Thanks, i was curious as to which i would more appropriately fall under. One more question aobut checking my oil level. I just checked my oil when its hot after coming back from the gilroy garlic festival and waited about 20 minutes before checking it. I noticed it was at 4 diamonds or X (same difference). So this is actually above average compared to when i checked my oil level in the early morning before i warmed up the car. Which would be a more appropriate/correct measure? Bare in mind, i checked my oil 20 minutes after i got home, not sure if i should have checked a few minutes after i turned off the engine (if 20 minutes after turning off the engine is too long to wait)

 

The transition time to synthetic may indeed have changed for the '04 and up. However, for pre'-4, that scan is valid. You shouldn't be throwing at something that has relevence but maybe not to you.

 

[QUOTE=xviper,Jul 31 2005, 05:18 PM]The transition time to synthetic may indeed have changed for the '04 and up.

 

Something as vital to your engine as oil, you're right.... we shouldn't take that seriously at all. Particularly when it will affect the long term life of the engine.

 

God, I love a good oil fight. If you feel one or more of the "severe" conditions apply to you, change at the earlier interval with a good dino 10w30 and the pcx filter.
The majority "thinking" is to wait until your second or third change to use syn oil.
Everything will be OK. Really!

 

We'll all remember your username when one day you come back and post one of those, "What is this noise or why is my car doing this" kind of threads. I'll bet you'll hope people take you a bit more seriously when it's YOUR problem.

 

so should 04 owners wait till 10k miles to switch to synthetic?

 

Read your manual and find out what it says about synthetic oil. You will then be just as informed as most of the people giving advice about oil on this forum.

 

right. take a trip through the oil journals and then come back and give us your smart ass comments.

 

Uh oh.

Having read all the posts about how these little four-bangers drink oil, I've been checking mine religiously. But it's so damned clear, it's hard to see where it is on the dipstick -- I need both my reading glasses and extra bright lights.

Of course, I'm just a tad over the 600 mile mark now, so I guess I won't worry about clear (or, maybe, "oil-colored") oil. So far, though, it's a pain to see it -- but as far as I can tell, it hasn't consumed a drop.

The shop manual has more details about maintenance than the owner's manual, and, from what I see in there, I'm going on the 'severe' schedule, prevention being better than curing and all that. And, FWIW, I'll probably switch over to Mobil 1 at the third (11,250) oil change. Maybe by then I'll be able to see the stuff. HPH