With the recent increase of getting an oil, filter change and lube on our 2011 Bounder with a workhorse chassis, I've decided to start doing it myself as I do on our other vehicles. The owners manual calls for 6.4 quarts of 5W30, every 3000 miles. No mention of synthetic.I currently use Mobil One EP in our car and truck. I know Mobil One says it is good for 15,000 miles, however, I choose to do it every 6 months even though we don't put that many miles on either.What is the general opinion regarding usage of synthetic in the Bounder? Or should I just continue doing it with regular 5W30 every 3,000 miles?

I would say, if you are using a premium filter, and that is just as important as the choice of oil, you can get a similar price per mile from synthetic oil. But if you think synthetic oil is better than regular oil, and you still change it out after 3000 miles, well it likely is, but you should plan on keeping your rig for 200,000 miles.

I use Mobil 1 in all my gas engine vehicles-- viscosity per manufacturer's recommendation.

I use Mobil 1 and a premium filter. Try to change every 3 or 4 thousand miles or once a year.

I run Mobil 1 in all my vehicles and change every 5000 miles. EZ to keep track of.

I like synthetics and use it in almost all of my engines, but if you're going to change it every 3,000 miles, it's a waste of money.Bill

Synthetic oil questions | Good Sam Community

Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Aug 30, 2016
I would say, if you are using a premium filter, and that is just as important as the choice of oil, you can get a similar price per mile from synthetic oil. But if you think synthetic oil is better than regular oil, and you still change it out after 3000 miles, well it likely is, but you should plan on keeping your rig for 200,000 miles.
wolfe10
Explorer
Aug 30, 2016
I use Mobil 1 in all my gas engine vehicles-- viscosity per manufacturer's recommendation.
the_silverback
Explorer
Aug 30, 2016
I use Mobil 1 and a premium filter. Try to change every 3 or 4 thousand miles or once a year.
filrupmark
Explorer
Aug 30, 2016
I run Mobil 1 in all my vehicles and change every 5000 miles. EZ to keep track of.
Trackrig
Explorer II
Aug 30, 2016
I like synthetics and use it in almost all of my engines, but if you're going to change it every 3,000 miles, it's a waste of money.

Bill
427435
Explorer
Aug 30, 2016
I've been using Mobil 1 15w-50 or 5w-40 in my Ford V10. Change between 5,000 and 6,000 miles. Been doing that for the last 50,000 miles. Engine is still fine.

What you can do is contact Blackstone Labs and get a free sampling kit. Then send a sample in after a drain and they can tell you if you could have run the oil longer (and also how the engine is wearing).

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
str8shooter_mn
Explorer
Aug 30, 2016
Trackrig wrote:
I like synthetics and use it in almost all of my engines, but if you're going to change it every 3,000 miles, it's a waste of money.

Bill

That's my point. How many miles can I reasonably expect to get between oil changes without issues by switching to a better grade of oil(synthetic) and a premium filter. Right now CW charges 119.95 for an oil change on a gas motor. I have time and ability to do this my self for less than half that price!
str8shooter_mn
Explorer
Aug 30, 2016
427435 wrote:
I've been using Mobil 1 15w-50 or 5w-40 in my Ford V10. Change between 5,000 and 6,000 miles. Been doing that for the last 50,000 miles. Engine is still fine.

What you can do is contact Blackstone Labs and get a free sampling kit. Then send a sample in after a drain and they can tell you if you could have run the oil longer (and also how the engine is wearing).

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Thanks for the suggestion. I just ordered the kit. And bookmarked the link.
Trackrig
Explorer II
Aug 30, 2016
str8shooter_mn wrote:
Trackrig wrote:
I like synthetics and use it in almost all of my engines, but if you're going to change it every 3,000 miles, it's a waste of money.

Bill

That's my point. How many miles can I reasonably expect to get between oil changes without issues by switching to a better grade of oil(synthetic) and a premium filter. Right now CW charges 119.95 for an oil change on a gas motor. I have time and ability to do this my self for less than half that price!

I would run it 10,000 miles. In my Ford diesel truck, I ran it once well over 15,000 miles. I pulled a sample and sent it using a sample bottle I got from Cat. The results came back that I could run it at least another 5,000 miles. From that, you could say I'm wasting money also because I usually change it at 10,000 miles. Speaking of that, it's time to change oil again.

Bill
Geocritter
Explorer
Aug 30, 2016
I use Walmart 5W30 synthetic in my 2005 Caravan with +200,000 miles on it. I change it when I'm down a quart, which is at between 10,000 and 11,000 miles. I just put a rebuilt Ford FI 460 V8 long block in my Class A and will happily use Walmart synthetic in it as well. BTW, I don't believe my RV's previous owner ever changed oil at all, hence my having to install the rebuilt long block.

Steve