Every 3k or 5K?
12-10-2006, 06:19 PM
#3
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: So Cal
Posts: 676
RE: Every 3k or 5K?
I know this is going to sound lazy, but I take all my vehicles to the dealer for service...they recommend a 5K mile service interval. I figure that if there are any warranty issues they will have complete records with them performing the vehicle service. And for 34 bucks with tire rotation, its just easier for me and a business deduction.
12-10-2006, 07:43 PM
#7
RE: Every 3k or 5K?
Every 3000 at the local ford dealer. They recommend 3k and not 5k. I don't put a ton of miles so 3 months comes around 3000 anyway. I don't have the setup to change it myself otherwise I would.
12-10-2006, 11:46 PM
#10
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 2,544
RE: Every 3k or 5K?
Wow. Another oil thread here.
OK, here's the deal. There is no "magic number" for oil changes. There is no number that is perfectly OK, and if you go one mile past that it's suddenly not OK. The shorter your oil (and filter) change interval is, the longer the engine will last.
There is no doubt that a 3000 mile interval is better for your engine than a 5000 mile interval, which is better than a 7000 mile interval, etc.
Then again, 5000 might be good enough. In fact, it probably is. 7000 may be OK as well....but there is no way to be certain. I say that because there are many different factors that affect the longevity of oil, including the type of oil you use, how you drive, and what your enviornment is like. Not to mention there's the question of how long you expect your motor to last.
It's a bit like asking how often should you go to the dentist for checkups?
Personally, I use Mobil 1 and I do my changes every 3000. There is no doubt in my mind that Mobil 1 will last much longer than 3000 mi without thermal breakdown, but I change it more frequently for three reasons:
1) I drive in a dusty area, and I have a dirt driveway.
2) I am more than willing to spend the extra $ to keep the engine as clean as possible. I drive hard and I want to protect the engine well.
3) Even if the oil will last a long time without breaking down, the oil FILTER does not do well over that much time. Filters get clogged up over time, which affects oil flow. Also a clogged filter will start bypassing oil, which basically means it stops filtering, and that lets dirty oil circulate around in your engine. Changing the filter frequently is just as important, if not more important, than keeping the oil changed.
OK, here's the deal. There is no "magic number" for oil changes. There is no number that is perfectly OK, and if you go one mile past that it's suddenly not OK. The shorter your oil (and filter) change interval is, the longer the engine will last.
There is no doubt that a 3000 mile interval is better for your engine than a 5000 mile interval, which is better than a 7000 mile interval, etc.
Then again, 5000 might be good enough. In fact, it probably is. 7000 may be OK as well....but there is no way to be certain. I say that because there are many different factors that affect the longevity of oil, including the type of oil you use, how you drive, and what your enviornment is like. Not to mention there's the question of how long you expect your motor to last.
It's a bit like asking how often should you go to the dentist for checkups?
Personally, I use Mobil 1 and I do my changes every 3000. There is no doubt in my mind that Mobil 1 will last much longer than 3000 mi without thermal breakdown, but I change it more frequently for three reasons:
1) I drive in a dusty area, and I have a dirt driveway.
2) I am more than willing to spend the extra $ to keep the engine as clean as possible. I drive hard and I want to protect the engine well.
3) Even if the oil will last a long time without breaking down, the oil FILTER does not do well over that much time. Filters get clogged up over time, which affects oil flow. Also a clogged filter will start bypassing oil, which basically means it stops filtering, and that lets dirty oil circulate around in your engine. Changing the filter frequently is just as important, if not more important, than keeping the oil changed.