Heavier weight oil interval change
 

Are there any generally accepted opinions on how to handle oil change intervals when it comes to using heavier weight?

For my recent track day I went up to 05-30w, which is heavier weight than stock. But according to the shop that did some work, including the oil change, it should be due for another oil change after about 4 months or 3-4k miles. That's quicker than factory spec.

Do intervals usually matter when it comes to the viscosity of the oil currently sitting in the car or no? The reason I ask is because I'm wondering if I can go by the standard, manual interval for our car or if I am required to follow the interval the shop wrote on the windshield sticker.

Thanks!

Depends on a number of factors like driving habits, mods, milage, and weather/temp. Best practice is to check your oil frequently and you can see/feel when the oil is getting dark and gritty, then change it.

I personally change my oil around 3,600 and I'm running 0w40. I would agree that it's a good idea to change your oil early but again multiple factors will play into how long your oil will last.

Also never a bad idea to get a used oil analysis from Blackstone. Should cost about $30 but gives alot of cool insight on how your oil is performing.

It doesn't matter, but the more you track/stay in high rpm the more often you should change.

I change oil whenever I started feeling the engine is getting rough. :cheers: I think it's pretty good indicator by itself......... on top of that I try to change oil every 5-6k miles. (*sometimes 8k, a trip to canada is already 3k! which I do once every two year since I own the car.)

The shop sticker always says to change it more frequently than you have to. They want you back in the shop as often as possible. If they put a synthetic oil in, just wait for the regular service interval.

Though you might want to up that because of the track day?

Yeah....cause track days really fuck up our cars... lol.

Change it when ever you feel like it. It's an oil change, not like this car is fragile as a Ferrari. More like some owners are. Lol.

If I was anal about this car I'll do the oil change every 3 months regardless. But I'm not I do it every 6 months or 5k. Which ever come first. I might change it for an upcoming track day. Maybe.

DAMN … DandoX, how far back-in-the-day did you reach to come up with that? :D

I haven't felt "gritty" crankcase oil since they started putting oil filters on cars.


:popcorn:


humfrz

:eyebulge: .. are you being serious..?? (bolded part).


humfrz

Wasn't worried about the track day itself haha, only done one and probably not doing another for a while because it's too hot now.

More just added that in since it's the reason I have the heavier weight oil :iono:.

Great advice though, thanks! Just new to having to consider these kinds of things..or not, really. lol.

DANG, spike021, you're sounding like a newbie today ….:eyebulge:

I suggest you follow the oil change intervals as outlined in the maintenance manual …. regardless of the oil weight used.

As far as your local Bubba giving oil change frequency advice, he/she is most likely trying to sell more oil and service.


;)


humfrz

Haha knew you'd make a comment like this :thumbsup:. I was planning to just follow the manual's schedule. Just wondered if I could be wrong because the label had different numbers!

Numbers are hard. :bs:

Yes, he is, and so am I. I've always been able to feel it. If you can't, it's just because you aren't paying attention.

How does one "feel" when oil is getting gritty? Do I even want to know?

Oil appearance generally can't tell you if the oil is ready to be changed. Even a super dark and gross looking oil could test just fine on a UOA.

I thought that was you that thought you could feel the difference in how an engine ran between old oil and new oil.


I still think that's hogwash …:popcorn:


Can anyone else feel the difference …or am I just numb ..??


humfrz

What? it's easy to feel if the oil is getting old in this car, the roughness from revving the engine alone says a lot. At below like 4.5k the difference isn't huge but @ high rpm is very pronounce. :confused0068: It's like it's not happy for me to stay pass 5.5k.

But I think it might has something to do with my engine getting old too. :bonk:
Usually the first 1.5k after oil change is buttery smooth then it slowly degrades.


Ok, I know that may sounds like out of this world......but It's very obvious if I don't change oil within a month or two after tracking the car. :scared0016:

Roger, you can feel the difference in the smoothness of the revs and how freely it wants to rev. Especially how it pulls above 4k, as mentioned.

The engine just sounds and feels more effortless with fresh oil.

What labels had different numbers ..??

Oh, my .. are you taking some new meds..?? If so, best you check the dose "numbers" again... :eyebulge:


Have you ever wondered about when medications are prescribed to adults, that they seldom take into account the patients body weight. In toxicology labs, dose levels are determined by milligrams or micrograms per kilogram of body weight of the test animal.


Chew on that fer ah spell …:popcorn:


humfrz

That's right, but if you track the car and don't change oil & wait 2 month. you gonna really feel it up there. No :bs:

English?

