Valvoline Synpower Oil Change Interval

[gork57]

I'm considering going to Valvoline Synpower for my next oil change at Brakes Plus. I went to the Valvoline website, and they suggest using the normal oil change interval recommended by the manufacturer. In the case of my '92 Civic VX, I believe that's 5000 miles (of course oil change shops always recommend 3000)-have to check my manual on that. What's the real deal here?

I posted something awhile back (or maybe just read someone else's thread on it), and I recall the consensus was about 5k. A "normal" oil change costs $21.99, synthetic is $51.99; I'm not so sure the cost-benefit evaluation works so well for this at more than double the cost.

Facts, opinions, and experiences with Synpower would be appreciated.

[bowtieguy]

buy mobile 1 or amsoil and do it yourself for $45 or less. to boot you only have to change it once per year.

[dkjones96]

I run Mobil 1. Usually I do a 10k oil change but I just hit 10K and the oil looked fine so I just topped it off with another quart of 0w-20(slightly overfilled now) and threw in a new supertech oil filter for good measure. By the looks of it I've probably got another 5-7K left in that oil.

I'm kinda shocked that an engine that recommends 10w-30 new and has 110k miles on it only eats a quart and a half of 0w-20 between 10k changes. Especially since GM even says that a quart of oil between 3k changes is 'acceptable, normal consumption'. Then again, it is a Suzuki engine.

Synpower is a fully synthetic motor oil. I can't think of a reason why you wouldn't be able to get 10k out of it. Then again, according to my owners manual, dino oil under the conditions that I drive should be changed every 7,500 miles. So your engine might be harder on oil.

[cmhj2000]

Synpower's a fine oil. However, if they don't give you allowance to do an extended drain I'd look at other options such as Amsoil or go the cheap route and do it strictly by the book.

[slurp812]

Originally Posted by cmhj2000

Synpower's a fine oil. However, if they don't give you allowance to do an extended drain I'd look at other options such as Amsoil or go the cheap route and do it strictly by the book.

I agree. If Im paying $6 a quart, I would expect more than $3 per quart oil. I just switched to 5w20 Mobil One. So far, so good, stuff looks clean, and its been ~4000 miles...

[KU40]

be careful in overfilling, don't want to do it by too much. You can blow seals and things.

[2000mc]

our shop just recently switched to recommending all oil changes at 6mo 5k mi intervals, and pushing syn blend and mobil1 for those uncomfortable with this, and of course ppl can always come in early. all the newer gm vehicles seem to have an oil life monitor as well.

thought we were the odd ones out, but i noticed a few ads/signs for other shops recently touting 5k mi oil changes too

i'm wondering how wide spread this might be

[moboman]

Originally Posted by 2000mc

our shop just recently switched to recommending all oil changes at 6mo 5k mi intervals, and pushing syn blend and mobil1 for those uncomfortable with this, and of course ppl can always come in early. all the newer gm vehicles seem to have an oil life monitor as well.

The ecotec actually does monitor the oil to tell you when to change it. It monitors all the characteristics.
Other GMs just have an idiot light come on when its "time to change" suggested by the book.

[theholycow]

Originally Posted by moboman

The ecotec actually does monitor the oil to tell you when to change it. It monitors all the characteristics.

Can you provide a link to documentation on this? I thought only Chrysler's system actually measures the age of the oil through specific sensors designed to measure its chemical properties.

Other GMs just have an idiot light come on when its "time to change" suggested by the book.

Definitely not. GM oil lights come on based on driving conditions measurable by existing sensors -- engine temperature, RPM, maybe IAT, TPS, etc. My 2002 GMC light definitely shows a difference in oil life based on my driving.

From http://www.goodwrench.com/Services/OilChange.jsp

Most GM vehicles are now equipped with the GM Oil Life System. This system actually senses your vehicle's speed and engine temperature and can continuously monitor operating conditions. This helps determine when it's time to change the oil.

This system can actually monitor your personal driving habits and your area's climate condition to let you know precisely when to come in for a Goodwrench Oil Change.

What they don't say there, but do say in the manual, is that it can't account for stuff it can't measure -- for example, operation in dirty/dusty conditions. In those cases it is recommended to change the oil sooner.

[theholycow]

My 2008 VW's service schedule is for an oil change every 10,000 miles.

My 2002 GMC has the oil life monitor and IIRC it runs about 6,000 to 7,000 miles for my driving style.