₦airaland Forum

I am by no means a car mechanic.

But I have seen some extreme advice on this thread so far.

Please I need an answer to this question.

Why spend all that money on synthetic oil only to have to spend that same amount again 3 months later?

Actually it doesn't hurt to change your oil every 3 months but when it is synthetic that to me is pure wastage.

Synthetic Oil will stay up to a year in your vehicle. The only problem you may have is your oil filter. That should be changed more often than a year.

The major problem about oil is not how often you change it. A much bigger problem that most people overlook or are ignorant of is the grade of oil to be used. Its even more surprising that most mechanics do not know this. Your engine is impacted even more severely by the grade of oil you use than by how often you change the oil. If you use the wrong grade, it doesn't matter how often you change your oil. Your car is headed for a big knock.

Dear,
To rely on the mileages/calculated months for an oil drain without understanding fully the richness of the engine oil you are using will cause more damage than good.
For instance,in Peace Petroleum Ltd,the products are duly specified with mileages on the brands,like Peace Supermax for 7000KM,Super 5000 for 5000KM,Super 2000 for 2000KM,etc. These feat were arrived at after series of oil laboratory tests and analysis with over 2000 vehicles on their fleet.
Hence,quality engine oil should have reasonable TBN/TAN,and other detergents/dispersants enough to lubricate,cool,sustain the internal components of the crankcase before the next oil drainage.
Always use quality lube in line with the OEM recommendations for your vehicle.
Thanks.

xerxes456:
Unless your car is serviced by a professional autocare in which case a mtce schedule card will be updated after each service, and the next due date given, I will advice you go with the three months schedule... I service mine every three months used or not.... If I happen to travel far I will service before and after the journey, you may change the filter after every two services etc...

Wrong. If you change oil & leave oil filter, the new oil turns black in minutes. Instead of replacing the oil & leaving the oil filter until the next service, its rather advisable to replace the oil filter twice before the next oil change if they have to be alternated.

kabrud:
Not exactly bro.
First, I don't think the car model is of any significance as long as it is among the relatively latest cars (98-till date). Secondly, the dash board is an invaluable means through which u can check that. The yellow light (in most cars) which shows "Maint Reqd" is not there for fashion. Whenever it comes up, it is actually telling you that ur car is due for servicing (filter and oil change). Thirdly, as part of driving skills, it is a good practice to always check the oil guage every morning b4 starting the car. What u check are the oil level and colour. Very low level suggests top up is required (symptom of fault in the engine) while very black colour suggests that servicing is required.

Bro, are you saying the minute "maintenance required" pops up on the dash board my car needs to be serviced? Mine pops up the min i start the car and it slowly fades out. Do i need to fret? last serviced my car mid August.
Btw, i drive 06 corolla S

EmmyDe25:
Bro, are you saying the minute "maintenance required" pops up on the dash board my car needs to be serviced? Mine pops up the min i start the car and it slowly fades out. Do i need to fret? last serviced my car mid August.
Btw, i drive 06 corolla S

I Don't think so. Once it comes up, it remains on. All lights on the dashboard usually come up the moment the ignition is turned on and they fade off once the engine starts. If the "Maint Reqd" comes up and remain, it will remain on until the car is serviced. Even after service the light will go off after about 30 min drive.

I drive Toyota Sienna LE 2001 model.. I use Mobil XHP Oil..
I only drive it from house to work.. (13km) every working days..
My dashborad information are active..It was a shipped vehicle from America..

When did you think is best for me to service my CAR..
Thank you as i await information/response

zinaLPF:
I am by no means a car expert, just a gal who enjoys reading about cars and learning from this forum. However, I know enough to know that the above is terrible advice. I am not certain that the dashboard tells you when an oil change is due! It will indicate low oil pressure and tell you when a service is due. 2 totally different things! Besides, the OP did not say what type of vehicle he has, how do you know if he has a newer vehicle with modern electronics?

@ OP -
Most people would do an oil change either based on mileage or time. I use synthetic oil and change my oil (and filter) every 5000 miles or 3 months.

Hope that helps?

I change mine after every 1000 miles (3 months at most).

When your oil turns black, and/or driven the car for 4,500km (3,000 miles) you'll need to change the oil. Also, changing your every 2 months isn't a bad idea.

kabrud:
I Don't think so. Once it comes up, it remains on. All lights on the dashboard usually come up the moment the ignition is turned on and they fade off once the engine starts. If the "Maint Reqd" comes up and remain, it will remain on until the car is serviced. Even after service the light will go off after about 30 min drive.

