Mobil 1 EP-change oil every 15K miles?

sascuderi · 04-07-2008, 06:00 PM

I have always used Mobil 1, but recently got the Mobil 1 EP which claims only has to be changed every 15K miles!

Has anyone done this? If so, has anyone sent in their oil for analysis at the 15K mile oil change???

*SilverMax_04* · 04-07-2008, 07:52 PM

I am using regular Mobil 1 (a blend of 10W30 and 5W30 weights -- because I have both) and changing at 10 K miles. I sent one sample in and the results said there was still life remaining in the old oil. Right now I don't plan to extend my OCI beyond 10 K miles.

The amount of city driving that you do will also reduce the length of time you want to use the oil. I don't have a lot of city driving and quite a lot of highway driving, which is why I feel confortable at the 10 K mile OCI.

aznprid972 · 04-07-2008, 11:46 PM

I have been using the Mobile EP for almost 2 years now and never pushed it beyond 5k oil changes. The oil comes out black but I had never sent it in so there could have been plenty of life left. One thing you must keep in mind is the oil filter. I don't think they are designed to go 15k worried free.

***talkinghorse*** · 04-08-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aznprid972

One thing you must keep in mind is the oil filter. I don't think they are designed to go 15k worried free.

Agree wholeheartedly. Most conventional oil filters are designed to run 7500 miles or less. The filter mediums on conventional filters are typically constructed of cellulose/wood fibers...the resins used to hold the fibers together will break down over time and the filter will lose it's integrity. Plus, the manufacturers use a minimum amount of filtering material because the filters are designed to be changed frequently..so they don't need the additional capacity.

If you intend to extend your OCI's while using a conventional filter, it is adviseable to change the filter in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations. An alternative to frequent filter changes is to upgrade to a premium filter such as the Mobil 1 Extended Performance Oil Filter or the AMSOIL Ea (Absolute Efficiency) filter. The Mobil 1 filter combines a mixture of synthetic micro fibers and natural fibers and it recommended for service up to 15,000 miles. The AMSOIL Ea filter is a full synthetic medium filter; it's more efficient than the M-1 filter; and it's recommended for up to 25,000 mile/1-year service intervals in normal service.

Thanatos · 04-08-2008, 08:46 AM

i use the royal purple and still change mine every 3-5k depending on mileage/abuse. i still check my oil stick every week and give it the rumb between the fingers/smell test. i am a very cautious person. i dont care how long the oil company says it will last or when it needs changed. i go by my judgement/knowledge/experience and what not. mainly right now cause i am going threw desludging/flushing the engine. trying to get all my valleys and such cleared out. i have a tapping that sounds like a lifter tapping. only does it after its been warmed up and running for a few min. not when its cold. and off/on during daily driving. weird. and its not the vtc's either. sorry for the tread jack.

*SilverMax_04* · 04-08-2008, 12:23 PM

Your "finger test" is not as scientific or complete as a lab test of the used oil. Suggest you send in a sample of your 5 K mile-use motor oil and see how much life still remains in this oil. This will tell you much more than your nose and finger ever could.

sascuderi · 04-08-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by talkinghorse

Agree whole heartedly. Most conventional oil filters are designed to run 7500 miles or less. The filter mediums on conventional filters are typically constructed of cellulose/wood fibers...the resins used to hold the fibers together will break down over time and the filter will lose it's integrity. Plus, the manufacturers use a minimum amount of filtering material because the filters are designed to be changed frequently..so they don't need the additional capacity.

If you intend to extend your OCI's while using a conventional filter, it is adviseable to change the filter in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations. An alternative to frequent filter changes is to upgrade to a premium filter such as the Mobil 1 Extended Performance Oil Filter or the AMSOIL Ea (Absolute Efficiency) filter. The Mobil 1 filter combines a mixture of synthetic micro fibers and natural fibers and it recommended for service up to 15,000 miles. The AMSOIL Ea filter is a full synthetic medium filter; it's more efficient than the M-1 filter; and it's recommended for up to 25,000 mile/1-year service intervals in normal service.

Exactly what I have on the I30 and Murano....Mobil 1-EP oil and Mobil-1 synthetic filter. I am going to run both cars for 15K miles, see what happens, and send the oil off for analysis. I will post the results. (in 2 years since we only do about 7,500 miles/year.

)

*SilverMax_04* · 04-08-2008, 08:11 PM

If you do a lot of city driving, most experts will tell you that you should change you oil more frequently that every two years.

I don't put many miles a year on my Dodge pickup truck and pushed that synthetic oil to 18 months and about 4 K miles. I personally would not want to go longer than a year and a half -- and experts say change at least once a year, regardless of miles.

I must admit that the lab said that my 18-month oil still had life remaining -- but they also found antifreeze from a leak into the oil.
Your lab test will also tell you more than any other source -- including experts.

***talkinghorse*** · 04-08-2008, 08:34 PM

Mobil states this oil can be used up to 15,000 miles or 1-year in mechanically sound engines operated in normal conditions. They revert back to the OEM's recommended oil change intervals if the vehicle is operated in severe conditions including "racing or commercial applications; frequent towing or hauling; extremely dusty or dirty conditions; or under excessive idling conditions".

Thanatos · 04-09-2008, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverMax_04

Your "finger test" is not as scientific or complete as a lab test of the used oil. Suggest you send in a sample of your 5 K mile-use motor oil and see how much life still remains in this oil. This will tell you much more than your nose and finger ever could.

yes i know that. never said scienticly. i have never snet any oil off before. what is the process of doing that? but like i said. i am trying to desludge the ve30 so i can get rid of a rattle i have. valve lifter. i have only changed the oil 3 time in 10,000 and the rattle is going away. so i keep a check on the oil and if it looks/smells like its ready i will change it. i dont care how longe the oil says it will last. you can tell if its time if you have the knowledge of oil/engines/internals and so forth. i have rebuilt a many engines in my time. when i feel i have degunked my engine enough then i will lean more towards the process of the life expectancy of the oil and benifits. the labs not going to rebuild my engine for me.

*SilverMax_04* · 04-09-2008, 01:50 PM

Oil sludge in you engine is a different matter. I've never knowingly had that problem, so can't speak from experience. I do believe that frequent oil changes with quality oil is one way to reduce the sludge problem.

There are others on this site who swear by one of these treatments: "use AutoRX or Seafoam in the oil about 200 miles before the oil change." While I can't speak to this, a number of posters here report that this has cleaned out the problem.

Good luck.