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      01-13-2009, 08:54 AM   #7
Suzie's Dad
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuck92103 View Post
Larger oil capacity, better oil and filters have all improved where the 2500 mile oil changes are no longer required.

Many old schoolers will argue this point.

Since no one has had an engine failure due to 15k oil changes, I would say there is not an issue.
I have been arguing for about six years on the Roadfly X5 forum that the days of 2,500 mile oil changes are long gone as long as you use a true ester-based synthetic oil. It isn't "old schoolers" who tended to disagree, but mostly the young guys who have grown up indoctrinated in the idea of frequent oil changes. It isn't generally the oil itself that degrades these days, it is the additives that get used up. Many truckers go for up to 100,000 miles on the same oil, just replenishing the additives and changing the filter periodically. Not that I advocate that for the X6, but it does give an idea of how long modern oils continue to lubricate. (Synthetics don't break down under heat and 'shear'; mineral-based oils do.)

BMW recommends changing oil annually even if you don't put on enough miles to trigger the light. I think this is just to make sure that water is removed from the crankcase, because low-mileage vehicles are generally used for short trips, which means the water in the oil never gets a chance to burn off.
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