Synthetic Oil Change

[JGJ0KER]

Hello all.

So recently I took a trip to Miami, driving my car. I changed my oil and used synthetic for the first time. The total trip was about 3200 miles when it was all said and done. My car is barley about to hit 15000 and until then I've been doing conventional oil every 3000. Well being that it's about to hit 15000 and that I came back from a trip I checked my oil.

It was darker and looked a little dirty but it was still at a good oil level. Being that it is my first time using synthetic, is it time to change it if it's getting dark? Synthetic is supposed to last longer, but I did just drive 3200 miles in about a week, with most being highway which isn't as hard on the oil compared to city.

Long story short, I'm probably going to change it at 15000 just cause I am paranoid about my car but would you usually change it after a long trip using synthetic?

[BuffaloSaint]

My new Santa Fe calls for oil changes every 7,500 miles. I've been getting them every 5k. At work we've got F150's and we change them every 6k.

[Marty_Graw]

Originally Posted by JGJ0KER

Hello all.

So recently I took a trip to Miami, driving my car. I changed my oil and used synthetic for the first time. The total trip was about 3200 miles when it was all said and done. My car is barley about to hit 15000 and until then I've been doing conventional oil every 3000. Well being that it's about to hit 15000 and that I came back from a trip I checked my oil.

It was darker and looked a little dirty but it was still at a good oil level. Being that it is my first time using synthetic, is it time to change it if it's getting dark? Synthetic is supposed to last longer, but I did just drive 3200 miles in about a week, with most being highway which isn't as hard on the oil compared to city.

Long story short, I'm probably going to change it at 15000 just cause I am paranoid about my car but would you usually change it after a long trip using synthetic?

Is it a Synblend or true synthetic, or something more performance driven such as Royal Purple?

[JGJ0KER]

It is full synthetic. I'm running Valvoline SynPower. I used Mobil 1 conventional before and was going to use Mobile 1's synthetic but my friend works at a shop and was able to get me Valvoline for dead cheap. This is on a 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer, yes a 2010 and barley 15000 miles I know, I'm the only one who drives it and I'm only 18 so usually short drives around the area.

[Puntz]

I sell Toyotas, and the manufacturer recommends a syn change every 10k.

[krushing]

I've always used synthetic and changed every 7500 -10,000. I have 240,000 hard miles on my gmc and it's never used a drop of oil between changes. The doors will fall off a modern vehicle before an engine seizes from not changing the oil running synthetic

[staphory]

You could try reading the owner's manual.
I know, I know. Sounds like crazy talk, but I have had good luck with it in the past.

[daMixter]

Originally Posted by Puntz

I sell Toyotas, and the manufacturer recommends a syn change every 10k.

I change about every 3000 miles- old school, I know. Are you anywhere near the Gulf Coast? Did the synthetic/regular mix Castrol last time because they were out of the regular 5-20. Plan on trading the 2010 Tacoma for a new one sometime around December. Is Toyota coming ouit with any major Tacoma restyle anytime soon?

[daMixter]

Originally Posted by daMixter

I change about every 3000 miles- old school, I know. Are you anywhere near the Gulf Coast? Did the synthetic/regular mix Castrol last time because they were out of the regular 5-20. Plan on trading the 2010 Tacoma for a new one sometime around December. Is Toyota coming ouit with any major Tacoma restyle anytime soon?

PS- Have two Fleur-de-lis on the rear windows- should help with trade in value, right?

[Paul]

Originally Posted by staphory

You could try reading the owner's manual.
I know, I know. Sounds like crazy talk, but I have had good luck with it in the past.

Yes! When all else fails.......
Read the instructions.

[SaintBrad]

Given the long trip, I would change it. Im not Mr know it all, but I believe that while the oil is ok, its the filter that should (not need) be replaced after that trip consistently running at hot temperatures for that kind of duration on a new vehicle.

[JGJ0KER]

Yes I understand what the manual states lol. I was just wondering if people normally would change the oil after a long trip on synthetic.

Now that I have a good idea of my question, I will most likely end up changing it once it hits 15,000 and then probably let it go around 5,000 on synthetic from now on. My parents will take over the car once I leave to basic in August, so hopefully they take good care of it!

[SeLuSaint]

My 2004 Toyota Rav4 has synthetic oil now and I usually skip the oil change light and get an oil change every 6000 miles instead of every 3000 miles which is when the light comes on. Car has over 100,000 miles on it.

[Denzien]

You probably don't have to change it yet, but it won't hurt anything but your wallet.

The synthetic was probably cleaning up all the crap left behind by the conventional oil. I would give it another few oil changes to be sure.

[moe1967]

Originally Posted by Denzien

You probably don't have to change it yet, but it won't hurt anything but your wallet.

The synthetic was probably cleaning up all the crap left behind by the conventional oil. I would give it another few oil changes to be sure.

^^^This^^^

IMO, I'd stick to Mobil 1 or Castrol Full Synthetic.

If you go to changing your synthetic oil every 10K miles then I'd make sure to change the filter at every 5K miles and add approx 1/8 of a quart to make up the difference.

FYI, you can also send off a sample and have it tested to see if the oil is still good. It would give you a better idea when is the right time to change your oil. I think it cost like $25.

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