Hey Pontiac Bonneville Club! Just wondering how many users use full-synthetic oil and changes every 6k miles and who uses conventional oil with the traditional 3k. Thanks!

_________________
Scott
2001 SE (Down in Flames)
2003 SLE (Sold)
2001 SSEI: 78k - Feb2017 COTM

What about semi-synthetic?

_________________

97 Bonneville se-Winter car
85 Yamaha xj700-Summer cruiser

I used to always change the oil religiously at 3,000 with conventional oil. And I was always BLACK by that time.

I recently switched the synthetic, but the car seems to be leaking/burning oil worse now. At 5,200 miles on my current oil and its went through 3 quarts already to keep it full.

BUT on the upside my oil looks fairly clean, unlike the conventional that would be black.

This is another one of this things, ask a hundred people get a hundred different answers.


Now our other car has always had conventional and 3k miles changes and I plan to keep it that way because it doesn't leak or burn anything.

_________________
Clay
1997.2 40th SLE-138k
1968 Bonneville 400ci w/TH-400-40k
1999 GMC Suburban SLT-191k
2005 Escalade 253k-GINA

I use synthetic, but change at 4,000 miles.

_________________
2000 SSEi *sold 9/27/15* December '12 & May '15 COTM
2005 Grand Prix
2009 G8 GXP #418 of 1,829 November '15 TOCOTM

I go 5k on conventional... lol

I've gone 9k on synthetic.

_________________
-Car Guy Carl
"Penelope" - 2003 SLE - 250k Miles
"Sydney" - 2000 Honda S2000 - 101k miles

Psh, I ran 10k on Pennzoil Platinum in my SSEi. 4k? You're throwing out perfectly good oil...

Honestly, the best way to know is to do oil analysis.

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

You put thay synthetic to the test! Ive run mobile 5000 to 5,500 and it was still fairly good but id rather do it every 3,500 to 4,000

_________________
1995 se
128,101
custom FWI
rt-95 rims look kinda like crosslaces
6000k hids
f- body muffler dual output
96-99 headlight conversion, clear markers

The 3800 is one of the easiest motors ever on oil. Simple engine design, low friction to begin with, no multiple overhead cams and crap to keep constantly lubed. Putting oil to the test is running 25k on Amsoil...

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

Oil analysis is the way to go.

Black oil isn't bad, that means it's doing it's job, removing contaminants that the filter can't get because they're too fine, dark oil can still have life left. The DIC lies, and you can't tell by looking at it *most* of the time. I run RP and a K&N filter on all my cars, at a determined length (10k because I know the oil and filter are good for it) at first, then I'm having an analysis done so I can dial in exactly. Yeah, my oil changes aren't cheap. But if I'm only doing it every 8-10k at least, the cost evens out.

Just my two cents.

_________________
Will
91 Riviera | S2 L67 Swap/4T60E | 127K mi | Antelope Met. w/ Tan Int. | Saved From Death By Crusher
92 Bonneville SSE | L67/4T60E | 77K mi | Med Slate Grey w/ Two-Tone Grey Int. | Low Miles Time Capsule
92 Lumina Z34 | LQ1/4T60E | 177k mi | Torch Red w/Grey Int. | Rusty In Odd Spots
99 Tahoe LT | L31/4L65E | 276k mi | Spiral Grey Metallic w/Grey Int. | Truck for Truck Things and Portable Concert Hall
02 Bonneville SSEi | 171k mi | Black w/Neutral Int. | Backup and road trip car
03 Park Avenue Ultra | 212K mi | White Diamond Met. w/ Shale Int. | Southern Time Capsule
05 Acura RL | 165K mi | Carbon Grey Pearl w/Ebony Int. | The Super-Hooptie Daily

No reason you can't go over 3k on conventional.. 3000 was/is a thing of the past.. I use conventional in the wife's trailblazer and usually do changes around 5000 miles. We both commute 400 miles a week so oil changes at 3k would be way to often. I've sent my oil in for analysis and it was still fine when I changed it. I use synthetic in gto every 5-6k miles.

_________________
-Nick
October 2013 Car Of The Month

6000k HID's ~ Custom Halo's and front license plate PONTIAC lit up ~Thrush Turbo Exhaust w/ Dual 3" stainless tips ~ Tinted Headlights and Tail Lights ~ Headlight clear corners ~ 15% tint all around ~ Custom Badging, Lettering, and Painted Engine Cover ~ GXP Spoiler ~ Ported Exhaust Manifolds ~ Shift Kit ~ Custom FWI ~ Tuned with HP Tuners

Both, full synthetic & 6,000 miles. Had the oil analyzed to make sure it was still healthy. - BC

_________________
In Memory of Brad - 1/21/1977 .. 10/23/2013 ...... Aaron - 1977 .. 2017 .....
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville SSE 1SB 170 HP L27 4T60E retired/sold to MattStrike ..... 2005 Bonneville SE 1SC 205 HP L36 4T65E - retired/salvage yard ..... PBCF user 2321

i think i have about 7000 on the 88 with conventional now.

haven's changed the 2000 yet but when I do its gonna get a good synthetic and filter.