Thanks

MamaletASO:
I drive Toyota Sienna LE 2001 model.. I use Mobil XHP Oil..
I only drive it from house to work.. (13km) every working days..
My dashborad information are active..It was a shipped vehicle from America..

When did you think is best for me to service my CAR..
Thank you as i await information

For those who drive short distance, 3:months is a safe interval. If you use synthetic oil, 6 months is fair.

Ziondebade:
Guy, i dont tink all cars have a said oil changing time. oil changing in cars depends on d user. its just like saying WHEN DO WE TAKE LUNCH? Some might take lunch by 12noon, others by 2pm while others by 1pm. Same applies to cars. All cars have their distinct oil changing system that is always determined by the driver or a regular mechanic of dat same car. d fact dat i drive a camry and u drive a camry is not a yardstick to say dat d changing time must b same. bros, i really tink you should feel ur car, listen to it. u must know d car is telling you to change its oil. I remember one time when my car spoke to me to change its oil, i disobeyed it and said its too early; it ended up embarasin me on d highway and d mechanic confirmed it. Just listen to your car all the time, not only for oil but every tin.

Thanks, but remember say some no dey chop lunch at all.

ALISMILE:
u didn't put into consideration the quality of oil he uses. I use normal total quartz 5000 under similar conditions. Is ur recommendation suitAble as well for this oil specification?

My assumption here is that he/she is using the recommended oil grade...

What's the grade of the Quartz 5000?
Is it the grade recommended for your car by its manufacturer? If yes, then I guess you are in order. But, if no, well, I don't know what to tell you as you have sure flunked it...

I think there are so many half truths ans misconceptions here.

Basically, factors that deplete oil life must be taken into account before determining oil life. These factors include grade of oil, driving style, time and distance travelled.

Talking about manufacturer recommendations, that has to be looked at holistically. For example, 2003 Honda accord recommends engine oil charge at 10,000miles or 1 year using 5w20 or 0w20 Honda motor oil. It also mentions that if the vehicle is being used for towing, daily driving uphill, hard acceleration or city driving, then oil should be changed sooner.

Its noteworthy to mention honda motor oil is synthetic, so no one should use 10000miles as recommended if a synthetic oil is not used.

Based on this, I have adopted a personal service distance for the 3 types of oil I know. 10,000miles for synthetic oil, 7,000miles for synthetic blend oil and 3,500miles for organic (dino) oil.

Note that common oils in Nigeria such as Mobil 1 and Total Quartz 9000 belong to the synthetic class, Total quartz 7000 is semi synthetic while Mobil xhp and Total quartz 5000 are organic oils.

I have also adopted 6months and 1year for syth blend/Dino and synthetic respectively.

Mind you, maint req'd light starts blinking at 7500miles and remains steady around 9000miles. This is a distance only maintenance aid. Cars with oil life are also based on distance using recommended oil.

MamaletASO:
I drive Toyota Sienna LE 2001 model.. I use Mobil XHP Oil..
I only drive it from house to work.. (13km) every working days..
My dashborad information are active..It was a shipped vehicle from America..

When did you think is best for me to service my CAR..
Thank you as i await information/response

I will suggest 3000-4000miles or 6 months if you have not achieved the distance after such time has passed.

I usually take a picture of odometer the time I change oil. I add 3500miles to it, what it gives me is my next service which is usually less than 6 months.

Remember to use a good oil filter, there are so many fakes out there. Sometimes I buy original such as Bosch, Fram etc and use for 2 oil lives.

InvertedHammer:
/
I do oil change twice a year. Left to the manufacturers, they will have you do it every 3000k. Yeah right. In their dreams.

I drove a car for two years with no oil change, just top offs. The person I gave it to is still enjoying it up till today.

\

Inverted, are you serious with 2 Years?

With synthetic oil, every 5,000 miles or three months (whichever comes first) or when your car tells you to if your car does that.

You typically have about 500 miles left to go from when your service light goes on to when you absolutely must get the oil change done.

adanny01:
I will suggest 3000-4000miles or 6 months if you have not achieved the distance after such time has passed.

I usually take a picture of odometer the time I change oil. I add 3500miles to it, what it gives me is my next service which is usually less than 6 months.

Remember to use a good oil filter, there are so many fakes out there. Sometimes I buy original such as Bosch, Fram etc and use for 2 oil lives.

Even when you buy Bosch you shouldn't be using it for two changes.

EmmyDe25:
Bro, are you saying the minute "maintenance required" pops up on the dash board my car needs to be serviced? Mine pops up the min i start the car and it slowly fades out. Do i need to fret? last serviced my car mid August.
Btw, i drive 06 corolla S

You have about 500 miles left after it comes on.