krayziep5

To those of you that are running synthetic oil, when its time for your oil change do you drain out all the oil and change the filter or do you just change the filter and top off the oil with a quart. I was talking to my friend he said that he only changes the filter and adds a quart of synthetic whenever 3000 miles comes around. Is it safe for the engine to do this?
Thanks

gcs118

I use Mobil 1 synthetic and Mobil 1 filter as well, and I change my oil a little after 3000 miles, complete drain and new filter. Changing the filter more often than changing the oil is popular for synthetics, however I've never heard of the "add a quart" solution. Just make sure you never overfill it if you do try that. It would probably make life easier to drain it all and put all new fresh stuff in at once.

krayziep5

If I change to synthetic and change the filter every 3000 miles, how long is it safe to keep the same oil in? I was reading somewhere and one brand of oil can be used up to 100,000 miles? I'm not sure if I read correctly.

DoBeR

Ive never heard of being able to use any oil for that long. On my car mazda says to do the oil every 7000 kms and synthetic is supposed to be longer lasting maybe even upto 10000kms. I still do the complete change every 5000 kms anyways.

blackp5sdp

if you can add a quart of oil...like that with out draining any out...you have some serious problems with your engine....either your leaking oil...or you are burning oil....both very bad.

change oil and filter at 3000 or less.....

you should always change your filter when you change your oil because a filter is just that.......a filter....

it gets dirty and full of ****...... if your filter is old then it cant filter your oil. so if you put new oil in and not change the filter its almost just like not changing oil...the new oil will circulate all the **** the old oil did...

shoelessjoemac

The adding of the extra quart is to supplement what is lost when replacing the filter. On many cars though, the filter does not hold an entire quart.

While using a synthetic oil for more miles than is recommended by the auto manufacturer may not be the best course of action, it is a generally accepted practice by many car owners. The synthetic oil gives a higher heat protection, and such doesn't break down a soon as standard oils.

AmsOil makes the a claim that they have a test engine that has run for hundreds of thousands of miles without an oil change, and people I know who are willing to pay for Amsoil say it is the best thing since sliced bread. Many of them change the filter every 3 to 4 thousand miles, top off the oil, and do a complete service every 6 to 8 thousand.

I personally run standard Valvoline 5w30 in my Protege, and change at Mazda's reccomended intervals. This is what I reccomend to anyone who doesn't require extreme service from their engine, such as racing or suspended high temp stop and go driving.

frankm

Can anyone advise me where to buy Amsoil products? I'm in southern Ontario, Canada. I've seen lots of research showing how good their synthetics are.

shoelessjoemac

I'm not sure of any large retailers that sell it, they are based out of Superior, Wisconsin. I'm sure you could find out more at www.amsoil.com.

Maxx Mazda

I change my Mobil1 every 10,000Kms. It can last that long, and for the last 2000Kms or so, I drive the car real gently.

MikeyG_U2

Synthetic Oil does resist breakdown longer than regular 'dino' oil, however the additives in the oil are the same, and will break down just as quickly. I would suggest following the reccomended interval for oil changes with either synthetic or dino oil. My car reccomends every 5000 miles unless in extreme driving conditions, in which case it says to change it at 3000 miles. With synthetic oil I just change the oil and filter every 5000. There is no harm in changing your oil too often, it helps preserve that really expensive investment...

On the topic of 'topping off' after changing the filter. If you want to do this, it's your call, I personally say don't be a cheap-*** and change your oil! However, I strongly suggest you use the exact same oil when topping-off. You don't ever want to mix oils, they can separate inside your engine, and sometimes the different additives in each oil don't get along so well.

Edit: I suck at spelling