What is the longest oil change interval you have gone?

[74-911]

Wife's 2006 VW Jetta: every 10K miles it gets Mobil 1 and a new filter. 175K miles and
still going strong.

2015 F150: when it says it is time to change, around 8000 miles

74 911: once a year regardless of miles.

[VINMAN]

I'm sure back in the day, ive probably doubled or tripled the normal change interval on some of my older cars. Im pretty on top of my oil changes with my vehicles now.

On my race boat, the oil changed after every race. Thats 24 quarts of 20w/50 plus filters... $$$


.

[peppy]

13K on my 2011 335d. That's what the computer told me to do. I had a Blackstone analysis done and will not go 13k anymore.

[Mike Andrew]

Never on a 1950 Plymouth. Used so much oil that it was de facto changed every 2 weeks. Bought recycled oil at around $.25 a quart back then. Also had a '63 Chevy wagon 235 IL 6 called "The Fogger". Not sure that ever got changed either.

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by HobieMarty

Okay you will all cringe big time when I tell you this but here it goes. I once went a year without changing the oil in my 1997 Ford Taurus SHO V8. I use Mobil 1 Synthetic oil. The oil did not look black, and the engine didn't leak a drop. Every time I checked it, it was good, and full. I used the car as a daily driver at the time but I don't know the miles I had put on that oil, but I can tell ya they must've built that engine right because I still have the car, it now has over 150,000 miles on it and still no oil leaks. Not my daily anymore but she still runs smooth and strong. I do change the oil on regular intervals now though. Lol.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Taurus SHO is not a V8. It’s a twin turbo V6.

[944 S2]

WHAT!!!.....You’re supposed to change oil?!?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by 944 S2

WHAT!!!.....You’re supposed to change oil?!?

Back in about 1980, the only time in my life I had a roommate, my roomie was dating a chick that had bought a new Mustang 2. Hers was a 1975 as I remember. She came over and saw me in the garage changing the oil in my 914 and asked what on Earth I was doing. I explained how engines need the oil changed on a regular basis.

Her eyes got big and she said, "really?"

So her boyfriend, my roommate, took her to the local auto parts store and bought a filter and oil and an air filter. They came back as I was done with my 914 and since I was dirty already I drained out what goo would drain out. The filter was the Ford brand OEM filter, and the air filter was clogged and I was surprised the car ran.

It did run better with a clean air filter. The car had the original oil from the factory and she did say her dad told her to check the oil and add as needed. She always bought the cheapest oil possible to add.

The car had over 60K miles on it. I always wondered how long that engine lasted. Not my car, not my problem. She did cook a nice dinner for us that evening.

[recycled sixtie]

In 1965 I bought a 1958 VW bug. I drove it across Canada from Toronto and back. 6800 miles in two weeks. I sold it for $200 the same amount as I paid for it. Never changed the oil once and it did not skip a beat.

[greglepore]

7k or once a year in the benz's that run synth. Once a year in the 911. 5k in the diesel truck.

[unclebilly]

I’m not feeling as bad about letting it go 11,000 miles based on the responses. Seems like 10k miles is within the realm of normal for modern synthetic oils. It was all highway except for some idling. We put on 550 - 600 miles every weekend between the ski hill and home.

It sure was black but not gooey...

A 3000 mile interval is WAY conservative unless you are running the cheapest Dino oil from Kmart... synthetics are good for 5000 miles easy in normal driving (obviously racing, extreme duty, and high dust use is different).

[stevej37]

I read once that the mileage minder on Hondas factors in at least three different inputs for oil life.
As long as the oil meets the specs...it uses mileage, rpm's, and oil temp to show when the oil should be replaced.
I think changing it any sooner is a waste of money. (even though 10K seems too far)

[Scott Douglas]

Once I retired I put both our Honda's on an annual change cycle since we weren't doing a lot of driving. I was getting ready to do the annuals when I had my heart problem last Dec so they are still on hold. They both get Mobil 1 so I'm not really worried about the delay. Wife's car showed 60% last time I filled it up with gas. Mine, I can't rightly remember as I haven't filled it with gas since before the Covid stuff happened. I kind of doubt if it even has 500 miles on this oil. So I guess it's more a question of how long have I gone, not how far. Most times, with other cars we've had, it is a 5k change limit. Been a while since I've used 3k miles as a limit. Always used the best oil I could afford though, so nothing was mistreated.

[LakeCleElum]

33 years...........I paid $200 for a Honda CL72 250 Scramber in 1988. It's serial #000015; maybe the oldest in the world..........Never did change the oil.......Haven't started it since the day I brought it home..........I'm bad, I know...

[creaturecat]

13 years - haven't even checked the oil level - Honda lawnmower - still runs good.
started out as laziness - now it's a torture test.

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

I'm bad about air filters, but oil gets changed often.

Generally, air filters have WAY more surface area than they need and they filter out particles better when they are dirty. It is common for makers of industrial diesel machines (trucks, construction equipment, etc) to recommend just leaving the air filter alone. Even if it is caked with several inches of crud.

Of course, we also know that all generalizations are false. I just, personally, do not think air filters are a big deal. Then again, I do not live in a dusty environment.

[island911]

Just put a surgical mask over the air intake.

Also, because there is no proof that your car -even if carring vaccine- cannot transmit covid. (I know your concerned about such things, supe.)

[drcoastline]

I am pretty diligent now but I have gone well above 15,000 miles between oil changes more than once in the past. This was on my old Isuzu 1998/1999 Trooper/Acura SLX. The engines were still running strong when I got rid of them at more than 200K on the clock, G*D only knows how far those vehicles would go if I performed proper maintenance? The Trooper/SLX was a great vehicle.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Superman

Generally, air filters have WAY more surface area than they need and they filter out particles better when they are dirty. It is common for makers of industrial diesel machines (trucks, construction equipment, etc) to recommend just leaving the air filter alone. Even if it is caked with several inches of crud.

Of course, we also know that all generalizations are false. I just, personally, do not think air filters are a big deal. Then again, I do not live in a dusty environment.

I used to do oil analyses on every oil change for the El Camino. I could see the silicone (sand and dirt) levels go up, change the air filter, they drop like a stone. I change my air filters often. Sand sucked into the intake goes right to the valves, and the cylinder walls. Not good.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Mike Andrew

Never on a 1950 Plymouth. Used so much oil that it was de facto changed every 2 weeks. Bought recycled oil at around $.25 a quart back then. Also had a '63 Chevy wagon 235 IL 6 called "The Fogger". Not sure that ever got changed either.

I knew a guy who drove an older mopar pickemup, the small one not the ram. Dakota maybe?
He bragged that he had never changed the oil in it for over 100k miles.
It might have burned a little oil but I don't remember it leaking much.
Prolly wasn't in very good shape internally, but the darn truck was falling apart around him so even with no oil changes the engine outlasted the rest of the POS.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Taurus SHO is not a V8. It’s a twin turbo V6.

I've slept since then, but I seem to recall them making a V6 and a V8 version of the SHO engine both designed by yamaha. Could be wrong.

I had a furd ranger back then, bought brand new in 1989 or so? it was a first year V6 supposedly also designed by yamaha. Don't think it was the same engine as the SHO tho.
If it was designed by yamaha, they must still be ashamed.
What a POS. In the shop for major engine repairs three times before I finally bailed on it with less than 60k miles.
Worst vehicle I ever owned.

EDIT looks like it was a 1985 as they changed it to a redesigned 2.9 liter V6 in 1986.