ZX 1.9D oil change interval...?

[RussellF97]

Back again...

1995 ZX 1.9D, now on 136K. Since going into partnership with the car at 98K, I've been changing the oil every 4500 miles using Shell Helix 15W/40 and Purflex filters.

Recently, there was a post - which I now can't find - where someone said they change their oil every 3000 miles. This got me thinking (always a dangerous moment) about whether I should maybe reduce my oil change interval given the rising mileage.

3000 miles; 4500 miles; somewhere in between? Any thoughts, anyone...?

[myglaren]

I used to change mine every 3000 milesish as that was half the recommended distance and occurred approximately monthly.
With that sort of mileage I could probably have doubled rather than halved it but it was so simple I erred on the safe side.

Never seemed to do any harm

[Bick]

4 to 5k is plenty for that engine and if you use a fully synthetic you can go to 6-7k no problem.

the shorter drain intervals are used more on the 1.6 hdi as the 12.5k intervals can be a little too much for the turbo even with synthetic.

[citronut]

i dont belive there is any benefit in changing to fully synthetic firstly if the car has run through its life with either semi or 20/50 mineral oil,
and secondly i feel the XUD limp does not need fully synthetic,

and if your replacing the oil every 3000 miles you dont need a high grade/brand/expensive oil,

regards malcolm

[Peter.N.]

I always changed my oil at 5000 miles on the XUDs and I have had a couple last nearly 300,000 miles.

Peter

[Bick]

i dont belive there is any benefit in changing to fully synthetic firstly if the car has run through its life with either semi or 20/50 mineral oil,
and secondly i feel the XUD limp does not need fully synthetic,

and if your replacing the oil every 3000 miles you dont need a high grade/brand/expensive oil,

regards malcolm

i agree malcolm, the xud was never designed to run synthetic and does not need it. but if you wish to use it i would think the oil companies would say you can stretch the drain intervals. that is what has happened in the truck trade, the firts were merc with 100k intervals!

[citronut]

i wouldn't bother using it in a worn engine, only maybe an engine from new,

regards malcolm

[Peter.N.]

I have always used the cheapest oil with a CF+ spec which in my case has been Comma at £10.00 until recently. The frequency of the oil changes is far more important than the cost of the oil.

Peter

[RussellF97]

Thanks very much for all the replies. Now I've got into the habit, I'll probably stick to the 4500 mile interval then - but I won't hyperventilate if it goes a few hundred over.
I get the Helix from the local supermarket for 15.68€ - about £13. I don't travel at warp speed or do interstellar mileages, so it's about 3 oil changes a year which won't break the bank.
Thanks again, one and all...

[uhn113x]

I've always gone for 3000 and changed the filter as well. Oil is cheap; engines aren't. Plus the fact that Millers are three miles down the road in Rastrick and both of our steeds are air-cooled.

[Peter.N.]

How things have changed, before the modern diesel era I used to run quite a few cars fitted with Perkins 4/108 engines, you had to change the oil every 2,000 miles or when you unscrewed the drain plug nothing happened, I used to put a pint of diesel in the oil and run the engine to get it thin enough to come out!

Peter