how often to change oil in a diesel

mikey72

The vauxhall is a long life spec A3/B4/C3 full synth.
Not a fuel ecomony spec like the A1.
My vauxhall (2004) can either use semi synth at regular service intervals, or the full synth on extended intervals.

The arguement is full synth lasts better, and stays in grade longer than semi synth.
It still gets dirty at the same rate though.

I use semi synth, and more frequent changes so it's generally cleaner, and doesn't have as long to degrade in.
It's swings and roundabouts on the cost really.
Ideally, stick to the specified spec and grade of oil, but I would increase the intervals to about 10k max, or every year.

grizzly1911

mikey72 wrote: »

The vauxhall is a long life spec A3/B4/C3 full synth.
Not a fuel ecomony spec like the A1.
My vauxhall (2004) can either use semi synth at regular service intervals, or the full synth on extended intervals.

The arguement is full synth lasts better, and stays in grade longer than semi synth.
It still gets dirty at the same rate though.

Thanks.

I did notice in ASDA recently they were doing a fully synthetic 5/30 didn't analyse it too closely but seemed to meet the Edge spec(it was on the shelf below). £20 v £35.

I know the cheap mineral 20/50 reclaimed stuff was use at you peril but I wonder how this stuff would stand up generally (not specific to my original query).

mikey72

I've never liked cheap oil.
But any oil can have reclaimed oil in it, I don't think there is any requirement to be from purely new oil.
The cheap oil has no specs on the can at all, but the next grade up, does normally meet the A3. The latter one is ok, but I would change it sooner.
About 30 years ago I used Duckhams Q, and moved onto semi synth when it became available. Now we still have two cars that use 20/50 mineral, I use Halfords own.
The main problem with oil is the fact it breaks down with use, and the additives become less effective, so the cheap stuff should be changed often, the dear stuff will last longer.
I go for the semi synth as I get it trade from Vauxhall, it goes in all the cars we have, and I can afford to change it reguarly.
I'd use supermarket brands as well though, if it meets all the specs.
They will have it made for them by a reputable oil company, and won't sell rubbish, or it'll come back to haunt them.
I still don't like extended oil changes, especially in diesels, there's too much soot in the oil after even a short while.

Ranger8

thefishdude wrote: »

sooo as title sais i have a diesel 1.9dci scenic 2002 its covered 115000, now normally i get an oil change every year including filyter and get castrol edge for turbo diesels i have recently started doing more miles and think i will be doiung about 18000 a year is that to long to leave an oil change once a year ?
what would you do ?

Magnetec + Filter every 9k/6mths

gilbert_and_sullivan

Buy your oil in bigger packs, i'm sure Vauxhall offer 4x 5 litre packs of their very good full synthetic oils at excellent prices.

Change regularly and use a genuine or very good quality (Mann for example) filter every time, if using top quality oil do it at the mileage the car maker recommends, take into account any reasons to reduce the interval and do so accordingly...short runs, stop start etc.

Good oil bought well is only fractionally more expensive than also ran stuff that should be used for fence preservation, don't spoil the ship for ha'porth of tar.

thefishdude

thank for all input, seemed to have sparked an interesitng debate anyway i went on renault forum and found a thread about oil for 1.9 dci and one of the member there is a renault technician and he emphatically suggested to use a 5w40 fully synthetic not a 10w40 semi for that engine, sooo i think im gonna stick with the castrol edge and save up some extra pennies/slash cut down on mcdonalds so can get it twice a year. as much as things are tight money wise they would be a hell of a lot tighter if the engine went in my car lol .

Hammyman

pendulum wrote: »

Every 6k is ideal, but if you're doing mainly long journeys, then 8 to 9k changes are acceptable. If you're doing 18k a year then a twice-yearly change is every 9k so should be fine there. For what oil to use, I'd have a look at owners club forums, there will be threads about what oils to use for the specific car.

Why do people post this drivel? I do 17k to 18k a year. I change the oil in my Mondeo at 12,500 miles which is the service schedule. Its on 158k and running fine with no leaks or burning of oil.

Come on people, this isn't 1980. Oils have come on massively and engine tolerances have tightened up tremendously.

mikey72

Hammyman wrote: »

Why do people post this drivel? I do 17k to 18k a year. I change the oil in my Mondeo at 12,500 miles which is the service schedule. Its on 158k and running fine with no leaks or burning of oil.

Come on people, this isn't 1980. Oils have come on massively and engine tolerances have tightened up tremendously.

Yes, but you bought it as a high milage, so it was probably looked after properly until then.
And if you can't manage the maths, even if you change it at 12.5K, that's a lot closer to the 6 months pendulum is advising, then leaving it to an annual change as was the op's original question.

(Didn't you recommend Kwik Fit as well, after admiting you go there for oil changes?)

mikey72

thefishdude wrote: »

thank for all input, seemed to have sparked an interesitng debate anyway i went on renault forum and found a thread about oil for 1.9 dci and one of the member there is a renault technician and he emphatically suggested to use a 5w40 fully synthetic not a 10w40 semi for that engine, sooo i think im gonna stick with the castrol edge and save up some extra pennies/slash cut down on mcdonalds so can get it twice a year. as much as things are tight money wise they would be a hell of a lot tighter if the engine went in my car lol .

As gilbert and sullivan aid Vauxhall do some good prices if you buy 4 x 5 l at a time, and it's a good quality synthethic oil.