Running good quality synthetic (i.e. Mobil 1 or Castrol), what oil change interval would you recommend? I keep seeing conflicting numbers: some say 7k, other say 10k, and the service indicator is like 12-14k I think. And while I want to take good care of my engine, I don't want to be doing unnecessary oil changes.

 

S or Non S? S cars need a little more TLC and IMHO a careful look at the oil quality.

You can go 10K in a non S car easy.

In an S car I'd say 7K-8K is a safe number, 10K tops. My dealer sets the OBC at 8K.

 

Yeah it's an S. 7-8K is about what I had figured.

 

Every 5K for me on turbo or SC cars. Mobil 1 0W-40 European Blend. Probably overdone compared to most but very cheap insurance from my point of view.

 

5K might be a bit early. I had a local European mechanic tell me 5k once, only because I made the mistake of having Carmax change the oil while it was in for something else, and Carmax uses the cheapest crap they can get. So, per the advice of a mechanic, 5k for cheap "house brand" synthetic, not Mobil 1.

 

Been changing ours at 7-8K.

 

I stick to 5k . I abuse my Mini with too many short distance drives . Engine oil is a cars life giving blood . Its only pennies in the long run considering the
consequences $$$$

 

+1

 

+2

 

Add another to the 5k Mobil 1 0w40 Euro Spec list, along with factory oil filter each time.

 

It really depends on how the car is driven… I used to do oil changes every 5K. Tried to switch to 8K… and still, no signs of oil viscosity breakdown. The oil was still fine. Lately I have switch to 10K which seemed to be just right.

I do 120 miles a day of 95% freeway driving that is why the oil quality is prolonged but for those that do a lot of stop-and-go rush hour traffic or short distances, 5K would be ideal to change your oil.

 

I say 7500 at least. Biggest thing is checking it often and keeping it full.

 

Yes and no. Many engines (this one included) tend to find there own "happy place" with oil levels. I'll fill mine up at an oil change and over a thousand miles or so, I'll lose almost half a quart. But then it stops. It will stay at its new level for several thousand more miles. I used to keep topping it off thinking I was burning oil, but then I quit and it's fine. I think it may have something to do with the PCV system, but I'm not going to spend a lot of time trying to figure it out.

 

Well, if I didn't add a half a quart every thousand miles, mile oil would reach an "unhappy place", that doesn't register on the dipstick.