I began using Mobil 1 at about 36k miles and had been running the oil for about 12k miles and replacing the oil filter after 6K. This winter has been a bit** and I'm at 9k since my last oil and filter change. I was going to wait until 10k and do them both or change the filter and wait another 2-3k before the oil change.

For those with a lot of synthetic experience, what's the impact of going 10-12k without changing the filter? This would only be a temporary "extension" since I plan on going back to my 6k/12k schedule.

 

Rick, I know what you mean about the weather affecting crawling under your rig for some of the "warm weather" maintenance duties.

I drive about 10,000 per year now and change the filter halfway. I have taken oil samples numerous times on other vehicles and was always amazed at the good condition of the synthetic oils (Amsoil) at higher mileage. If I were in your shoes right now, I would maybe go to a local quick lube and ask them to change the oil filter, add a quart of Mobil 1 and call it good for a few thousand more miles. If you are at all concerned, or are curious about the present condition of your oil, you can get a sample kit online or from Amsoil and take a sample. I've got a favorite quicklube close by where I know the guys and take them a box of doughnuts occasionally so they are eager to do me a favor if I get there early when they aren't busy.

I used to have a Trooper that I regularly drove 25,000 miles per year and I changed the oil once each year and the filter at six months. I always sampled the oil both times and it was fine.

Hope this opinion helps.

Mick

 

Someone posted this the other day. http://neptune.spacebears.com/ They are doing a current oil anaylis of Mobil 1 and Amsoil.

 

I'm prolly crazy, but even when I ran synthetic I would religiously change my oil every 3k miles, or a few hundred before.
I run good ole' cheap oil now and still change it every 3k.

 

Changing your synthetic every 3000 miles is a waste of time and $$$$. The oil actually performs better with some miles on it.

 

I was going through the same thing last year. Here is what I did.

I swithed to Amsoil and ran it for one year (18,400 miles) and changed the filter half way @ 6 months. I had the oil tested and it was still good but I was told it was dirty. I was also told it was dirty because of the air filter. STUPID K&N So I changed the filter back to a paper filter, I use the 5-30W Series 2000, and change the oil filter (OEM) every 4 months. This fall I will have it tested again and see if there is a difference.

 

i'm not a big fan of keeping the filter in there that long. i run synthetics in all of my cars and i change the oil once a year (right after winter) and the filter every 3k. the filter change is simple (exept on the 22re) so it doesn't matter if i have to do it in the winter. my cars have 50k, 180k, and 228k and none of them burn nor leak any oil.

synthetic is really good stuff and i wouldn't worry about leaving it in there for a while, just make sure that in the winter you run the engine hot enough to boil off any crap that gets in the crank case during cold starts. other than that, the synthetic can take the abuse of the winter.

 

Thanks for the response! I typically put 24k/year on my vehicle and had been using dino oil in my '90 4Runner and doing the usual 3k oiland filter changes. I sold her at 205,000 mile to a friend and he now has 235,000 on it. The engine has never been opened other than the head gasket recall and for timing belts.

Just for info, I'm not looking to save $$. I just don't want to spend half a lifetime under the vehicle including screwing with the &%@&(&$% skid plate!