Author Topic: 12,000KM Oil Change Interval (Read 9334 times)

Allen · « **on:** January 30, 2009, 12:46:31 pm »

just go a letter from GE Capital who provides my company car that the oil change interval on my 09 Escape (and all Ford's on the plan) as agreed with Ford is every 12,000KM

It was every 9,000Km before and I thought that was long.. not sure I would want to purchase an off lease GE Capital vehicle

Squishy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2009, 12:59:38 pm »

Don't know about the 09's engine, but 12,000 KM is perfectly reasonable for the Duratec 30 in mine, when using synthetic oil. A heavy-duty fleet oil (as I assume company cars would use if you have diesel in the fleet) can take that interval up to 20,000 km.

dr_spock · « **Reply #2 on:** January 30, 2009, 01:37:17 pm »

I have a 15,000 km interval on my VW. There is no harm to car in changing more frequently. Green Peace may have other thoughts.

tpl · « **Reply #3 on:** January 30, 2009, 01:50:00 pm »

Quote from: dr_spock on January 30, 2009, 01:37:17 pm

I have a 15,000 km interval on my VW. There is no harm to car in changing more frequently. Green Peace may have other thoughts.

My slightly(!) newer turbocharged VW is 16,000 km. I'll stick to 8000. Having to carry me around definitely counts as severe service I'd say.

Allen · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2009, 03:04:51 pm »

I never go over 6K on my personal vechiles

ovr50 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2009, 03:09:47 pm »

Have synthetic in both vehicles and doing change at no more than 8000kms regardless of mfgrs recommended schedule.

locutusx · « **Reply #6 on:** January 30, 2009, 03:47:57 pm »

As far as OCI's are concerned, what is everyone's thoughts on "time vs. mileage"?

i.e. let's say the VW GTI is 16k OCI as someone mentioned. what if you only drive 10k per year?

tpl · « **Reply #7 on:** January 30, 2009, 04:09:15 pm »

Quote from: locutusx on January 30, 2009, 03:47:57 pm

As far as OCI's are concerned, what is everyone's thoughts on "time vs. mileage"?

i.e. let's say the VW GTI is 16k OCI as someone mentioned. what if you only drive 10k per year?

Then it is once per year according to the maintenance guidebook. Note that there is a change on the GTI at 8000 or six months. And only synthetic is allowed ( VW 505.1)

dr_spock · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2009, 04:27:50 pm »

I change my VW oil at every 10K. 10K is a much nicer number for my math challenged brain. Honda is every 8K. I have problems after 96K.

ovr50 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2009, 04:57:02 pm »

Quote from: locutusx on January 30, 2009, 03:47:57 pm

As far as OCI's are concerned, what is everyone's thoughts on "time vs. mileage"?

i.e. let's say the VW GTI is 16k OCI as someone mentioned. what if you only drive 10k per year?

I would change it at the year point even if driven only 10K. I changed my BMW at 3000kms (new), and again at the Yr1 Anniversary (with only about 12000kms on the clock). I will change again at earlier of Yr2 Anniv or about 20000kms. BMW pays for the ones at 24k or Yr1 Anniv.

Wolverine · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2009, 05:36:46 pm »

Change on the Polo at 10K km, never had problems.

Winklovic · « **Reply #11 on:** January 30, 2009, 05:42:22 pm »

I drive the Sebring approximately 14,000 per year and change the synthetic oil in April and October.

onearmed · « **Reply #12 on:** January 30, 2009, 05:45:59 pm »

I've been doing 8k on my 2 GTI 1.8Ts until the warranty expired at 80k and then approximately 10k km ever since. No problems, synthetic oil for it's life.

jamie1 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 30, 2009, 07:36:49 pm »

I'm going the follow the Acura Maintance Monitor. Right now I have 6200km and the oil life is at 50%. So I figure I will be changing at about 12000km. Don't know if I will be able to hold on that long though

mmret · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2009, 07:39:31 pm »

Quote from: jamie1 on January 30, 2009, 07:36:49 pm

I'm going the follow the Acura Maintance Monitor. Right now I have 6200km and the oil life is at 50%. So I figure I will be changing at about 12000km. Don't know if I will be able to hold on that long though

I usually go 10k, it hits 20% by then. Which IIRC is when the alarm comes up.

Mobil 1 5-30

safristi · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2009, 07:52:03 pm »

..seems everyone has a Difference of opinion as to WOT "Whale oil beef oct" means.................

.....maybe use the FULL MOON or the Tidal pools in poolewe to decide...............

Leviathan · « **Reply #16 on:** January 30, 2009, 09:57:20 pm »

I'm doing Penzoil Platinum every 6 months which is ~5-6000kms. Probably will ease that to every year after warranty is out.

mar1990 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 30, 2009, 10:48:37 pm »

Up until last year I was doing every 5k, now I'm going out on a limb and doing 6k. I use regular dino 5W30. I'm still ~~leary~~ cheap to shell out for synthetic, especially when there are (mis)conceptions about
a) switching to synthetic on a higher mileage car, and the synthetic cleaning out gunk that help the seals, well, seal.
b) compatibility between synthetic brands if not sticking to a single brand
c) Synthetic brands not really being true synthetic.
d) The shorter intervals give me a chance/excuse to examine the underside of the car for potential problems. (yes I do my own oil changes) - example just last week I noticed some of the clips holding a plastic shroud under the engine compartment had fallen off.
e) I left a 1/2 filled jug of 5w30 dino outside overnight when it was -30deg. It was not thick as molasses when I tilted the jug in the morning.

I really hate the term "cheap insurance". What will it insure against, and exactly who will pay out?

Edit: I'm of the opinion that synthetic oil is just like premium gas... if the car isn't designed to use it, then there is no advantage. Then again there may be no advantage to 6k intervals, instead of 8k or 10k.

Flame suit on...

Blue01 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 30, 2009, 11:05:58 pm »

Quote from: jamie1 on January 30, 2009, 07:36:49 pm

I'm going the follow the Acura Maintance Monitor. Right now I have 6200km and the oil life is at 50%. So I figure I will be changing at about 12000km. Don't know if I will be able to hold on that long though

My Honda Fit just got it's first oil change at 10,000 km. Oil life showed 10%, and that was with about 80% highway driving. I'm not sure if the fact that it was new determined a slightly earlier change or not. We'll see what happens after the next 10,000 km.

huota · « **Reply #19 on:** January 31, 2009, 08:49:30 am »

I change the oil whenever the service indicator tells me to, which is typically every 20-30k.