I skimmed through the service manual the other day just for the heck of it, and noticed that the recommended oil and filter change interval is 8,000 miles. I think that's the longest oil change interval I've ever seen on any vehicle. Does anyone actually follow that?

 

I just change mine every 3k to play it safe. I figure it's a 4 cyl engine...

 

i run synthetic and change it around 4k. it says 8k, but i dont listen to that.
oil is cheap, motors are expensive....

 

A lot of new cars have high change intervals. My dad's new Jaguar says every 10,000, hell even my new Kia optima says every 5,000. I think oils are getting better with technology and engine tolerances are getting tighter with better materials. The 3,000 mile interval is a thing of the past I think, but its going to take a while to condition people to anything different.

 

That's great but our engines are older technology from 01-06

 

01 IS newer tech. Fuel injection and manufacturing process have made engines better. Oil companys have refined their production process and additives packages to last longer. A 7000 mile oil change isen't that big of a deal, although I would change the filters sooner at the very least and use synthetic if your really going to go that long. Personally, I use non synthetic and change at 3k.

 

the reason oil change intervals are longer on newer cars is due to the additives that are put in them. the additives are improved and more of them, than there used to be. We don't use oil with all those slippery additives, it's bad for our clutches. our oil does contain some additives, and they do break down over time. as it has been explained to me, by oil companies directly, the oil will last a long time but the additives break down around 7,500 miles, and after that it's not lubing well enough.

the bottom line, and i'm not trying to start another oil discussion, is change it whenever you want. my bike is my baby, i'm doing it around 4k. do yours at 5k, 8k, 10k, never....it's up to you!

as far as your cars go, same thing applies. the oil can go longer than the 3k previously accepted, but as for the general population goes, everything else on the car cant. most people dont ever, or even know how to, check their tires, coolant, belts, brakes, or anything else. most people these days, turn the key and just drive it until it breaks or blows up. i dont want the guy with brakes that are gone and bald tires, because the oil hasnt gone 10k miles, behind me when i'm out riding! if it takes "changing oil" to get them to the shop to make sure things are safe once every 4-5 months, so be it.

 

I think you could follow that interval with the right oil and filter. The person I know of with the most miles on his f4i is thirdgenlxi w/ about 236k and I believe he changes his oil every 5k using mobil 1 10w-40 or 15w-50 from his posts that I've seen. Being a high performance and high revving motor I think 4-5k is as far as I'll push my OCI.

 

i run royal purple only on all my engines no matter how big/small they are. and i always do it every 4 months or 5Km. they say synth can run for 10+Km but i would rather spend $20 on oil then replace my block.

 

over here at bmw cars oil change is 15,000