billabong05

I switched to Mobil 1 about 15,000 miles ago since I do alot of in town driving. I get the oil changed every 5,000 miles. I noticed the day after i got my oil changed the oil seems dark and looked used up. I know that dark oil is good because that means it is trapping particals but why so soon? Is that a problem? I switched over to synthetic when the car had 70,000 on the odo and haven't had any problems with oil level. Just wondering...i thought it would be a least somewhat clear. Thanks

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

If I remember correctly, whenever I changed my oil, it had a slight dark tint to it. It was never really black though.

supaman8118

I believe it depends how its changed some people use this stuff to flush everything out of the oil system and some don't, its not needed but jus an option. I got my oil changed today at walmart. But yeah depending how its done you may drive down the street and it turn dark or you could drive for a month before it turns dark but its fine either way as long as you ep enough in there and get it changed when you need to.

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

[QUOTE=supaman8118]I got my oil changed today at walmart.QUOTE]

Scary.

SuperTrooper169

iTrader: (2)

supaman8118

...whats wrong with walmart oil change?!?!?!?

MinTS

Walmart will never touch my baby. hahaha

PimpCL23

to yuh mutha!

supaman8118

haha but they vaccumed and refilled all my other fluids

Lord Helmet

I've actually heard it's a pretty good place to go to have it done but I'm a dealer guy all the way. If I don't go to a dealer, I'd rather do it myself.

russianDude

dark color is good, and does not mean anything. It depends on your driving style(normal/severe) and time (your should change your oil once a year regardless of milage).
But I'd say 5,000 is defiantly OK even if your driving style is severe, I am sure you can push it for more.
I personally use Mobil 1 Extended Performance (guaranteed for 15,000 miles or 1 year) and change my oil only once a year ( I only putt 9-10K miles a year). You also need to buy a good oil filter.

o1s

how the hell do you people only put 10k miles on a car in a year? i'm dropping 50k miles per year.

billabong05

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I would like to push the oil changes a little longer because at $45 a pop it gets expensive and I put alot of miles on my car. I would think by the time 3 oil changes rolled around the engine would be flushed. Who knows...thanks

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

Pretty much any car wash that does oil changes do that as well. I rather drive my car to my mechanic, let him throw it on a rack, put the oil and filter I bought and he checks all the other fluids as well. I trust him. Have you seen half the people that work at Walmart?

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

I thought I was bad at between 30K and 35K.

pits200

40 to 45,000 here.

As for the Wal-Mart question, how do you guys think wal-mart makes such a profit. 1.)Undercutting manufactures and threaten they won't carry their product if they don't sell it to them cheap enough.

2.) Cheap arse labor. (A typical mechanic can make decent money, how much do you think the average Wal-mart car tech is making)

YeuEmMaiMai

dealer changes oil for $21.95 and I get free snacks.......every 5K for me and I use straight dyno oil

russianDude

for all you people who drive mostly highway and put a lot of miles on their cars each year, I am pretty confident that even regular Mobil 1 ( not even Extended Performance) is good for 7,500 miles.
With Extended Peformance(EP), you can safely go 10K miles if its mostly highway. In fact, Mobil 1 EPguarantes 15,000 or 1 year. So even 15,000 is probably OK, but I would use an oil test to verify that. But 10K highway miles is definatly OK with Mobil 1 EP.

if you pay extra money for synethetic oil, you might as well take advantage of extended drain intervals to make it worth while....

I did not even mention Amsoil.... that is guaranted for 25K miles / 1 year

fsttyms1

Regular oil will run 8-10k in the cl/tl. I used to run those intervals for the first 100k (had the oil tested to see) I went Mobil 1 at 100k for the next 100k and would run 10-15k intervals and it was in good shape when i had it tested then

russianDude

Are those mostly highway miles? Considering that owners manual recommends 7500 miles or 1 year, I am not surprised that regular oil is good for 8-10K miles.
Have you tried Mobil 1 Extended Performance? It might be good for 20K miles. I am trying to figure out if I should continue using Mobil 1 EP or just regular Mobil 1... I only put like 9-10K miles a year, so I have to change my oil once a year regardless of millage....

BigLizard

Once a year?

It's evey 3 months or 3k for me. The 3k usually comes first. All I use is Mobil 1.

Allout

I was at a Walmart Auto center and I remember seeing a trail of oil going from the oil change bay exit all the way out to the street. My guess is that they either didn't replace the plug, used the wrong filter, or didn't tighten up the filter correctly. I think any oil change place is capable of doing this but I will always have that vision whenever I see a Wallymart Auto center.

<syphers>

i work at jiffylube get your oil changed there we give u a great deal 40 bux for an oil change

sob4681

40 bucks for synthetic?

russianDude

thats right, once a year if you put low milles on your car. Read your owners manual for recommended oil change interval.
3 month/3k is a myth and waste of time and money even if you use regular oil.
3k or 3month with Mobil 1 is a total waste of money

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

I kinda agree that you should be able to safely and comfortably go to about 5K with Mobil 1.

I do mine between 6K and 8K with Mobil 1. I usually do that between 2 and 3 months.

fsttyms1

Mix of hwy and city. My car idles all day long as well for work usually too. Its M1 EP

You can do that safely and then some with standard dino oil.

fender4

see/read http://www.amsoil.com/

billabong05

Is it true that synthetic takes less time to circulate through the engine? I always feel horrible when I start my car on cold mornings.

russianDude

synthetic oil helps cold starts because it flows good.

sushimaster

I been using Amsoil 5w 30 since I bought my car. And Royal Purple in the tranny. I change my engine oil about every 2 years. Oil filter (Fram Duraguard) about every 1 year. It runs smooth. Currently have 75,000 miles on my CLS.

russianDude

Even with Amsoil motor oil, you still need to change it at least once a year regardless due to moisture build up.