Oil question -

[jberks]

Hi all,
Non MB question .... kind of
A mate has just bought a PT cruiser and has discovered that the service schedule requires it to have an oil change every 6 months or every 6k, whichever is the sooner.
It's just out of warranty so I (and a few other folk) have told him that this is a mad idea based on his 10k pa and he should just have it doen once a year.
To date it has been done that regularly. so the service book is about to be stamped at it's 36k entry and it's actually just done 9k!
Now given that mine are every 10k and can go as long as 18months if the mileage is low, and should actually do 13-18k if assyst was up to it, why such a massive disaprity?
It has Shell Helix in according to the invoices.

 

[Parrot of Doom]

Being a US car I'd imagine this is the reason for the 6k change. They use a lot of mineral oil over there (I browse a US MB forum, some change at 3k!)

If it were mine I'd be changing every 10k with semi-synth oil, or more with fully synth.

IMO a 6 month change, even with only a few hundred miles, is stupid and wasteful.

 

[verytalldave]

Being a US car I'd imagine this is the reason for the 6k change. They use a lot of mineral oil over there (I browse a US MB forum, some change at 3k!)

If it were mine I'd be changing every 10k with semi-synth oil, or more with fully synth.

IMO a 6 month change, even with only a few hundred miles, is stupid and wasteful.

Totally agree. Semi Synthetic is fine up to about 12,000 miles and Fully Synthetic (ie. Mobil One) is fine for 20,000. Many go even longer, for example Renault use semi-synth and recommends 18,000 between changes.
Modern engines are built to such fine tolerances and use quality materials that makes these long periods possible. My last car that stated an oil change every 3000 miles was a 1965 Morris 1100 in which I used Castrol XL.

 

[dolmen]

Oil is a very hot topic. I have had many questions and received much advice, but here is my 2p worth.

I have been using Shell oils for many years, just happened that my mechanic swore it was good stuff!

Both my vehicles (Mercedes car and van) with high mileage 235k and 193k are serviced at 10k intervals I use Shell Helix Plus which is a 10w40 semi syn oil. I use this grade of oil because 'I' believe it best suits the technology of a 8 - 10 year old car / van.

When I get a newer vehicle, perhaps a 2 year old Merc I will up grade the oil to Shell Helix Ultra which is a 5w40 fully syn oil and best suits the technology of a newer vehicle. Mobil 1 is an excellent oil for this vehicle also, but its price 'I' believe is just over the top for a everyday passenger vehicles that get serviced at 10k intervals (personal preference as I just like my vehicles checked that little bit more often, and fuel filters changed for sure).

I'm sure others will have different views, but this works for me! Hope it helps.

Cheers

 

[bigasotonuk]

Hi,
Though i,m not disagreing with the general consensus of this thread regarding the frequency of oil changes, but why would a manufacturer tell you to service it every 6,000 miles if this was,nt nessacary as nowadays the longer a car does between services is deemed better, and more desirable, if it could go 10,000 miles between oil changes they would of made it the recommended distance.
I,m afraid i think i would be giving it more thought and research before i would dismiss the manufacturers recommendations.
Just my opinion.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Hi,
Though i,m not disagreing with the general consensus of this thread regarding the frequency of oil changes, but why would a manufacturer tell you to service it every 6,000 miles if this was,nt nessacary as nowadays the longer a car does between services is deemed better, and more desirable, if it could go 10,000 miles between oil changes they would of made it the recommended distance.
I,m afraid i think i would be giving it more thought and research before i would dismiss the manufacturers recommendations.
Just my opinion.

Surely, would this not all depend on the type of use the vehicle is mainly subjected to?

e.g Motorway vs Tesco vs City driving etc.

I use mine mainly for motorway driving (currently 3k+ a month ) and would hate to think It needed an oil & filter change every 2 months!!

p.s - I've covered 4500miles in the last month - and 'Assist' has only dropped 1000miles..!!!!

 

[Ron Palfrey]

Hi,
Though i,m not disagreing with the general consensus of this thread regarding the frequency of oil changes, but why would a manufacturer tell you to service it every 6,000 miles if this was,nt nessacary as nowadays the longer a car does between services is deemed better, and more desirable, if it could go 10,000 miles between oil changes they would of made it the recommended distance.
I,m afraid i think i would be giving it more thought and research before i would dismiss the manufacturers recommendations.
Just my opinion.

