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Oil Change Interval Question/Help!

3K views 9 replies 9 participants last post by  Quietflyer 
#1 ·
Hello!

I have a brand new 2015 Kia Sportage LX. The odometer had 45 miles on it when I got it, and now it has 600 miles on it. I looked in the owners manual, and it's showing it's first service isn't due until 7,500 miles. That seems like an awfully long time, especially since it's running regular/conventional oil. I could understand if it was synthetic (which I will be changing to at my first service).

Anyway, when do you all change your oil? Do you use regular or synthetic? When would you recommend that I do my first oil change? Can the car go safely to 7,500 miles on regular oil? I was thinking more around 4k-ish since I live in the midwest, and experience some pretty severe driving conditions.

I would appreciate any input on this.

Thanks much!
 
#3 ·
usually the factory oil has additives for the break in period. conventional can be ran 5K miles in normal driving conditions. 3K miles for severe driving conditions.

i had my CR-V's oil changed every 5K miles, here in Houston, hot and humid summers, flooring it and redlining it pretty much at every traffic stop or passing on the highway, cruising at 80 mph. over 180K miles when i traded it in after 13 years. no problems.
 
#4 ·
I did my first oil change at 5200 miles. I thought 7500 was too long for me since I only drive around 5-6000 miles per year. I currently have 7600 miles on the odometer and if I had waited for 7500 miles before I changed my oil, I would have waited almost 1 and a half years.
 
#8 ·
5000 miles on the first change and every 5000 miles since. The factory oil is regular oil, nothing different except they may add some fluorescing dye to make it easier to find oil leaks. There is no reason to change it earlier than 5000 miles other than severe service. The most important things you should do in the first 500 miles are to drive it gently and check the oil frequently (every gas fill). By 'gently', all I mean is to apply the 'Ferrari rule' - no full throttle or RPM over 3000 until the thermostat opens. That's actually how I drive mine every time I start it - by the time I get to the main road it's ready to go wide open if that's what it takes. Plus, in the first 500 miles, there should be no wide-open throttle at all. What you are looking for is widely-varied driving speeds/loads with a minimum of long periods of steady speed.
Although I have never seen it on any vehicle I've had, some engines may use some oil in the first 1000 miles, which is why you keep your eye on it. This also builds a very good habit of checking the oil frequently. You may be surprised at how many engines have been ruined by low oil when a leak or excessive consumption developed and the owner was not checking the oil because it had never used any since new. Things happen - be aware.
 
#9 ·
By 'gently', all I mean is to apply the 'Ferrari rule' - no full throttle or RPM over 3000 until the thermostat opens.
Mine's got 7600 miles and I still drive it gently by keeping it at low RPM's until the coolant gauge goes past the 1/4 mark(regular operating temp. is around 1/2 mark). Right after starting up the engine, I wait atleast 10 seconds before driving off so that the motor oil has covered all parts of the engine. I do all this so that the engine can last a longer life :D
 
#10 ·
Oil Change interval

I have a 2011 Base model Sportage (Manual transmission). I do my own oil changes at 7,500 mile intervals using Mobil 1 synthetic 5W-20. I currently have almost 134,000 miles on the car and it does not use any oil between changes. I always use a KIA oil filter. My driving is 80% interstate highway. I changed the oil the first time at 7,500 miles according to the owners manual.
 
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