http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070322/AUTO01/703220325/1148

Ford is latest to say: Drive farther between oil changes

Modern engine lubricants extend 3,000-mile axiom

Tom Krisher / Associated Press

DETROIT --

Most major automakers agree: The adage that you should change your car's oil every 3,000 miles is outdated, and even 5,000 miles may be too often.

Ford Motor Co. became the latest manufacturer to extend its oil life guidelines, making public that it is raising the recommended oil change interval from 5,000 miles to 7,500 on its newly redesigned 2007 models and all subsequent redesigned or new models.

The company, like many other manufacturers, said Tuesday that higher oil quality standards and new engine designs were responsible for the change, which affects vehicles driven under normal conditions.

"The oils have advanced a lot since the days when 3,000 miles were the typical oil drains," said Dennis Bachelder, senior engineer for the American Petroleum Institute, an industry organization that sets quality standards. "They're certainly more robust than the oils of 10, 15 years ago."

These days, motor oils start with a higher-quality base oil than in the past, and they have more antioxidants that make lubricating properties last longer and other additives that keep deposits from forming on engines, he said.

Pete Misangyi, Ford's supervisor of fuel lubricants, said the company conducted numerous fleet and laboratory tests with newer oils before it raised the interval.

"That allows more comfort, if you will, in extending the intervals using the new oils," he said.

Honda Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. have stopped making recommendations on all or most of their models, instead relying on sensors that measure oil temperature extremes and engine revolutions over time to calculate oil life and tell drivers when to get the lubricant changed. Oil can lose its lubricating properties if it runs at too low or too high of a temperature.

Peter Lord, executive director of GM's service operations, said oil can last 12,000 miles or even more for many drivers who don't run their vehicles in extreme heat or cold or tow heavy loads.

"It really does depend on the individual customer and how they've used the vehicle," he said.

Odd for you to post this on an RX-8 forum, but as far as piston engines go I think most of us have thought this for quite a while. I mean, it only takes so many stories of hearing people go 10,000 miles before changing their oil and having their cars last 100,000+ miles before you start to catch on.

Why is it odd for me to post this?

I'm not following. I posted it as a general issue in the lounge, and not an 8 specific forum, because I thought maybe it's not appropriate advice for an 8 owner.

I think it's pretty big news when GM is saying 12,000 miles might be an appropriate oil change interval for some drivers. That's way longer than anything that I've ever heard for anything other than synthetic oil.

Why is it odd for me to post this?

I'm not following. I posted it as a general issue in the lounge, and not an 8 specific forum, because I thought maybe it's not appropriate advice for an 8 owner.

I think it's pretty big news when GM is saying 12,000 miles might be an appropriate oil change interval for some drivers. That's way longer than anything that I've ever heard for anything other than synthetic oil.
It's odd because you're posting about not changing oil on a forum dedicated to a car that has a reputation of consuming several quarts of oil per week. I know it's the lounge, but it's still kinda ironic.

Also, the problem with waiting 12k miles is that you may need to add more oil before then and most people never do that. The only time they add oil is when they get it changed. Personally, I get it changed every 5-8k and I've never had a problem. I have always stayed in the "safe zone" doing this and have never had to add any oil.

Good post though.

It's odd because you're posting about not changing oil on a forum dedicated to a car that has a reputation of consuming several quarts of oil per week. I know it's the lounge, but it's still kinda ironic.

Also, the problem with waiting 12k miles is that you may need to add more oil before then and most people never do that. The only time they add oil is when they get it changed. Personally, I get it changed every 5-8k and I've never had a problem. I have always stayed in the "safe zone" doing this and have never had to add any oil.

Good post though.

I change my oil every 3,000 miles, even though my 8 consumes less than 1/3 quart of oil between changes, on average.

I change my oil every 2500 miles... shrug.

I've been doing extended oil change intervals for a long time. When asked about it though I usually just give people the answer they want to hear for simplicity sake.

RG, I know that you have. And I know why.

But this article is specifically talking about dino oil, which is why it seems at least a little surprising to me.

Can't be good news for the Jiffy Lubes of the world if people start following carmakers' advice.

I had been doing 5-7k or so on my previous vehicle, b/c it always seemed like a scam to call for it at 3k. But it was a Ranger w/high miles or I prlly would have gone for 10k.

Sticking to 3k w/the 8, of course. It's too much fun to worry about it.

RG, I know that you have. And I know why.

But this article is specifically talking about dino oil, which is why it seems at least a little surprising to me.