I agree with Andy here. I'd stick with the manufacturer's recommended schedule. Oil is cheaper than engines. If you want longer intervals buy a different vehicle.:wink:

Ron

 

[Rory]

Hi,
Though i,m not disagreing with the general consensus of this thread regarding the frequency of oil changes, but why would a manufacturer tell you to service it every 6,000 miles if this was,nt nessacary

I honestly think that happens in the US because the manufacturers are scared that customers will think them reckless if they suggest extending out the oil change intervals. There's a huge body of opinion in the US (perpetuated by the the fast-fit oil change outfits) that encourages 3000 mile oil changes.

Honda Jazz is 12500 miles here - same car in the US (called Fit) is 6000 miles. But that's without a filter change. The idea is you drive into a fast fitplace, they suck the oil out of the dipstick tube and then refill it. Takes a few mins and costs next to nothing (oil is cheap in the US).

 

[bigasotonuk]

Namely with Honda Jazz do you not think the materials that the engine is made of have any bearing on this?
As the Japenese metals vary in quality depending on the market the car is being sold in apparently, as some of the diesels being imported have cylinder heads which are made of inferior metal compared to the ones fitted on the UK model.
What your saying about the American Manufacturers very feasiable in todays 'sue you' culture.

 

[jberks]

Thanks all.
I have to say that I do suspect it's an American thing. Oil changes are cheap and the attitude is that they need more regular changes - hence that what they get. Here, we go to the dealers who charge us £120-£150 (quotes) for the privilege. I can accept that the construction of the engine makes a difference but modern semi synthetics last well beyond 6k. Even then, what I find crazy is that they reckon a service every 6 months irrespective of mileage. That car had covered an average of 250 miles per month over the last 3 years. Hence it was being serviced every 1500 miles. So Chrysler are saying that oil either degrades beyond use in only 6 months (which simply isn't true) or can't cope with 1500 miles. To me, that's a con, plain and simple.

My friend rang Chrysler UK and asked them. The lass he spoke to was surprised at the 6 months. She then checked with someone else who confirmed it but reckeoned that if it were hers, and it was out of warranty, she'd do it every year.

Oddly, my Jeep is every 12 months.

 

[Rory]

Namely with Honda Jazz do you not think the materials that the engine is made of have any bearing on this?
As the Japenese metals vary in quality depending on the market the car is being sold in apparently, as some of the diesels being imported have cylinder heads which are made of inferior metal compared to the ones fitted on the UK model.

On Jazz/Fit it's the same engine. I'm not aware of the cylinder head issue you refer to, but many manufacturers have had probs with cylinder linings not being able to cope with the local fuel. BMW and Jaguar had big issues with this on UK cars (the Nikasil problem).

What your saying about the American Manufacturers very feasiable in todays 'sue you' culture.

I don't think it's so much that, but oil in the US used to be pretty low quality (it didn't matter because it was being changed so often). Drivers there just haven't adapted to what they call "European" oils.

 

[Blobcat]

I'm with POD in that it's a North American thing. There are lube shops all over the place and ~£20 for a basic oil change. Not many pay just the ~£20 as they always find a few "urgent" items that need to be done at the same time.

 

[Nick Buckley]

I have made friends with an American Dad at my sons football team and we were talking oil only recently.

In the US they have dedicated drive in oil change stations and it seems it is very much part of their culture to change frequently, every 3000 or so. I assumed it is because oil is cheap there, they have always done it and still do even though oil quality is getting better all the time. It is just good house keeping, keeping those lovely V8s well oiled.

Cheers

 

[Dinnie]

My aunt (in-law) has a Chrysler Voyager in Canada. She services her car every 3,000 miles. I think the main thing is the cheap oil and.....the fuel. Their standard fuel is something like 87 RON which is what everyone uses.

I even had a ride in a Porsche 911 (996) GT3 while I was out there on a father's day parade to raise money for charity. The owner used the highest octane, which out there was like 94. If I had a 911, I wouldn't dare put in anything less than 99! Poor car, must be suffocating on cheap fuel and probably pumping out 10% less BHP.