM intervals on Toyotas. Would you post a reference?

[Henry G.]

That was an independent test

Its on the Amsoil website, no doubt they paid for it, how is that independent?

[Lazerdot]

Blind testing meant the labs didn't know which oils were being tested. I would imagine Amsoil paid the labs for their work, but which companies oil was doing good or bad during each test would have been unkown to the testers.

Were you able to checkout becoming a Perferred Customer yet? Unlike some other MLM's Amsoil let's you get the benefit of dealer pricing without having to buy a minmum amount of product or becoming part of Amsoils dealer group (Program driven MLM programs want folks in the "program"). The Perferred Customer option allows you to give Amsoil a try at a reduced cost. As a Product Driven MLM, getting Premium Amsoil product into the hands of the consumer is the goal. Dealers such as myself can build the business through retail and/or commisions on purchaces through our independent own dealerships, i.e Trulube.com. I am very interested in the maximum amount of folks getting a great oil at a good price, not necessarily the profit on a retail sale.

[Henry G.]

Well its them interpreting the test results no doubt. If THEY tell that the 4 ball wear test means this or that, or that THIS particular result indicates a far superior product, its really their test isnt? Its on THEIR website, written by them. Does that sound independent? Now the tests may have been done in an independent lab but do you know how important the 1 % difference is in some vapor test? Neither do I.
Its them highlighting where their product did well, and kind of skipping over whenever it didnt place first....just my take on it....
Ok found your link will check it out thanks

[Lazerdot]

Cool,

By the way I could use a CA based dealer.... I may be able to get to LA in Jan (my flying schedule, and wife, permitting). We have a one day dealer meeting/training going on on the 20th.
I believe the biggest sceptic can be the best advocate. I am talking with a guy that wants to do this as business, he has pummeled me with questions and mega research. He's got his business plan and dealer name just about ready to go. I'm worn out but have learned a lot and have gained even more respect for the product as a result.
Send me an e-mail to Greg@Trulube.com and I can PDF you the Motorcycle "White Paper" were talking about if you'd like.

[1stToyota]

MANN oil fiters are now being recommended by Amsoil for the Yaris I have, an 08. 7500 miles between filter changes if using Amsoil.

Does that mean Amsoil is splitting the sheets with WIX and letting MANN build the filters for them now? Before WIX I think it was Hastings that had Amsoil's recommendation.

[Lazerdot]

Not sure the answer.

I can give tech a call next week.

[woof]

If you want your 60K warranty you obviously have to go every 5K miles to change. Right now I do 5K using GTX full synth. I'm thinking about going Amsoil for longer oil changes.

Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, VW are letting customers go 10K on Mobile One so why not go longer with Amsoil? I have it in my manual and it is good stuff.

[Lazerdot]

Longer drain intervals used by Amsoil will not void your warranty. But the filters have got to be changed more often in the Toyotas then the 25,000 miles Amsoil usually allows with the EAO oil filters.

[deerebilt]

i think synthetic oil is a waste of money unless you are running a nhra funny car. no one knows what is in synthetic oil anyway. or what base oil stock is used. use a name brand petroluem oil and filter, change at 3000 mi or oem recommended interval and i believe you will have no oil related failures. also any fuel mileage gains will not offset the price.

[UTVitz]

Synthetic is probably not the most cost effective choice for people that change their oil religiously or don't keep there car long enough to matter. However, Toyota had to settle a class action law suit a few years back for sludged up motors due to 7500 mile oil change intervals being too long with conventional oil. Now they recommend 5000 miles accross the board on their vehicles which none of them come with synthetic from the factory. Tiny oil passages, higher operating temps-trying to get more power out of smaller displacement motors-after a lot of consideration and since I do my own oil changes I finally jumped ship deciding my to give synthetic a try. It took some trial and error with some brands-but finally settled on expensive redline and feel comfortable going 5000 miles now between changes. Before I switched you definitely want to change conventional oil every 3k and those were coming too frequently for me with all the road trips I was making.

[Yaris Hilton]

Toyotas covered by the Louisiana settlement include the:

• Camry 4 cylinder from 1997-2001,
• Camry 6 cylinder from 1997-2002,
• Camry Solara 4 cylinder from 1999-2001,
• Camry Solara 6 cylinder 1999-2002,
• Sienna 6 cylinder from 1998-2002,
• Avalon 6 cylinder from 1997-2002,
• Celica 4 cylinder from 1997-1999,
• Highlander 6 cylinder from 2001-2002,
• Lexus ES 300 from 1997-2002 and
• Lexus RX 300 from 1999-2002.


Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/01/toyota_sludge_settlement.html#ixzz0YCk1Z2Ka

[toad]

someone earlier mentioned the filter is just as important as the oil. i just changed the wife's yaris with pennzoil platinum 5w-30 and a mobil1 'extended performance' filter. i know the platinum is good stuff, but are the mobil1 filters any good(i would hope so as the filter retailed for 12.99 at autozone, but i got a deal for 5 quarts pp and mobil1 filter for 27.99)? i'm hoping this combination will get me 7500-10,000 miles as i'm already out of warranty(i normally change every 5000-6000, but i figure the fancy filter and full synthetic will help extend that).

[06silveryaris]

someone earlier mentioned the filter is just as important as the oil. i just changed the wife's yaris with pennzoil platinum 5w-30 and a mobil1 'extended performance' filter. i know the platinum is good stuff, but are the mobil1 filters any good(i would hope so as the filter retailed for 12.99 at autozone, but i got a deal for 5 quarts pp and mobil1 filter for 27.99)? i'm hoping this combination will get me 7500-10,000 miles as i'm already out of warranty(i normally change every 5000-6000, but i figure the fancy filter and full synthetic will help extend that).


Mobil 1 filters are very good quality and so are the pure one from purelator. You should be just fine with that oci

[HTM Yaris]

I have 85K miles on my Yaris (07). I use Amsoil with Toyota air and oil filters ( Sparks Toyota sells a case of 10 oil filters for $30 ). I change my oil @ 10K intervals and filters at 5K intervals . I have been doing 10k oil changes since 30k . My other Yaris (09) has 8k miles . It was driven off the lot with Amsoil . The 09 will also see 10k oil change intervals .

[Go4th]

I use AMSOIL 5w30 w/AMSOIL filter EAo09 and change it once a year. I do not go over 20k and will change at 20k if I do.

[Lazerdot]

The EAO09 filter is no longer recommended for extended use in our cars due to the Toyota engine issue that came up with the 1.8 liters. The filter should be changed at OEM intervals. Amsoil does recommend the MANN filter for use up to 7500 miles if used with Amsoil.
Ask your Amsoil dealer for more info or e-mail me and I'll send the TSB.