Oil Changes
05 February 2015, 08:02 PM
#1
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Oil Changes
Hi,
Apart from the necessary oil change on a service, how often should you change the oil?
I thought it was just on the service, but I've heard / read you should try and change the oil every 3 months?
Thanks
Apart from the necessary oil change on a service, how often should you change the oil?
I thought it was just on the service, but I've heard / read you should try and change the oil every 3 months?
Thanks
05 February 2015, 08:11 PM
#2
Top mine up with Millers 10w40 about every 6 weeks, although only actually change it once a year. I only do a max of around 7.5k annually.
05 February 2015, 08:15 PM
#4
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Every 3 months is overkill unless it's a track vehicle. It's subjective and depends on your driving style. I do mine every 5k or once a year which ever comes sooner, if you do it yourself then it's not a huge expensive
05 February 2015, 08:40 PM
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05 February 2015, 09:09 PM
#9
Here's the way I do it and it depends on usage, if your doing lots of short journeys and no real motorway driving then it needs to be more frequent as the oil will be contaminated with fuel, so 2/3k If your doing regular 1hr ish at 70+mph journeys then you can extend that period. for me that's between 3/5k but depends what I've been doing.
I also look at the colour of the oil, once it stops having some sort of brown colour to black it's time to change it, I usually do this at a darkish brown for want of a better description, also 6 months or 5000 miles as an absolute maximum is another one of my rules.
I also look at the colour of the oil, once it stops having some sort of brown colour to black it's time to change it, I usually do this at a darkish brown for want of a better description, also 6 months or 5000 miles as an absolute maximum is another one of my rules.
05 February 2015, 09:12 PM
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Here's the way I do it and it depends on usage, if your doing lots of short journeys and no real motorway driving then it needs to be more frequent as the oil will be contaminated with fuel, so 2/3k If your doing regular 1hr ish at 70+mph journeys then you can extend that period. for me that's between 3/5k but depends what I've been doing.
I also look at the colour of the oil, once it stops having some sort of brown colour to black it's time to change it, I usually do this at a darkish brown for want of a better description, also 6 months or 5000 miles as an absolute maximum is another one of my rules.
I also look at the colour of the oil, once it stops having some sort of brown colour to black it's time to change it, I usually do this at a darkish brown for want of a better description, also 6 months or 5000 miles as an absolute maximum is another one of my rules.
06 February 2015, 02:51 AM
#12
Unless its a car driven very hard all the time or highly modified and tracked then just follow the service schedule. Subaru do know what they are talking about and it will be fine. (115,000miles and still fine no oil usage between changes and remapped for more power too about 7 years ago).
06 February 2015, 11:48 AM
#13
I change mine as soon as starts going dark on the stick, 2k-4k I think Subaru recommend on a classic 7k but the more often you change it the better it is for your engine.
When the oil starts getting dirty its not performing aswell as it was when first put in, although this its going to cause massive damage to your engine it will over many years reduce engine life. If your only keeping the car for a few years then don't worry if your keeping it for a long time then more is better
When the oil starts getting dirty its not performing aswell as it was when first put in, although this its going to cause massive damage to your engine it will over many years reduce engine life. If your only keeping the car for a few years then don't worry if your keeping it for a long time then more is better
Last edited by jaygsi; 06 February 2015 at 11:51 AM.
06 February 2015, 01:10 PM
#16
115,000 miles isn't galactic, as I said isn't going to wreck your engine, but it stands to reason the cleaner the oil the better, my impreza only does 2k-4k a year anyway so I only change once or twice a year
Once my oil starts going dark it uses abit of oil, never uses any when clean, so I just change it.
Once my oil starts going dark it uses abit of oil, never uses any when clean, so I just change it.
06 February 2015, 01:41 PM
#17
115,000 miles isn't galactic, as I said isn't going to wreck your engine, but it stands to reason the cleaner the oil the better, my impreza only does 2k-4k a year anyway so I only change once or twice a year
Once my oil starts going dark it uses abit of oil, never uses any when clean, so I just change it.
Once my oil starts going dark it uses abit of oil, never uses any when clean, so I just change it.
I appreciate that changing it more often may be better but its expensive and not necessary for the average owner so would hate for people to think they should be spending £50+ on oil and filter every few months. If you can afford it and want to do it then fine. Just saying that in the 15 years my car has been around its not done it any harm following what the engine designer recommends.
When i was doing fairly average mileage of 1200 a month I would be changing oil every three months by some peoples recommendations! Each to their own.
06 February 2015, 03:32 PM
#22
No your right nothing wrong in changing oil every 7500miles, think it depends on a few factors if the cars running standard bhp and how you drive it.
What oil you use, I just use Castrol gtx, but a few have said about millers, if your getting no oil use in 7500miles I might need to change my oil
What oil you use, I just use Castrol gtx, but a few have said about millers, if your getting no oil use in 7500miles I might need to change my oil
It's not at all but if there was going to be an issue it hasn't occurred yet and I use zero oil. Never have to top up between six month or 7500m changes.
