Synthetic oil: Change filter only?

My last oil change at local quick lube job was $27 for dino oil and filter.

I'm getting tired of over paying for stuff like this yet can change oil myself as live in apartment complex

Im wondering if going to synthetic oil and only changing the oil filter and topping up is safe for a

2000 Mazda Protege with 165k miles on it?

I can easily change the filter from above I think. And could do a complete drain and refill once a year.

Im looking fir ways to do educe work as well as save money

Would this work ok?

Reply to
me
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I don't know, but I would bet that an engine with 165k miles has enough blow-by that the oil will get clogged with combustion byproducts before it breaks down. Of course, you never really know for sure unless you do repeated oil analyses, which will cost you more than you save in oil.

How many miles do you drive in a year?

I wouldn't, personally. But I also don't think you're saving any real work.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

Ooops typo above... should read "can NOT change oil" at apartment complex

Reply to
me

Yes it probably does have blow by. It does smoke a bit on startup in cold weather...... valve guide bushings worn I think.

20k miles

What to do to correctly maintain engine yet save money and time with oil changes? Get device to change oil by sucking it up thru dipstick tube?

I just can't be lying on cold wet ground outside especially since apartment forbids it!

Reply to
me

You do it the other way. Drain the oil and change the filter every other time.

Reply to
thenitedude

Why not? Drive it up on the curb, stick the pan under it, drain the oil out. I did it for years in apartments. If the complex doesn't allow you to work on your car, take it to a nearby vacant lot and do it there.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

I used to drive to a nearby junior high school and do my oil changes there when I was living in an apartment. Pick a parking lot not visible from the road and have at it.

Chris

Reply to
Hal

I have done that for years with no problems. All of my cars went at least 225k miles and did not burn oil. Other parts wore out and the unibodies all had metal fatigue but the engines were still good. I use cheap full syn oil, change the filter every 4k and the oil and filter every 8k DEPENDING on driving habits. If you are stuck for hours in traffic every day then I would change the oil sooner. If you just run short trips in the cold, then change it more often.

Since your car's engine has 165k miles, I would snug up every bolt and nut that helps keep in oil. Syn will leak and seep from everywhere, constantly. You won't lose much but it will cover everything.

Reply to
Paul

If you use Mobile 1 you can simple change the oil and filter once a year or every 12,000 miles and you'll be fine. If you use regular oil change every 6000 miles or 6 months. Unless you are doing lots of very short trips or driving on dirt roads most of the time there is no reason to change the oil any sooner then that. Of course, top up as needed.

Reply to
Ashton Crusher

Well that's what I proposed in my original post but many have said NOT to do that

Reply to
me

I've changed the oil and filter on my truck with Mobil 1 every 8-10k miles since the first oil change when it was new. It's now at 206K and still doing fine and still has low oil consumption.

Reply to
Pete C.

That's because, no offense to them intended, they are living in the past of loose tolerance engines with rich running carburetors burning leaded gas with high emissions and using oil that is crap compared to today's cars and oils. Back in those days the oil got a heavy load of condensation, lead, soot, gas etc and simply wasn't very good oil compared to today. In Europe many vehicles have recommended change intervals of more then 10,000 miles. Our fleet of hundreds of vehicles gets regular oil and 6000 mile changes based on much experience at different change intervals that have ranged from every

3000 miles years and years ago to 7500 miles 15 years ago. 6000 seems to work just fine in everything in our light fleet. Info I've seen on Synthetic tells me it can do twice that and I've been doing it at 12,000/12 months in my 188,000 mile pickup for the past 6 years. Prior to that the truck got regular oil changed every 6000/6.
Reply to
Ashton Crusher

Actually, I live in Winnipeg, where it's 40 below in the winter and 100 above in the summer. That's brutal on cars at both ends.

My 2002 Subaru owners manual says that if I live where it's cold or the car sees short drives, to change the oil every 3.75 months or 3750 miles, whichever comes first.

I do synthetic in my Trans Am.

For regular cars, it's still cheaper (I change my own oil and filter) to do 4 oil changes per year with regular oil than 2 changes with synthetic.

I've got a 19 year old Beretta that the wife bought in 94 - it used to get 3 month oil changes and the motor's never been apart and the noisiest thing is the injectors tick like crazy.

Ray

Reply to
ray

Yup, I would not do 12/12 there if for no other reason then the car probably is rarely well warmed up. Synthetic might be good for those low temps.

Yes, the syn costs me more. But I've got 5 vehicles and do my own changes. Once a year I spend a day changing the oil and filter in all of them and I'm done for the year.

Reply to
Ashton Crusher

Sure - it will work just fine until you wear the engine out.

Reply to
John S.

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