how often to change oil?

[sherfield2002]

well i've had my first dsm(91 tsi) for about a week now and its been great but i'm still learnin about how its works. i am gonna change the oil this weekend and want to know how often to change it? can i go 3000 miles like other vehicles or should it be change more frequently? i heard that it needs changin more than a regular car b/c its turbo and the oil gets hotter and stuff the normal. anyways somebody just give me some input on how often to change the oil and filter

 

[erc's_gsx]

most people change their oil around 2500-3000 miles. personally i change mine every 3,000 miles with mobil 1 synthetic oil along with a mitsubishi oil filter.

 

[WI_99'GST]

3000 miles, both oil and filter, use mobil 1 oil and OEM filter

aj

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

Originally posted by sherfield2002
well i've had my first dsm(91 tsi) for about a week now and its been great but i'm still learnin about how its works. i am gonna change the oil this weekend and want to know how often to change it? can i go 3000 miles like other vehicles or should it be change more frequently? i heard that it needs changin more than a regular car b/c its turbo and the oil gets hotter and stuff the normal. anyways somebody just give me some input on how often to change the oil and filter

You're about to start something big with that question. Oil questions are everlasting around here.
Heres what I've observed to make a long story short.
Conventional oil: 3000k
Synthetic oil: 4000-6000k
Im sure others will be in after me to tell you about 300 other opinions. Later.

 

[clownface]

hey, ive noticed that K&N makes a oil filter, is there any reason why should buy that filter say..over a mobil one or mitsubishi filter?

 

[erc's_gsx]

as far as i know, the mitsubishi filter gives off better oil pressure.

 

[paranoidTSi]

The reason mitsubishi oil fiters are popular, for one they are obviously DESIGNED for our cars, mitsubishi would know what design would be the best, but also:
a) Oil Bypass valve, in the event the filter gets clogged it will automatically flow the oil unfiltered into the engine...better than a dead motor right?
b) Some people claim it reduces lifter tick, and deals with the oil pressure better than aftermarket ones.

In terms of frequency of oil changes, always recommend Synthetic, change between 4K to 6K in miles. Synthetic lasts longer than 3,000 miles..which I think is overkill.

 

[clownface]

Originally posted by paranoidTSi
The reason mitsubishi oil fiters are popular, for one they are obviously DESIGNED for our cars, mitsubishi would know what design would be the best, but also:
a) Oil Bypass valve, in the event the filter gets clogged it will automatically flow the oil unfiltered into the engine...better than a dead motor right?
b) Some people claim it reduces lifter tick, and deals with the oil pressure better than aftermarket ones.

In terms of frequency of oil changes, always recommend Synthetic, change between 4K to 6K in miles. Synthetic lasts longer than 3,000 miles..which I think is overkill.

wow i like the bypass thing, looks like im going to mitsubishi for my filter.

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

I thought all filters had the bypass? Defiant! Where are you?

 

[16vdohcturboawd]

every 3000 miles on conventional and im gonna stick with the same now that im getting a brand new engine but its goin Mobil 1 synthetic.

 

[erc's_gsx]

replacement of synthetic oil between 4,000-6,000 miles?

many change theirs as soon as 2,500 miles, but i replace my oil at 3,000 miles just to make sure fresh oil is being used in the engine rather than black oil running around hoping to be replaced.

 

[dave99gst]

Originally posted by RiceKiller_TSi
I thought all filters had the bypass? Defiant! Where are you?

not all - also filter that 'claim' better filtering.. could only be done at a loss of presure. if you change it normaly ya shouldnt need better filtering.
i think PureOne ?? maybe ??? is close to the same syle as OEM

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

Originally posted by dave99gst
not all - also filter that 'claim' better filtering.. could only be done at a loss of presure. if you change it normaly ya shouldnt need better filtering.
i think PureOne ?? maybe ??? is close to the same syle as OEM

I've been told that before, Although I havent had any problems with my "Bosch" filters I just may try out a PureOne for kicks. I used Frams for many years till I read how much it sucked...but I sure do miss that "Sure Grip" stuff on the end of their filters. That part was a good idea by Fram.

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by RiceKiller_TSi
I thought all filters had the bypass? Defiant! Where are you?

Good god, here I am.

Okay, my standard oil spiel:

CHP is running their cars 8,000 between oil changes. They're not gentle miles. They can't afford synthetic oil, this is on regular multiweight Quaker State.

The factory manual says 5,000 for the turbo, with 10,000 on the filters. I don't believe that what _we_ think is "severe" service qualifies. "Severe"to me is the Dakar rallye, or Antarctica.

When the DSM company got together, the best oil over-the-counter was American Petroleum Instutute Spark Engine graded G. They were calling for the 5K intervals then. We're now up to L. That's 5 of 12 grade steps, damned near twice the performance capabilities of the oil being made when the motor was designed.

However, all that said, the only _drawback_ to frequent (if you do it more often than 3K, you're severely [Dakar-level] out of your mind. Those who stay with 5K are only mildly touched) oil changes is the cost. There's no such thing as "over-lubrication" once a motor's rings are seated to their bores (not to be confused with over-filling).

