Lancer service query

[Lofty]

My fiancee has a 2002 Lancer which has 15000 km service intervals.
It currently has just over 70000 on the clock, last service was 60000, next due is 75000. She enquired at mitsubishi regarding oil change and was told it didn't need it til next service. What would anyone recommend ????

[Swordie]

Change it if it makes you feel more comfortable. If will probably cost another $50.

[clixanup]

Personally, I change the oil at 5,000km intervals in all my cars. IMO, 10,000km is far too long to drive on the same oil. 15,000km is just plain ridiculous.

[Drewie]

I change mine at 6 months which is usually under 5000km, old habits die hard,
I notice that Holden have pushed the services on the V6 to 15000km intervals as well, maybe modern filters and oils are capable of going the distance, seems to be the trend the 15000km service. You would think that the manufacturers would have looked in to it, especially Mitsubishi with the 10 year warranty.

[VYBerlinaV8]

What do they do at the service if they don't change the oil? Not much point changing the oil filter, and they generally only do other filters and fluids at major services.

[Daz_R8]

If your GF doesn't rev the shit out of the car I wouldn't bother with 5,000km intervals. Normally the logs will be 15,000km or 6 months whichever comes first. If it's been 6 months then get it done. :D

[ratter]

Revved or not, oil deterioates with time, if you plan on keeping the car for a while, at least change the oil and filter every 7,500 klms ans use a decent oil

[VYBerlinaV8]

Car manufacturers must have a lot of faith in their ability to service cars - especially with Mitsubishi offering 10 years drivetrain warranty and still have 15000km service intervals.

Still, it's not like they're going to be around in 10 years to pay for the claims anyway :lol: :booty:

[muzza]

It's all about oils - the newer spec oils in the last few years (SH etc) are supposedly able to better withstand the wear and suspend combustion byproducts and wear particles for longer with better developed additive packages.

The other trick manufacturers have done is to increase oil capacity through bigger sumps to slow down the procss of oil "wear" - more oil, takes longer to use up the protective properties.

If you read most service recommendations carefully however, you will notice they say 15 000 km or so many months (eg: 6), the rationale being that if you do lots of km in a short time, your car is running lots and staying hot, usually highway work, which allows oil to last longer through lower contamination. However doing few kays, say 5000 in 6 months would be usually short around town trips which are considered "servere operating conditions" (SOC) and oils dont get so hot and accumulate lots of moisture (acidic combustion byproducts in that) and sludge up quicker.

Constantly towing is also SOC, also dirty/dusty conditions, as would be leadfoot driving/racing every time you go out - so you'd want to change you oil every 6 months, 5000 or 7500 km to maintain good oil properties.

[Swordie]

My VY 3.8 has 15K intervals. I do 30K a year and from what I hear they will easily do over 300K on a motor. One of the main reasons for the interval going from 10 - 15K was due to increased oil capacity. When I pull the dip stick out 10K after the last service the oil looks quit clean, it only needs the occasional top up. As a daily runner it's reliable, good on fuel and not to much to service.