ashtondiff

So for the past few years ive been changing my oil regularly with synthetic, either Mobil 1 or Royal Purple, which ever i feel like buying at the time. I had been changing it every 3 months or 5000 miles because i lived in an area where i was driving a lot.

currently i live in an area that i dont have to drive very far everyday so this is where i have a question:

the sticker says my next service date was 1/08/2009 or at 103700 mileage.

obviously im a bit past the date but im still just at 101200 mileage. 2500 miles to go.

ive read on these and other forums contradicting statements, some say change every 3000 miles... and some say, since they dont drive very often, change once a year...

what are your takes? should i just wait till the mileage comes up or should i change the oil every 3-4 months? does the oil break down over time?

im in atlanta, using 5w30, either royal purple or mobil1, with either mobil1 or k&n filter.

Eagle2000GT

I have read that oil should be changed between 3,000-8,000 miles depending on the type of driving that you do. 3,000 miles for city or towing. 8,000 for interstate driving. I do a lot of driving and basically change oil every 5,000 miles. I have a truck that I don't drive very much. I change oil in it twice per year.

When you check your oil look to see how dark it is getting. If its dirty, change it.

98MustangGT46

Just stick to the mileage. They estimated it when they put the sticker on it.

isjoining

I don't drive a lot (around 4000 miles a year) so I go by the date. Im using motocraft synthetic blend, i always change it every 3 months regardless of miles.

Lando10

just wait until the 5000 miles if your using the synthetic. if you were using conventional id suggest every 3000 miles but with the added protection of the synthetic you should be safe with 5000 plus you arent driving it much.