S2000 Driver

Couple interesting links on Mobil 1 Extended Performance Motor Oil:

Product Fact Sheet

ExMo Extends Oil Drains to 15,000 Miles

freq

Not that anyone really cares but, think about how this would / could impact the environment, positively impact the environment if everyone did 15K instead of 3 or 5K changes.

Warren J. Dew

Mobil 1 has always been 100% synthetic, although Mobil does also sell a synthetic blend.

The oil change interval thing is kind of interesting. When I was a kid, oil technology was not nearly as advanced as it is now, and the limiting factor on how long oil lasted was not when the additives wore out, but rather when the oil itself broke down. Recommended oil change intervals were typically 3000 miles.

Oil technology improved, though, so oil change intervals started getting longer as oil was made that didn't break down so fast. At one point, Mobil said you could go to a 24000 mile interval using regular Mobil 1 (the only kind of Mobil 1 at the time), and many cars recommended a 15000 mile oil change interval on regular oil.

Then the carmakers started taking advantage of the better oil by building engines that ran hotter and were harder on the oil, because that meant they could run the air/fuel mix leaner and get better gas mileage and better performance out of the same size engine. A side effect, though, was that the oil change interval shrank again.

I suspect Mercedes can get away with 15000 mile intervals because (1) they may not be squeezing quite as much out of their engines, and (2) they probably use a higher quality oil than you get at the average Jiffy lube.

I notice that the Mobil site says that their Extended Performance version doesn't meet some exotic test that their regular Mobil 1 passes. My guess is that it's better to stick with regular Mobil 1 (or another 100% synthetic) unless you're really taking advantage of that longer oil change interval.

xviper

I don't think it would impact the environment much. With today's recycling in nearly every city and town, it's not like it's going to save a lot of oil from being poured onto back alleys and into the ground like the old days.
Again, there's that nagging thing about manufacturers oil change intervals and how this would impact warranty.

S2kNY

Should I be using synthetic? I brought my car to honda and the guy said to put 5w-30 because it better to put a thiner oil in the winter. But does he know what he's talking about or should I use strictly synthetic?

xviper

This is a personal choice. Non-synthetic oils are so good these days that a synthetic may just be for "peace of mind". However, note that the two supercharger companies that make kits for the S2000 does recommend the use of synthetic when their kits are installed.
Your mechanic is right about using a 5W30 for the colder months. It will allow the engine to crank more easily during those cold starts. This is especially true if you are using a non-synthetic. If you use a synthetic, unless it gets extremely cold, a 10W30 will do as synthetics still pour and flow well in the cold. I've been known to use a 5W30 Mobil 1 synthetic when I was parking outside for many hours at temps colder than -25*C. The coldest being -38*C and I was sure glad I had 5W30 synthetic and a block heater.

S2000 Driver

[quote name='Warren J. Dew' date='Feb 22 2005, 10:31 PM'] I notice that the Mobil site says that their Extended Performance version doesn't meet some exotic test that their regular Mobil 1 passes.

xviper

^ From the same source:
[I]To address the issue of vehicle warranties, the back labels of Mobil

S2000 Driver

[quote name='xviper' date='Feb 23 2005, 12:47 PM'] Impact for current S2000 owners?

xviper

^ I'll concede that point to ya.