How long should a synthetic oil change last

Last Updated on September 12, 2022

With every internal combustion engine on the market today, there is a requirement that the engines stay lubricated with either conventional or synthetic oil products. When it comes to consumer and commercial oil products for vehicle engines, not every motor oil is created equal.

Some individuals who do not have very much experience with automotive practices will occasionally make the mistake of believing that it doesn’t matter what kind of motor oil they put into their car or truck, but this could not be farther from the truth.

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The fact is that depending on the type of oil being used in an engine, and the oil change interval being applied to the maintenance regimen for a vehicle, overall performance can actually vary a lot.

For example, the averages for conventional oil change intervals are actually fairly short. On the extreme low end, some conventional oil change intervals can even be as low as every 3,000 miles. This is especially true for older vehicles or when consistently involved in demanding driving conditions.

See Also: How Long Does an Oil Change Take?

Average Synthetic Oil Change Interval

With synthetic oil change intervals, depending on the type of engine and type of synthetic oil blend being utilized, averages often range from about 5,000-10,000 miles. Compared to conventional oil change intervals, going 5,000-10,000 miles before needing another oil change can be a very attractive prospect.

Synthetic oils (and synthetic blends to an extent) can also offer a vehicle’s engine other benefits in the form of better performance overall, and a potential to have considerably less gunk and deposits left over from conventional oil blends. However, they come at a much higher cost. But if you shop wisely (best places to buy motor oil for cheap), the difference may not be too bad.

They best way to determine your specific car or truck’s oil change interval is simply looking in your vehicle’s manual to see what the manufacturer calls for (as well as the type of oil). If you do a lot of stop and go driving, you may want to change out your oil even sooner than recommended.

See Also: Common Oil Change Scams

When Your Synthetic Oil Change Interval Should Be Lower Than Average

When it comes to certain driving conditions which can make the synthetic oil change interval lower that it would be in average driving conditions, there are certain specific scenarios where the interval can drop considerably.

For example, if a vehicle owner is someone who likes to take their car or truck into off road terrain, or drive on dirt and gravel roads, these constitute conditions that can demand a more frequent synthetic oil change interval.

Some other circumstances which can make the synthetic interval a bit lower than normal include regularly towing a trailer or some other kind of heavy load, and excessive idling.

Many people do not realize this, but idling an engine for an extended period of time on a regular basis can demand much more frequent synthetic oil changes. One more circumstance where the oil change interval can drop lower than normal is if the driver of a vehicle is frequently making short trips when the temperature is below freezing outside.

How Long Can You Go Without Changing Your Oil?

How often do you really need to change your oil? We have been told for years that it’s important to change our engine oil “every 3 months or every 3000 miles” so hopefully you’re at least looking for a quick oil change a few times a year, but how long can you go between oil changes?

Do you still need to change your oil every 3000 miles? How long can you go with full synthetic oil? Can your Mercedes really go 10,000 miles between oil changes? Well don’t worry! Today I will tell you once and for all the truth!

Short Answer – It depends….

I know I know, not what you wanted to hear! So, as best I can, here is the medium length answer.

Conventional Oil and Older Cars – 3000 Mile Oil Change

If your car does not require a synthetic blend oil assume 3,000 miles is the rule. On a side note, oil change specials for $19.95 use conventional, so make sure your car is old enough and doesn’t need a blend. Older vehicles were built with older technology and engineered with non-synthetic oils in mind.

What if your car’s a little newer? You may be wondering “how often should I change my oil if my car has high mileage”? If you have a newer car with 150,000 or 200,000 miles you likely should also change your oil every 3,000 miles. If you burn more than 1 quart of oil or your oil is very dark before you get to 3,000 miles it’s likely time to change it! If you’re oil is still medium brown and not low after 3,000 miles you’re in luck! In spite of the high miles you’re engine is in good shape and you can go a little longer.

Synthetic Blend Oil and Higher Oil Capacity – 5,000 Mile Oil Change

Just about all cars now require synthetic blend oil. “How much more expensive is synthetic blend oil” you wonder? The good news is that the cost is very close. If you’re looking for an oil change near Indian Trail, NC 28079 Kindred Automotive doesn’t even charge extra for a synthetic blend oil change.

Synthetic blends hold up longer and won’t break down, even after 5000 miles of driving. Newer cars also have better filtration systems, allowing you to safely drive 5000 miles between oil changes.

If your car holds more than the typical 5 Quarts you may also be able to safely run 5,000 mile oil changes. More oil means more additives and more storage for the carbon and gas your filter can’t trap.

Synthetic Blend Oil Changes are much better for your engine, and safe for older cars, but you still need to check your oil at 3,000 miles and follow the advice listed above for high mileage engines.

Full Synthetic and European Oil Change – 7,500 Miles to….. well, it’s complicated!

Full synthetic oils will actually last well beyond 10,000 miles. The lifespan of synthetic oil depends, but it’s not crazy to see oils still working at 15,000 miles or longer. Synthetic technology is pretty amazing, but it isn’t magical. Just because the oil additives still work and the oil isn’t breaking down doesn’t mean it’s safe for your engine.

Over time engine oil gets diluted with gasoline and loses the ability to lubricate properly. Oil also has limited space to suspend particles, there’s only so much real estate to go around! Another complication seen in newer engines is the very tiny passages that oil must travel through, setting the stage for a clogged engine artery and a mechanical heart attack!

How long can your car go using Full Synthetic Oil depends on the amount of oil it holds, how large and how good the oil filter is, how well the engine was designed and how much it has worn over the years. We have seen a huge increase in engine repairs due to “Extended Oil Changes” leading to rapid failures.

Our standard recommendation is 7,500 miles for a normal vehicle based on the thousands of engine repairs we’ve seen over the years. This seems to be the most cost-effective balance of more frequent oil changes and less frequent repairs. Changing your oil sooner than 5000 miles will typically just increase your cost without any additional benefits. Likewise, waiting past 10,000 miles leads to thousands of dollars in future repairs and will not pay off in the long run.

Our personal vehicles hold between 6 and 9 quarts of Full Synthetic Oil and we shoot for every 5,000 miles. That means roughly 6,000 miles when we finally get around to it… Yes, we forget sometimes too! ?

How many miles can I go between oil changes with synthetic oil?

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