Now then, Synthetics.

They're wonderful. None of us need them. Almost all the myths you hear about them are just myths- with the exception that they're still saying to not break engines in with it. If you want to spend the money, and you can afford it, well good. The economy needs all the help you can give it. There's nothing WRONG with using them, it's just that there's not that much better with them- especially in a DSM turbo with a water-cooled spool. Synthetic engines' instances of crankwalk doesn't seem any different than with non-synthetics.

Oil filter bypass? First I've heard of that. The bypass is built into the oil pump cover. However, if your filter becomes "clogged", and needs a bypass.... well, what the hell could clog it in the first place? If it's chunks of engine, bypassing the filter would be about as useful as shovelling sand out of Iraq. With a fork.

And on the filter topic: what do you hope to filter out? "Crappy" or not, the Frams have the same 4-micron passages as the four-times-as-costly K&N filter. The K&N may have more surface area.... which mean more flow restriction. Keep in mind that before the mid-sixties, oil filtration wasn't used on many engines. The one possible advantage the Mits filter may have over anyone else's is a point that Buck had brought up: their gasket may be more friendly to the rather-fragile oil cooler.

Anyways, they're just my opinions. I'm not stressed about oil changes, and that's with drives from here to the freezing temperatures of the Sierra in winter, and the heat we get here into the 110°Fs and more. It's worked to the '95's 85K, the 94's 130K, the Datsun 200SX Turbo's 170K, and my '69 roadster's quarter-million plus. My intervals are, "Oh, yeah, I should change oil." And, eventually, I do.

If you're the sort who thinks, "Oh shit, 3300 miles, I GOTTA do a change!" then your motor -and probably the rest of your car- is on the gravy train to Fat City.

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

Thanks! Thats what I was trying to say! ^^^

 

[JiveMasterT]

If you're the sort who thinks, "Oh shit, 3300 miles, I GOTTA do a change!" then your motor -and probably the rest of your car- is on the gravy train to Fat City.

wtf is Fat City? I dont think there is anything wrong with changing your oil every 3000 miles, if you can afford it. your engine will just be happier. thats all.

 

[rollindsm]

Hey i change mine every 3,000 with synthetic. But on Royal Purples web site it say you can go 12,000 miles, but you have to replace the filter at about 6,000. Also new benz's only get their oil changed every 10,000. So i dont know what to tell you but i thought this was intresting oil info.

 

[sherfield2002]

thanx for all the info guys

 

[paranoidTSi]

Originally posted by JiveMasterT
wtf is Fat City? I dont think there is anything wrong with changing your oil every 3000 miles, if you can afford it. your engine will just be happier. thats all.

He isn't saying there is anything wrong with changing your oil at 3,000 miles..what he is saying that it is overkill. The "Every 3000 miles" rule has been around for decades.

Look at where we are at since decades ago, computers have come a long way, video games, tv, dvds, vcrs, cds, etc. etc.

Same concept, both motors and motor oils have come along way since the 3,000 mile rule, oils are made to last longer and lubricate better. Why not take advantage of it?

 

[dsm4life]

I think the only real difference with synthetic oils is that they let you run a little longer then 3K before you have to change it. Its a lazy mans oil. but that doesnt stop me from using Mobil 1 synthetic and changing just before 3K. My oil stays really clean this way i could probably rebottle my oil and sell it , .



as far as the filters i just use proculator premium filter. Is there a big difference useing this filter over a OEM one ?

 

[symple]

Who here runs synthetic? Did you notice anything different/better when you switched? I know when I switched, I noticed the difference immediately.

The oil pressure was undulating with a lot more consistency (ie: drive the car around 5k RPM, watch the pressure rise then as soon as you took it out of gear the pressure was dropping back to normal.), the car ran smoother at 5000+ RPM, and there was less noise coming from the engine.

I guess, to me, it's worth the $50 oil changes.


--Symple

 

[GSGoinFast]

Ive heard that if you have used regular oil for the entire car's life, changing to synthetic is bad for it. is that true or just one of the "myths" you were talking about? thanks

 

[dsm4life]

i dont think that its bad but i heard that the oil may leak. but not sure

 

[Enigma_Man]

I have to assume my car saw non-synthetic its whole life before I owned it (it was beat).

I "switched" to synthetic without any problems.

The real benefit to synthetic comes from its ability to last longer. I personally change my oil when the oil on the dipstick is getting too dark. I never let it get black.

I think it works out for me to be around about every 6000 miles or so? By then, the oil is getting pretty dark, and looks like it could use a change.

I used to change it every 3000 miles, but the oil coming out of the engine was the same color as the stuff going in, so I decided to use the synthetic how it's designed to be used.

-Jesse

 

[GSGoinFast]

I dunno i heard that if you change to synthetic the pistons and what not can absorb the new oil since its not used to it or something, and it can screw up the engine by not lubricating. this is just what i heard, so i dont know if its true, and by what you guys have been saying it doesnt seem to be, but i heard that.