Red03TLinTex

Car: 2003 TL (stock)

Typical Driving Conditions:

I live in a suburb of Dallas and work near the downtown area.

>>>Fortunately (or not so fortunately), I avoid a lot of traffic because I work nights, but in the mornings, I do engage in about 5-10mi of 'city driving' (i.e. lots of low-gear shifting at low speeds to 45mph) out of a 25mi route each way.

>>>Now that I am through the initial break-in, I will occasionally 'exercise' the engine/tranny at RPMs over 4k, but not into redline area.

>>>I tend to drive relatively conservatively until the temp gauge is at/near normal op reading.

>>>I don't race.

>>>I expect to average about 1,000mi/mo.

Current Mileage: ~750

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I plan to invest in AMSOIL full synthetic 5w-30 (30 for the 100deg Texas summer days) and AMSOIL Super-duty Oil Filters (SDF-20).

Oil Life: 25,000mi or 12mo (wcf) $5.85/qt

Filter Life: 12,500mi or 6mo (wcf) $11.55 ea.

Once I reach 3750 on the od, I will switch out the factory oil with AMSOIL and also replace the filter with the AMSOIL product. After that, I plan to do the filter every 6mo, and oil+filter @12mo intervals.

With this schedule, I anticipate spending about $60/yr on oil & filters.

Given everything I've told you and AMSOIL's reputation for synthetic motor oils, can you see any glaring faults in what I'm planning to do?


p.s. - wcf = whichever comes first

CO-CL-S

I assume you're doing under 25,000 miles a year (probably closer to 15,000)? Sounds reasonable to me. YMMV

Red03TLinTex

Yeah, I'll probably do less than 15k in a year if everything stays relatively the same w/work and such.

Btw, is there any risk to switching to synthetic @my first oil change? It looks like most everyone here swears by it, but a guy at work said he's had three engines develop major oil leaks from switching to synthetic. Should I be at all wary about using it in my car?

CO-CL-S

I have never heard of a problem with switching to synthetic (prior to your guy at work)..

fender4

Hey,,, come on over I got deals on Amsoil,, just a little above wholesale,,,($5.25/qt and $10/most filters includes tax, $15 to change it) I have to sell 40 qts / year to break even,, I ave. 60 for the last two years,,, Your plans look good to me,,, I change at 10k miles and filter at 5k,, but I drive 22k yearly. On a new engine leaks are NOT a problem,, even my 66 mustang doesn't leak,, (PM me,,, I've lived in Coppell for 18 years,,, )

the sdf44 filter is the same cost,, I use this and haven't had any problems...

edgalang

The only thing I would change is the model # of the filter you are using. Instead of getting the stock Amsoil (SDF-20)........for the same price, you might as well get the oversized one that we KNOW fits and works.

fender4

thanks good point