I appreciate that changing it more often may be better but its expensive and not necessary for the average owner so would hate for people to think they should be spending £50+ on oil and filter every few months. If you can afford it and want to do it then fine. Just saying that in the 15 years my car has been around its not done it any harm following what the engine designer recommends.
When i was doing fairly average mileage of 1200 a month I would be changing oil every three months by some peoples recommendations! Each to their own.
I appreciate that changing it more often may be better but its expensive and not necessary for the average owner so would hate for people to think they should be spending £50+ on oil and filter every few months. If you can afford it and want to do it then fine. Just saying that in the 15 years my car has been around its not done it any harm following what the engine designer recommends.
When i was doing fairly average mileage of 1200 a month I would be changing oil every three months by some peoples recommendations! Each to their own.
06 February 2015, 08:15 PM
#24
Lol, people will no doubt not like the idea but I do and always have used 10w40 gtx magnatec. Never had an issue with it. Bit common for some peoples tastes but works for me. The fully forged engine I am putting together will be run on fully synth however, just due to the fact I will be starting from scratch.
07 February 2015, 09:14 AM
#25
bear in mind Subaru's recommends for service life and oil grade are purely to keep fleet buyers happy and reduce perceived new car value
personally would suggest every 5K or 6mths (whichever comes first) for a reasonably used car, if its arduous track/competition work then more often to the extreme that our rally engines are serviced after every event - exact grade & quality of oils/fluids also has a bearing
on of our cars does v.light work and sub 2000miles/year and is simply serviced every 12months but run on high quality oils/fluids
personally would suggest every 5K or 6mths (whichever comes first) for a reasonably used car, if its arduous track/competition work then more often to the extreme that our rally engines are serviced after every event - exact grade & quality of oils/fluids also has a bearing
on of our cars does v.light work and sub 2000miles/year and is simply serviced every 12months but run on high quality oils/fluids
07 February 2015, 11:22 AM
#26
Completely agree, imagine is Subaru put change oil every 4k, who would buy one, not many as most people get garage's to change oil, would cost them a bomb.
But i'm sure its better for the engine. I've been thinking about changing oil abit less say 4k with milers
But i'm sure its better for the engine. I've been thinking about changing oil abit less say 4k with milers
bear in mind Subaru's recommends for service life and oil grade are purely to keep fleet buyers happy and reduce perceived new car value
personally would suggest every 5K or 6mths (whichever comes first) for a reasonably used car, if its arduous track/competition work then more often to the extreme that our rally engines are serviced after every event - exact grade & quality of oils/fluids also has a bearing
on of our cars does v.light work and sub 2000miles/year and is simply serviced every 12months but run on high quality oils/fluids
personally would suggest every 5K or 6mths (whichever comes first) for a reasonably used car, if its arduous track/competition work then more often to the extreme that our rally engines are serviced after every event - exact grade & quality of oils/fluids also has a bearing
on of our cars does v.light work and sub 2000miles/year and is simply serviced every 12months but run on high quality oils/fluids
07 February 2015, 08:53 PM
#27
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From new, I changed the oil in MY07 RB320 every 6 months. Subaru recommended 10k or 12 months.
For me, this worked out about every 4k miles, with daily fast road use only. No track!
When I suffered HG failure at 5 years, the engine was forged by Mr Finch who found the internals to be extremely clean, with no oil staining. But piston #4 was starting to suffer ringland failure!
Can't beat mechanical care/sympathy!
For me, this worked out about every 4k miles, with daily fast road use only. No track!
When I suffered HG failure at 5 years, the engine was forged by Mr Finch who found the internals to be extremely clean, with no oil staining. But piston #4 was starting to suffer ringland failure!
Can't beat mechanical care/sympathy!
09 February 2015, 01:28 PM
#28
So this was the Hawk with the Thornton's engine?
From new, I changed the oil in MY07 RB320 every 6 months. Subaru recommended 10k or 12 months.
For me, this worked out about every 4k miles, with daily fast road use only. No track!
When I suffered HG failure at 5 years, the engine was forged by Mr Finch who found the internals to be extremely clean, with no oil staining. But piston #4 was starting to suffer ringland failure!
Can't beat mechanical care/sympathy!
For me, this worked out about every 4k miles, with daily fast road use only. No track!
When I suffered HG failure at 5 years, the engine was forged by Mr Finch who found the internals to be extremely clean, with no oil staining. But piston #4 was starting to suffer ringland failure!
Can't beat mechanical care/sympathy!
09 February 2015, 03:24 PM
#29
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I think a lot of people are paranoid about oil changes, I change mine every 10k and never had a problem, 400 bhp, sprints, hill climbs, tracked and test days, now on 168k.