i just got my car like 3 monts ago. it has 3500 miles on it.. when is it the right time to get your oil changed.. and where in the DFW is a good place for an oil change..?

 

manual and dealer will say 3750...your first oil change should be free from dealer.

 

My first oil change was not free from my dealer (back in Chicago) so that is a dealer-by-dealer thing...

I did my first oil change around 2000 miles just because of all the controversy over engine break-in, metal shavings, yada yada.

Also I have always done my oil changes at the dealer (Grubbs here in DFW). But there are a plethora of places to get your oil changed ... Jiffy Lube type places are always a safe bet. I just feel more comfortable going to the dealer, and then you get a "free" car wash too Grubbs is actually very competitively priced (I use Mobil 1 synthetic).

 

Grubbs on 183 i use Mobile 1 Synth aswell and do oil changes every 5k miles

 

SHAME ON YOU!

 

grubbs will be doing my first oil change as well and then after that its all on me and i plan to invest in a fumoto oil drain valve while at grubbs sine they stock them

 

Grubbs is where I go... They love taking my money, but they definitely take care of me!!!

 

You act like its a bad thing... i do my oil changes every 5k with the Mobile 1 Synth and i should actually wait LONGER !!! simply for the fact that when i change my oil it is THE SAME COLOR as when i FIRST PUT IT IN .... lol but just the fact that the oil sits in the car for all those months bothers me thats the only reason i change it that "early" specially with this drastic weather in texas one day its 30 degrees next days its a 130 degrees.... takes a toll on the oil so 5k miles is about right... ?

 

I usually change mine around the same time too... I don't feel comfortable going 10K or close to it without an oil change.

 

Just because you're using synthetic oil doesn't guarantee you 5000 miles. The oil will break down eventually. There are actually quite a few people on this forum that done tests on oil after 3,000 miles with different oils. They send the oil into a lab to do an analysis. I can't speak to the results because I read about those tests a long time ago.

The way I look at it ... synthetic most definitely has much greater resistance to break down over dyno oil. It has been recommended to run your first few oil changes with regular dyno oil and then switch to synthetic at 6k or 9k or somewhere in there. In the big picture, you we are talking about the longevity of the engine. I would highly recommend reconsidering your oil change intervals over the summer when temps remain in the triple digits for multiple days (or weeks or months ). Your oil is going to break down faster when the temperatures are extreme.

For me it is a no brainer to change every 3k miles even with Mobil 1. But for my car there is the additional stress and oil requirements of a supercharger so I have no problem changing at 3k. I am considering starting to do my own oil changes as you can pickup a 5 liter jug of Mobil 1 at WalMart for around $20! What adam suggested about picking up an oil drain valve will make it that much easier!

 

Everyone that has had an oil analysis done with Mobil 1 has shown that oil holds up at least 6K miles, possibly longer. Unless you drive in extreme conditions and dog the crap out of your car it will not benefit you to change it sooner. Also, if your Mobil 1 is the same color as when you put it in, then it is not doing its job. The additives in Mobil 1 should make the oil much darker after 1-2K miles. It may seem "dirty," but that is the way that oil is designed to work.

As you guys know, MB's and BMW's can go 15K on Mobil 1 between oil changes. Although there are some slight differences between the engines that allow this, there should be no issues going up to 5-6K on the VQ. The VQ has been around for a long time, I personally have had one for the past 9 years, and there have been thousands of oil analysis done (check out this site, my350z.com and maxima.org) and just about all of them confirm this....

Saying that, if it makes you feel better doing it every 3-4K, go for it. In you case Jon, it might be a good idea, as you are supplying oil to your SC, and I would call FI an extreme condition. Everyone has a different opinion on it, so who's to say that I am right (not me )....

BTW, I either have Sewell do mine, although I would only rate their service as so so at this point, and sometimes I do it myself. If Sewell does it is about $80 for Mobil 1. If I do it myself it costs me about $30.

 

I use K&N filters and have since '92 when I purchased
my 300ZX. Last week I went into Kragen to buy a
couple filters, the one for my wifes
Vet was $11 and they tried to charge me $18 for
my G filter...WTF no way. So I go home and go on
line and find them for $8 and change. I buy three
and shipping is free......screw Kragen!! Oh yea, I also
use Mobil 1 oil and change oil and filter every 2000
miles. I know, overkill!!!

 

Thanks for the insight Josh!

As far as Mobil oil changes at Grubbs they are VERY fair ... they charge you $5.39/qt. (same price as most parts stores) and then the regular price for the labor. On my car it is necessary to completely remove the [custom] Injen intake pipe going to the throttle body just to get to the dipstick and they don't charge me a dime extra for it!

 

DO most places have mobil synthetic if you ask for it? does it cost more?

 

In my experience it is hit or miss whether they will carry Mobil 1 synthetic. Some places are Penzoil shops and would only carry Penzoil synthetic or similar.

And YES, synthetic will ALWAYS cost more. The oil itself is usually more than twice the cost of normal dyno oil but the labor is exactly the same.