There have been several thrads on oil change milage but I would like to throw in some other factors. For full synthetic, I read people say 5,000 to 7,500 miles. I don't rack up much milage and I make mostly short trips. I'd like to get some input for my particular situation.
I have a 2006 S60 25T (not turbo). I live in the Philadelhphia area and drive mostly short trips. The commute to work is only 5 miles. I air it out on the highway about once a month.
I last changed the oil on July 1, 2009, at 33,185 miles. I used full synthetic oil.
I currently have 37,905 miles on the car. In 7 months, I drove 4,720 miles. This pattern is likely to continue.
Under these circumstances, how often should I change the oil?

 

5,000 or 6 months whichever comes 1st.

 

For short trip driving, I don't tend to think Synthetics are worth it.
Why? Because oil should also be changed on a time in service interval, especially so if short trips are done, like your usage.
Short trips don't allow condensation and light hydrocarbons to evaporate out of the oil and they will sludge up an engine.
So as Tech said, every six months if you don't hit the mileage.
Now, why buy synthetic oil if you are going to drain it out every six months? You are getting no benefits from it as far as extended drain intervals go, and the oil isn't getting to an age where the viscosity is breaking down.
I drain the oil on my Volvo and bikes every six months because they just never have a chance to hit mileage interval servicing and I just use a good quality mineral diesel oil in them.

Regards, Andrew.

 

Thanks for your response.

 

Thanks for your response. I didn't notice this point in the threads about synthetic v. regular oils.

 

My wife has a 2005 XC70 and I have a 2007 V70r.
Neither car gets driven 5K miles per year, so I change each car's oil twice per year with fully synthetic oil.
My change interval schedule is 5K miles, or six months, which ever comes first.

Al. Wise

 

# fully synthetic oil : 5000 m. or 5 months
# regular oil :3000 m or 3 months

 

I do 5000 or every 5 months also