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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 04:47 PM
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Default Length Between Oil Changes

I wasn't entirely sure what to search for, so I apologize if this has been covered before, the search option can be quite a challenge on this forum.

Just a curious question... I changed my oil over the weekend because it had been in there since July 10th, and I only have about 2300 miles on it (castrol syn 5w30). I figured since it had been in there nearly 6 months, would be a good idea to change it.

I caught a little grief from a few folks saying it wasn't a big deal, you only went 2K miles on it, might as well get at least another 2k out of it, otherwise your wasting money.

Obviously 3k/3mon is average, but I feel like the oil would have had more moisture in it than normal or what not so I changed it.

So thoughts on what I 'think'?

Developed a nasty knock recently, and new oil didn't seem to help to much
Could slightly hear it even after the car was fully warmed up.
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 07:01 PM
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i go a full 5k miles. but its my DD so i put the miles on fast
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 11:40 PM
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Im up to once a year whether it needs it or not. The best way is take a sample and send it off to a lab for analysis. Ive used http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ in the past.
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Old Dec 31, 2009 | 11:45 PM
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for the price of an oil test, you can just about change your oil?
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 12:11 AM
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Originally Posted by 98LS16T56
for the price of an oil test, you can just about change your oil?
Yes, but I do believe that is the best way to answer his question....Plus it does answer questions about how good of shape the motor is in. Attached is a sample of mine a while back
Attached Thumbnails Length Between Oil Changes-oilsample_1.jpg  

Last edited by jlrz28; Jan 1, 2010 at 12:22 AM.
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 01:16 AM
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I hardly drive my car at all, so I usually change it about twice a year, even if the oil has less then 1k on it.
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 03:30 PM
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Originally Posted by jlrz28
Yes, but I do believe that is the best way to answer his question....Plus it does answer questions about how good of shape the motor is in. Attached is a sample of mine a while back
That is a good idea to do once in a while especially since they explain what the anomalies are and what the most likely culprit is.
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Old Jan 1, 2010 | 08:52 PM
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Thanks for the information. I will inquire about companies that do analysis' later on. Not happy this TA is starting to sound like a diesel like my formula had done. After it got way past warmed up when I went to get my brother from work, sounded almost normal.

But maybe it just really hates the colder weather. (shrug)
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Old Jan 2, 2010 | 08:51 AM
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You can always dyno it if you think somethings wrong to see if its down on power. If you think its really messed up do a compression test, but overall I believe the majority of the Ls1s have the knock. It means horsepower!
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Old Jan 2, 2010 | 02:58 PM
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i go 4-5k on german castrol in my camaro.
now for my 03 e500 benz it will go as much as 13k on one oil change the car will check its own oil(no dip stick) and tell me if i need to change it.
i also use the german castrol in the benz its.
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Old Jan 2, 2010 | 08:14 PM
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I always do which ever comes first.. either every 4 months or every 4k miles. I have had no issues what so ever. 148xxx miles and running strong.
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Old Jan 2, 2010 | 09:19 PM
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i run castol syntec 5w-40 and usually change my oil every 4k miles. but i hardly ever drive my car, so that 4k miles actually can last a pretty long time..LOL.
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Old Jan 2, 2010 | 10:17 PM
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I change my oil once a year
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