Oil change for Astra

[VYBerlinaV8]

Hi All,

Did a search function, but then thought I might post a thread cos I need some fairly specific advice:

Last year in May I bought my wife one of the last Astra Classic Equipes - a nice well sorted second car. Since then she has done 10,000km.

I was checking the oil earlier, and noticed that although the oil is at the correct level, it has darkened a bit (not sludgy, but a bit worn). The service interval is supposed to be 15,000km. I had the oil changed at the 1,500km check (against the advice of the salesman who insisted it wasn't necessary), but I need to know whether I should change it again. The next service isn't due for 5,000km.

I tend to be a bit fussy when it comes to servicing, but my question is: am I worrying about nothing? Should I just keep an eye on it but wait until 15,000km service? The car has an easy life, and is not driven hard.

Your advice?

[Marco]

When you say 'darkened a bit', do you mean black, or just a bit browner than it was to begin with?

My Astra with the same engine as yours barely dirties its oil between services - going from honey gold when the oil is fresh to slightly brown when it's near replacement - and that's with 127,000km on board. I think when mine was new it hardly dirtied the oil at all.

[Pickles]

Don't worry about it. We've noticed the same thing with our '05 Astra Classic.
The oil will go that colour after only a few thousand ks. We also had our oil changed at 1500ks-- have done a few extra ks over holidays- no time to get car serviced until this week at 17000ks ( overdue from 15000ks!) & oil is still the same colour- has also used no oil-- a top little car.
Cheers, Pickles.

[Dacious]

The oil going dirty means it is doing its job. That is to hold blow-by contaminants, dirt and carbon in suspension so it can be removed by the filter.

Modern oils are good at this - old motors used to build up deposits which reduced clearances and increased wear and localised heating or coated the piston and combustion chamber. 15,000km/12 months is the recommended interval as mineral oil goes 'off' gradually once it starts being used.

[VYBerlinaV8]

Thanks for the good advice everyone - its much appreciated. Based on this I will wait until 15,000km (about another 4 months) before servicing, especially considering the easy life the car typically has.

Cheers!

Anyone else with comments, please post 'em up! :cool:

[The Nurse]

When I used to have my Astra, I changed the oil every 7,500km purely because I thought that 15,000 was too much, but I dare say 90% of astra's out there probably go the full service interval, without any problems so it shouldn't be an issue. Just make sure the timing belt is changed at 60,000km!

[VYBerlinaV8]

60,000km for a timing belt? Sheesh! That's not far off! Is that the recommended interval in the service manual?

Thanks for the tip!

[spiv]

On my Astra I changed the oil @1,500KM's with Holden 10/30W mineral oil and a new oil filter. Then at 10,000 km's I changed the oil to castrol R synthethic wit ha new oil filter. waiting 15,000k's is a joke IMO.

P.S. you will need a T45 Torx bit to undo the sump plug.

[The Nurse]

60,000km for a timing belt? Sheesh! That's not far off! Is that the recommended interval in the service manual?

Thanks for the tip!

Yeh it used to be 120,000km, but there were a few occurances of breakage so they shortened it to 60,000km

[RedVYIISS]

I think 15,000 is too long as well. My Mrs's AH Astra gets done at 10,000 intervals.

[lowriding]

Yeh it used to be 120,000km, but there were a few occurances of breakage so they shortened it to 60,000km


Thatts a rort changing the belt at 60'000km . In this day and age they can only "expect" 60k out of their timing belts is just bloody ridiculous.Same intervals on the Vectras too Why rip off customers once for a belt change at $700 or so when you can do it twice for the same distance,hey ?