I just changed my oil at 3K: K&N HP2004 filter and Valvoline 5w-20 Synthetic. However, I think I'll spare the expense of synthetic and go to traditional oil at my 6K service. It just doesn't make sense to pay 3 times more for the oil when you don't get the benefit of longer maintenance intervals (one of the reasons I buy synthetic. I'm trying to adhere to the recommended maintenance schedule to avoid any warranty debates should I need dealer service.

 

What is the wording in the manual? Does it say 3.000 miles no matter what? Or, do is have schedules for sever and normal driving?

 

There are 2 maint schedules, normal and sever. The normal oil change is 6000 miles. I use Mobil 1 and change it at 5000 miles, same time I rotate the tires.

 

The "Severe" driving schedule has a ridiculously broad range of conditions that I believe ALL NORMAL drivers would meet which includes:

Stop and go driving
Short trips less than 10 miles

I do at least 3 short trips a day...I'm wondering if following "Schedule A" (the 6,000 interval) would be debatable at the dealer? I too would opt for every 6,000 miles (with synth) if I can be assured that I am not in breach of the warranty.

 

I thik it would come down to how the "vast majority" of your driving is. If you only take short trips in stop and go traffic then yes. However, if the short trips are to and from the store and you get the car up to full operating temperature in your regular driving, then I don't think you qualify for severe service.

Remember, the dealer has to prove that the oil was at fault. Unless there was blatent ignorance of oil changes, an oil related failure is pretty rare. (Unless you have a V6 Sludge Monster Toyota)

I run 6,000 mile/six month intervals with German Castrol Syntec 0W-30. It flows very well in cold and actually is a thicker 30 weight based on virgin oil analysis. I just switched teh wife's Envoy over to a synthetic oil at 5,900 miles (one previous dino change) and plan on the same schedule. Many GM cars have an oil life monitor that you can rely on per tha manual.

Fr the Magnum, I would do a 6,000 mile interval with a quality synthetic and for peace of mind, have the oil analyzed. I plan on taking my Magnum to the track once in a while, but still think a 6,000 mile interval is safe.

 

I did my 3000 mile oil change....I have a question for those that
have already done the same....was your filter tightened from the
factory as if it were holding the entire car together?

I have to say....removing this factory installed filter was the
toughest one I have ever encountered.

Rex

 

Yes, it is very much over torqued.

 

I had the same problem with the wife's Envoy. I needed my big strap wrench and a lot of effort to bust that baby loose. Hand tight my tukus..

 

Reading some of the other posts, I decided to go with Amsoil on my second oil change.
Since I used a K&N oil filter, it was really easy to remove the filter this time. :-)

So far, so good!