Oil change - from traditional to synthetic

[ihsn]

Hi,I'm due for an oil change and was thinking of moving to synthetic.My '05 vibe has about 185k on it now Please advise/suggest if I should do it? How I should do it? (flush, no?) etc.Thanks a lot guys.

[Water boy]

Best place for that answer is over at... http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ Me, I generally stay with the same thing.

[KNINE]

Why change now after 185K miles? It seems like you would be well past any benefits synthetic might have provided by using it when the engine was new.

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE »Why change now after 185K miles? It seems like you would be well past any benefits synthetic might have provided by using it when the engine was new. x2Just keep up regular changes, its too late for synthetic. It won't really help though it won't hurt anything either. It will have less friction when starting a cold engine and you might get a tiny mpg boost but really? at 185,000 just stick with the dino.Dave

[specialbuddy]

Is it too late to change over at 110,000 miles? I switched to synthetic the other day. The last oil change I got was 60 bucks. I feel like I was ripped off. I bought some Mobile 1 extended performance with 15,000 mile coverage. I probably won't let it go that long but I want to do less changes. What do you guys think?

[star_deceiver]

Whatever gives you peace of mind!

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by specialbuddy »Is it too late to change over at 110,000 miles? I switched to synthetic the other day. The last oil change I got was 60 bucks. I feel like I was ripped off. I bought some Mobile 1 extended performance with 15,000 mile coverage. I probably won't let it go that long but I want to do less changes. What do you guys think?I agree, whatever floats your boat but for sure I wouldn't do down this path.There is a LOT of debate about oil changes and various oils. A lot of emotion comes into play also.Having been in the professional auto repair world for a mighty long time and now being on the edges looking in I must say that The 15,000 mile oil change interval is really iffy. Even Mobil themselves on their web site say 7,000 - 10,000 but then hedge on that and say that you should follow the manufacturers recommendation for oil change intervals.Sure they have this wonderful 15,000 mile warranty but did you read the exclusions on it? It is totally at their discretion, they get to examine the unit, they get to test the oil. I'd bet money they would blame any damage on an engine switching to their oil at 110,000 miles to be a pre-existing condition caused by previous inferior oil or abuse.....in other words, "not my fault".Did you follow their official procedure for switching to Mobil 1 from Dino on an older car?? There is another out for them.Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti Mobil 1 for I use it myself. While I change oil frequently I will admit I do run over at times, I enjoy having an oil that will withstand that oversight and am willing to pay for that level of comfort. I would just never go that long without dumping the oil.Remember the saying "Penny wise and Dollar Foolish"? Think about it.I can't afford a new engine, can you??I for sure can afford oil changes though.Dave

[pljenkins]

I can't understand why people insist on putting synthetic oil in this engine. None of the Vibe's engine selections will benefit from using a synthetic oil with the POSSIBLE exception of the GT engine, and that is even a thin argument considering the layman driver of that car will not typically run the engine anywhere remotely close to redline.Use a conventional oil, follow the change schedule, take care of the required maintenance and this engine with it's dino-oil will still be running like new when the body rots out from around it.Use the money you saved and buy your next Vibe with cash.

[djb383]

Synthetic oil will get just as dirty, just as quickly as conventional oil. If you plan on extended drain intervals, you would be wise to get a UOA to see how the additives are holding up.

[Cougar Vibe]

First off, Waterboy's suggestion about going to BITOG is spot-on; just be sure to look past the American-centric vibe of late.As for switching, it's never too early, never too late to switch from dino to synthetic. There's a lot of rumor and innuendo, but nobody ever posts real data or examples of "early/late" switches to synthetic that resulted in anything of negative consequence.IMO, there are only two reasons to switch to synthetic w/the 1.8L: You want to extend your oil change interval (for convenience, etc.) and for environmental reasons (eg, recycling). I know that the latter should mean something to me, but it doesn't really factor in; however, I fully appreciate the former's reasoning.My Vibe is the same year as yours, but only has 43K miles. It's had all flavors...M1, PP, QS Torque Power, Kendall GT-1, Havoline Dino & Chevron Supreme ($.49/qt on rebate from Schucks/Checkers/Kragens). I measured mpg and did used oil analysis (UOA), but in the end I went back to good old Chevron Surpreme; I can get about 4,900 miles on it of 50/50 highway/city mix...and the TBN (essentially, active additives) is still above 1.0 (the safe minimum for Blackstone, a UOA testing company). The only negative using this oil is that I have to do two OCI's per year as opposed to one with M1 or PP.That said, go to BITOG, sign up, and search for UOA's on Corollas, Matrixes & Vibes. The 1.8l seems to love any oil (seriously), though there has been a thread or two on BITOG about the timing chain and shearing; more "what if" hypotheticals than "it does" real data. Good luck.

[oriden]

i got my vibe off of a lease the guy that had it almost never did oil changes in that time. and to add he used the wrong filter. So in saying that when i got it at 70XXXkm i did a flush and used synthic.also its not a synthic but was recomended by a machnic at my work is Castoral GTX its about $20 for 5L jug. I put it in my moms Trix and it is an execlent oil.on the synthic side i use mobil one but ive rencently switched to try pensoil platnuim synthic as its less $$ but like they said its what gives you peace of mind!

[Whelan]

I've always used Castrol GTX when doing my oil changes.