Poll: How long do you go between synthetic oil changes?

i probably go for once a year. should be around 10-15,000 miles. just about to do first change here in next few weeks. i have the dealer do it.

 

i think the EAO filter for the 2001-2009 is only rated for 25k miles, i have to check

that being said, i don't drive 35k/year ... so the oil wouldn't stay in for 35k

also, toyo is not the only manufacturer that has specced oil down to 20 weight from 30 weight ... and again, that is to bring the fleet mileage down

i have a Ford SUV with a V8 also specced at 5W30, but the newer models are specced at 5W20

30 weight is not too heavy a viscosity for a 20 weight motor, particularly the Prius

 

found the filter at wal mart tonight, so in addition to toyo and purolator, there is a fram filter, and a walmart filter

also spoke to amsoil and checked the BITOG site, and there is a great deal of consensus about using the Amsoil SS0 0W30 in the 2010 Prius

it's a light 30 weight, and the SSO 0W30 is a superior oil :thumb:

 

I know this is going to sound stupid but why are you concerned about using 0w30W when you are going 25,000 miles/oil change, which is also outside the recommended range.

 

interesting question ... tho i'd be asking what is the "tradeoff" you speak of?

i don't see any trade off

the 0W30 is just a better oil, you can change it any interval you'd like


if you want to stick to the recommended OCI, then there are cheaper oils to be had ... altho they're more likely in the 5W20 rather than 0W20 ranger

there are no negative repercussions ... and its not significantly thicker :thumb:

 

I've used AMSOIL 0-20 and AMSOIL filter along with ZMAX since day one. Change once a year - 15,000mi - and even then it looks darn clean. If I was going farther I might change the filter ($8) instead of the oil.

 

Does AMSOIL make an oil filter for the 2010? I tried to go through their site but couldn't find anything.

 

there is a wix cartridge filter, but no AMSOIL EAO Efficiency filter ... yet

 

I *try* for once a year. And after I put if off so often, it usually becomes 18 months or more. The fact is, I'm just not a fan of changing oil. Spoiled by the EV, of course. 75,000 miles with no oil changes and hey... no gas fill-ups either!

But I digress...

In my previous life, I put serious miles on my cars. My last two cars (before EVs and hybrids took over my garage) had 250,000 and 340,000 miles on them respectively. The 340,000 mile car, I sold for more than I paid for it at 50,000 miles, and the 250,000 mile car, I still got about half of what I paid for it new. Why? Because they both looked and ran perfectly. Was it because I changed the oil at the mfg's specified interals? Nope.

The owner of the 340,000 mile car now has 525,000 miles. Original engine. Never been rebuilt. And I only started running synthetic in that engine at 200,000 miles! I went from changing at 8,000 mile intervals to 15,000 mile intervals when I switched to synthetic.

Anyway... everybody's mileage will be different. Me, I don't sweat the oil changes. I have NEVER had an issue with an engine that could be traced to an oil problem.

I won't even tell you about a buddy who NEVER changed his oil in the 95,000 miles that he owned his VW Super Beatle. The thing leaked so much oil, he just kept topping it off, and figured it was self-changing. :sigh:

So... did I mention that EVs have no crankcase oil? Yeah... I probably did.