Oil change frequency

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Old Jun 20, 2022 | 05:03 PM
  #1  
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Oil change frequency

2008 TL base 3.2L
Last time I was at Christian Brothers, they did a full synthetic oil change. Did so early December '21, sticker says come back early May '22.
I haven't been back yet, and my oil life right now is 80%.
I haven't driven the car much, maybe at most 2000 miles since December...

Do I really need to change the oil again, or can I wait?

Typically in months, how long can we wait before requiring an oil change (if rarely driven)?
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Old Jun 20, 2022 | 07:34 PM
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IF it's regular oil, once a year minimum as oil becomes acidic as it ages. Synthetic is better about this but still recommended 1x per year or by mileage, whatever comes first.
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Old Jun 20, 2022 | 09:12 PM
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I change my oil every 3000-4000 miles including filter. Engines are always squeeky clean inside and happy.

Can you run it longer? Sure.

Once a year to change as CS suggests.
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Old Jun 20, 2022 | 10:26 PM
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It's also recommended to change the PCV, if you haven't done it.
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Old Jun 25, 2022 | 05:45 PM
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I change yearly (regardless of mileage) or 3-4k miles whichever comes first
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Old Jul 22, 2022 | 11:20 AM
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Originally Posted by 65efi
I change yearly (regardless of mileage) or 3-4k miles whichever comes first
3-4K oil change interval? wtf.. are you using synthetic? You're just throwing money out the window if you are, might as well use conventional at that point.

Although,I do agree with annual oil changes regardless of mileage.
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Old Jul 22, 2022 | 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by 65efi
I change yearly (regardless of mileage) or 3-4k miles whichever comes first
A 4000 mile oil change is only acceptable under severe conditions at an average speed of 15 miles or less, or once a year, if not, then you are the kind of person who liked to constantly ride on fresh oil
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Old Jul 22, 2022 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by altair47
A 4000 mile oil change is only acceptable under severe conditions at an average speed of 15 miles or less, or once a year, if not, then you are the kind of person who liked to constantly ride on fresh oil
Yeah, I'm one of those guys. Fresh oil Good for extra HP, right?
Typically, I do 3-5K mile changes using OEM filters and conventional oil.
But my situation may be different from most--
--That's about my annual mileage since retirement
--I alternate cars summer/winter, so they get the once-a-year once-over (and monthly starts in off-season)
--I still have several more cases of conventional oil in stock
--None of them use even a pint between changes, but if the oil goes black it gets changed
--Mrs2TL drives about the same annual mileage.

So, whatever works for you...


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Old Jul 23, 2022 | 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Pair of TLs
Yeah, I'm one of those guys. Fresh oil Good for extra HP, right?
Typically, I do 3-5K mile changes using OEM filters and conventional oil.
But my situation may be different from most--
--That's about my annual mileage since retirement
--I alternate cars summer/winter, so they get the once-a-year once-over (and monthly starts in off-season)
--I still have several more cases of conventional oil in stock
--None of them use even a pint between changes, but if the oil goes black it gets changed
--Mrs2TL drives about the same annual mileage.

So, whatever works for you...
way better to do this ^ than run oil until the engine has new inspection windows!
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Old Jul 25, 2022 | 05:22 PM
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When the mileage minder reaches 20%. 5W-20 Synthetic. Gotten me 363K miles so far.
.
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Old Jul 28, 2022 | 09:29 AM
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I change every 20K at Acura TL 2003 that yield once per year. Use "Mobile extended performance good for 20K" and filter good for 20K. At my pickup truck F250 LD I change oil every 3 years. Both interval I do after reading a lot.
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Old Jul 28, 2022 | 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by bbsitum
I change every 20K at Acura TL 2003 that yield once per year. Use "Mobile extended performance good for 20K" and filter good for 20K.
Wow, if i drove my car 20K a year, i'd be doing 6 month OCI..


Originally Posted by bbsitum
At my pickup truck F250 LD I change oil every 3 years. Both interval I do after reading a lot.
You do "a lot" of reading and in all of reading, you never read that oil breaks down over time and you should change it at minimum annually because even when it's not being used, it gets acidic over time??



Strange that you have completely different oil change interval ideologies that conflict one another between your two cars..
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Old Jul 29, 2022 | 02:42 PM
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I drive pickup only for work and make around 6k per year. It yields 18k in 3 years. I have a dose comment from different forums saved and will copy paste here if need those 3 years are ok for synthetics. Somme comments are from reputable oil research facilities. For Acura "Mobil extended performance" say at can 20K.
Edit, synthetic oil gets acidic at a much slower rate than dyno.
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Old Jul 29, 2022 | 02:52 PM
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I must admit that I add 1 quart of oil per month because of a leaking oil drain plug. Made thread about it https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...n-plug-999971/ . But I had before Infiniti that I changed oil at 20k and I sold it at 254K where I owned it from 140K. The engine was fine.
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Old Dec 7, 2025 | 10:22 AM
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Bump old tread. I do Mobil 1 extended romance. I do around 12-15k change interval or every 2 years on car and pickup. Nothing was wrong with 20k jet. Changing every 20k for 20 years now at multiple cars and none car had engine problem.
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Old Dec 15, 2025 | 08:36 PM
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Ouch, yeah max mileage I would go on any car I own is 5,000. I change it every 3,000 miles though.
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Old Dec 18, 2025 | 02:11 PM
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I've been changing mine mostly at 7500 miles with Penzoil Platinum, now that I'm past 300,000 miles, every 6000 miles with the same oil. Currently at 337,000 miles and the motor still runs strong and uses maybe 1/4 quart in between oil changes.
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