I swear my car had 10 more HP today with fresh 5-40 and a nice new k&n larger oil filter, and a wash and wax.

Windshield label from the shop, but now I'm learning those aren't as big a deal.

Heh, ya, I know such things about medications.

I'm ah thinken you three:

@chaoskaze
@Ultramaroon
@Clipdat

…..have been brainwashed by BIG OIL …:eyebulge:

Either that or you are just yanken ma chain …. :iono:


humfrz

It's just about being in sync with your vehicle and feeling literally every piece of information that it's presenting to you.


Kindof like knowing how to satisfy and please a woman in the bedroom, there's subtle non-verbal queues you pick up on and experience.


It sounds like you just aren't as in touch with your vehicle as some of us are.

I figured it was only a matter of time before you worked sex into this somehow.

So, if my so called sex life, is getting rough, it's time to change the oil ..??

(well, I have had that same jar of Vaseline for quite a while, maybe it's gone bad ..:iono:)


humfrz

OK, I got to get to bed ...those deck waterproofing fumes have gotten to me.

I'm going to dial up ol @Tcoat to straighten some of you folks out first thing in the morning.

ZZZZZZZZZZZ

Right? I'm not sure how I would describe it except that the engine just feels a little rougher.

Before my oil cooler, I started to feel the change around 4500 miles. Now it's around 6000. With a pressure gauge I can also see a slight drop at the same temps. Am I changing sooner than necessary? I don't care. I feel better about it. That's all that matters.

I actually don't know what changes the feel of oil so I know I'm not gonna be able to convince you that I can feel the oil getting old. Usually 1 oil change for me is about 2 trips to cali to track or mountain passes + some driving in town.

I think this is really a prospective issue.



To me the possible reasons for oil feeling old are


1. Dirt, I live in Vegas, there is a huge amount of dirt. I can pop any interior panel open and there is gonna be a layer of dirt/very fine dust. Ya, Nevada & South Cali........ tumbleweed & dust devil. I'm sure my engine sucks in a ton.

2. Heat Cycling the oil? Usually for me to go to track means 8 hours round trip to Cali track plus another 8 hours on track, so 16 hours of straight driving. I usually do this or just simply enjoy my time doing canyon runs within the first 2000 miles after I change my oil.

I'm kind hard on my car while I'm on certain roads, I don't really shift till redline & does tons of engine braking for the entire length I'm on that section of the road.
I drove the entire section of Mt. Hamilton HW130 staying near redline. *Humfrz you said you love that road.


PS:* Most of the time I only drive 5 miles over speed limit on public highway & I don't race others..... >___> If i encounter someone on those mt pass i slow down and build space till i can have a go again.

PSPS: I'm not counting metal shavings in oil cuz i have magnetic oil filter and drain plug.

It's not dirt. You're feeling the drop in viscosity/lubricity as the oil cooks and shears. Some of it is also the filter getting dirty. I've tried just changing the filter. Feels better for a while but not long enough to make it worth doing regularly.

Well I'll be damned ... I thought I was crazy when I was feeling like the engine needed an oil change...

Don't drag me into this. If some people are so finely tuned to their cars that they can tell how old the oil is just by driving then who am I to say they are wrong. I will continue to enjoy how much better my car runs and sounds when it is freshly washed.

Trust your gut. This took me decades of driving and getting to know all of my vehicles before giving in and acknowledging the pattern.

Bro, do you even claybar?

Well first you take off your gloves and then rub the oil between your fingers and oil ready to be changed sort of has a feel that I describe as sort of gritty. Also has a smell.

Granted I probably change my oil a little more early/often than some, when I get bored I just enjoy a good oil change;)

I never willingly get used motor oil on my skin.

If you can feel grit in your oil it is already too late.

It's just what my old Pappy taught me :)

my previous car was pretty high milage and beat, that oil had a clear gritty feel when it needed changing.
The oil in the FRS is never that gritty, but you can still sort of feel when it's ready especially if you directly compare it to new oil between the fingers.

Okay I'm doing a poor job of describing the feel, it's not grit but I dunno how to explain it? I guess less smooth? Lol but it's something you can feel.

Well now, THAT would do it! The larger oil filter has more surface area, so as to cool the oil better …:thumbsup:


humfrz

But does it have the proper bypass valve spring rating?

You are feeling the roughness of your finger more on used oil because it has started to break down and loose viscosity. New oil leaves a thicker layer between your fingers so they don't feel as rough.