Engine Oil Change Duration

[salman258746]

Hi
I have recently bought a Suzuki Wagon R. My monthly traveling is very less (approx. 200 KM). So, in three months, my car travel around 500-600 KMs. According to Suzuki, I have to change my engine oil after every three months or 5000 KMs (whatever comes first). Last time, when I went to Suzuki workshop for oil change (after 3.5 months), the person who was replacing (old) oil with new, said "Your oil is good, why are you changing it?". So, I told him about Suzuki policy. But after that I did some research and asked some of my friends about duration of oil change. As a result, I got following three answers:

First Opinion: You should change your oil every three months, irrespective of less mileage, because in three months the oil gets expired.
Second Opinion: You can wait for 5000 KMs and then change oil.
Third Opinion: If you have less mileage, then you can wait up to five months, and after that you have to change oil.

So, the research made me more confused. So, here I am with same question. Should I wait for 5000KMs, or 3 months, or 5 months? Which of these opinions is correct? Please guide me.
Thanks

[aliaamar110]

6 months

[salman258746]

People who favor three months say that if you continuously prolong the duration, your car will start giving smoke. Did you experience any such thing?

[aliaamar110]

no
but only genuine products and soft driving

[salman258746]

What is your approximate monthly mileage?

[aliaamar110]

almost same situation
1000km per months
25km per day
i change after 6 months caltex 5w40 city 2017 just 32k kms driven

[salman258746]

Thanks brother
Let see... what others say

[kashifmahmood41]

The car manual suggests oil change every 5000Km or 3 months which ever comes first.

I also have very low running i.e. 300km to 400km per month. This is my second year with this car and I have done only 2 oil changes till now. My ODO meter is yet to hit 5000km total mileage.

A good rule is to have it replaced twice a year i.e. every 6 months, even if you have low running.

• My First oil change was at 1400KMs / 6 months use
• My Second oil change was at 4250 KMs / After 9 months

Each time the oil drained was in pretty good shape. Neither dark nor less viscous indicating that it can still go a few more months and plenty of KMs.

NOTE : Car dealers will make money from you every time you take your car to them. Go through the car owner's manual and stick to the schedule listed in it.

[salman258746]

Thanks a lot kashif.
In your first sentence, you said that the car manual says that 5000Km or 3 months which ever comes first.
In your last sentence, you said to stick with car manual.
Then why don't you follow that rule? Just curious...

[pwuser150469741418]

The oil you are pouring in should have an expiry date written on the box. Suzuki recommends their own oil hence the three months must change thing could purely be due to vested interest to force users to buy an oil bottle every 3rd month or the quality could be pathetic? Oil change depends on the mileage first and then duration. I am totally not sure what quality is SGO but oils like Kixx (7k mileage) Shell(5k) both are non premium oils and can go that much easily. Now if you're car is in warranty do as the manual suggests. Otherwise here's a checklist:

1- Mileage
2- Expiry (if written
2- Condition of the oil during 6 months.

If Mileage not reached. Will recommend changing anytime during 6 months whenever you feel the oil is getting darker.

[salman258746]

Thanks a lot

[kashifmahmood41]

Well, I was referring to the maintenance schedule for everything else except oil change since you have a very low monthly running for your car and if you follow 3 months oil change schedule you will be wasting a lot of money.

[Hassan1991]

A post was merged into an existing topic: Lubricant Discussion- Engine Oil / Gear Oil

[Hassan1991]