Can't be good news for the Jiffy Lubes of the world if people start following carmakers' advice.
I'm not really surprised. Even conventional oils have gotten good enough that they last much longer than they used to. I think there's a misconception that oil magically breaksdown after 3000 miles. It's really based on how you drive it though. If you drive at redline everywhere you go, you'll need to change it more often. Grandma driving around however can go much farther on an oil change.

What we need is some experimental RX-8 engines - that could be used test brands of oil, different gasoline types, heat, cold, water etc.

And a transmission where we could measure the temperature and check out modifications since we have lots of turns of the rod that do not seem to be converted into turns of the wheel on the ground.

in short, RGs garage! If I ever win a lottery, RG, we will endow you as head of research for the good of all RX-8s!

Every 3K or so miles for me, no matter what the manufacturer says.

When I worked for Enterprise we changed the oil in our rentals at 6-7K per policy. I ran into one guy who went 20k in his personal car and basically destroyed the engine. 6K seeems like a good number for avergage drivers. Jiffy Lube is screwed, just like they've done to their clients for years. Bravo.

When I worked for Enterprise we changed the oil in our rentals at 6-7K per policy. The cynic in me wonders how much of this was due to the fact that Enterprise sells their cars before any problems caused by over-extending oil change intervals would come home to roost. I would never buy a used rental.

It certainly is known that oils nowadays are good for more than 3,000 miles in normal use. But it only takes a few minutes to change your own oil, in practically any car (the only real hassle often is dealing with the filter), and I'd rather change it too often than too seldom.

i change mine every 6000 miles, rotary or not. I also only use royal purple. Been working fine for me for 10 years.

I base my change interval on the type of driving I do.
Most of my trips are 30 minutes or more so my oil gets hot enough to burn off any cold engine nasties. If I did a lot of short trips I would change oil more often.
My typical change is every 8000 km. (5000miles)
BTW, this should be in general automotive...

I change my oil every 5000 km, or 3000 miles. Plus, I add oil regularily, my Type-R seems to eat the stuff like candy. Not sure why yet...

I change about every 5000-6000 miles as well, and just add oil as needed to keep the level in the upper half-of the range.

Every saturday morning (at least in warm weather season) I have a little "me time" with my RX-8 - I take it to the gas station, fill it up, check the tire pressures at all 4 corners, open the hood, wipe down everything with a damp rag, check the oil, add a bit if necessary (I usually add about a 1/2 quart once a month), top up the washer tank, etc. Then, if the weather is good, I hand wash it, vacuum the interior, dust it, etc.

I change my oil every 5000 km, or 3000 miles. Plus, I add oil regularily, my Type-R seems to eat the stuff like candy. Not sure why yet...

That's not good if you have an oil-eating Honda product. Every other car I've owned for the last 17 years were Hondas, my wife drives an Odyssey, and my jet ski, lawn mower, power washer and snow blower are all Hondas as well. None of them use a perceptible drop of oil ever.

Have a chat with your dealer. That said, I don't know if they build the Type R engine a little "looser" - that could be the case. I know BMW "M" engines and Mercedes-Benz AMG engines consume oil at higher rates because they are built a little looser than a standard factory engine.

12000 miles ah!!? and GM and ford wonders why their cars break alot!!
Well how would you feel if someone comes and tells you that you should eat once a day??
because in theory there is a meal that basically gives you all what you need for that day???
would you do it?
would you treat your body like that?

just wondering....

12000 miles ah!!? and GM and ford wonders why their cars break alot!!
Well how would you feel if someone comes and tells you that you should eat once a day??
because in theory there is a meal that basically gives you all what you need for that day???
would you do it?
would you treat your body like that?

just wondering....
Just in case you didn't notice, they're not advocating 12k -- more like 7.5k. And they're not saying you can do this on a 5 year old Ford. They are solely for the 2007 and beyond models. Trying to ascribe domestic car manufacturers reliability woes on older model cars to this new stance is ridiculous.

My friend has a Cadillac with Onstar. The car came with oil service included in the price. In the past, he would change oil every 5000 kms on the advice of the owners manual. The Onstar system can track the car's mileage and engine condition. He just passed 10000 kms with his car so he called in for an oil service. He was told that it was too early (according to Onstar data).

Strange, when he pays for oil changes, 5000 km intervals were required. When GM pays for the oil changes, 10000 kms later, still doesn't need one yet.

Hmmmm.... makes you wonder, no?

My opinion is to change as often as possible, not as what is the bare minimum. I like what STEVEN000E said just with a twist. If someone told you that you could survive off of eating once a day, which raises the RISK that you have a shorter life, to save money, would you do it?
-BigRed