_________________

-Austin-
1988 LE, Intercooled L67 loading......

2000 SSEi R.I.P. Dead now :( INTENSE FWI, polished LIM, P&P supercharger, custom radiator, standalone trans cooler, trans-go shift kit (donating to the 88)

2002 2500HD Silverado with the 8.1 Vortec and Alison tranny. Likes to eat GT Mustangs and lots of tires, and all while stock!

If the filter was doing it's job properly, the oil wouldn't turn black

Let an oil analysis tell you if your OCI is working for the conditions that you drive in. I've yet to see conventional last more than ~3k in any of my vehicles before it gets overloaded with crud (it may still have life left, but dirt in the pan means it's not in the filter). In a perfect world, the oil filter would catch 100% of the contaminates that could cause bearing wear or damage. But there is an oil filter bypass (if it get plugged for example) that can send unfiltered oil into the engine. Which is why I want to put a 5 micron secondary filtration system on my truck and the SSEi...

In the case of my wife, her car gets synthetic on 3k oil changes. I don't DD that car, she has a track record for killing engines, so better safe than sorry, because when she tells me it's at 3k could mean its at 6k because she forgot to say something at 3k

_________________
Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

I use conventional oil in my 2002 SSEi since it was new with oil changes and a new filter every 5000 miles for 200,000 miles without any significant engine problems. About 80% of the driving is highway miles. I am probably going to change the oil in my '04 GXP more often,

_________________
bobgto65

2004 Bonneville GXP 62,000 miles purchased 04/13
2009 G8 GXP PBM, M6 9580 miles, no mods, sold 08/15
2009 G8 GT SBM 36,000 miles, modded 430 whp
2002 Bonneville SSEi 203,200 miles (sold 3/2014)

Not disagreeing with your observation, but the owners manual sez that under normal circumstances you can run conventional oil 4,500 miles. But like you posted, the only sure way to know is to have the oil analyzed. - BC

_________________
In Memory of Brad - 1/21/1977 .. 10/23/2013 ...... Aaron - 1977 .. 2017 .....
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville SSE 1SB 170 HP L27 4T60E retired/sold to MattStrike ..... 2005 Bonneville SE 1SC 205 HP L36 4T65E - retired/salvage yard ..... PBCF user 2321

Synthetic (Pennzoil Platinum) 5w30 at 6,200 miles. An oil change on the 10's in km makes it hard to forget

Next change at 110,000km will have an oil analysis done.

_________________

Jerry /// Past: 95 SSEi (June 2010 COTM) -- 04 GXP (July 2011 COTM)
91 Honda Civic Wagon DX 2WD (fuelly) -- 208,000km -- 92hp -- Autocross Warrior
09 Lexus LS460 AWD -- 94,000km -- Daily Driver
09 White Hot G8 GT -- 155,000km (fuelly) -- LS3 Cam -- GM LS3 CNC Ported Heads -- Kooks 1 3/4" Long Tube Headers -- Solo Catback Midsection -- Hooker Maxflow Mufflers -- Pat G Tune -- Rotofab Intake -- Tein S-Tech Springs -- GXP FE3 Dampers -- BMR Subframe Cradle Inserts -- BMR Subframe Connectors -- Forgestar F14 Gold 18x9 +40 -- Michelin Pilot Super Sport 245/45/18 -- Maverick Man Carbon Fiber Spoiler

Jerry, that is an AWESOME way to keep track of your interval! Clay, you're right on the hundred different answers. Just trying to get a grasp; should I switch to full synthetic or keep with the part-synthetic Castrol. I think I might be feeling different if I was the original owner, but since I am the third (and who knows how the last two kept her) I want to see that 200k+ mark. Ed, I hear what you mean about throwing out oil, and I definitely do not trust the DIC. How do I get my oil analyzed?

_________________
Scott
2001 SE (Down in Flames)
2003 SLE (Sold)
2001 SSEI: 78k - Feb2017 COTM

Mobil 1 5W20 full synthetic, 10,000 mile changes. I have put 125,000 miles on the '03 SSEi like this (now sits at 250,000 miles) and it still runs and holds oil pressure like the day I bought it. I usually run a Bosch or Mobil 1 filter for a 4x4 S10 as it is longer providing more area for filtration.

_________________
Ryan

2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one

All I'll say is that by the time many people in this poll have changed their oil once, I've done it two or three times regardless of being conventional or synthetic.

And don't argue with me about it.

_________________


Retired Bonneville Owner and former GM Tech:
2004 Pontiac Bonneville GXP: Black/Ebony *SOLD*

Summer Toys: Combined 827 RWHP / 877lb/ft RWTQ
2004 Pontiac GTO: Impulse Blue Metallic/Black/M6: lots 'o mods, 415 RWHP / 405lb/ft RWTQ!
2006 Cadillac STS-V: Light Platinum Metallic/Light Gray/A6 - Spectre CAI, Magnaflow exhaust, Speed Inc. tune, 412 RWHP / 472lb/ft RWTQ

Daily Drivers:
2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC
2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC
2007 Chrysler Town & Country Limited: Sold to neighbor
2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic
2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... new plow truck
1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - Daddy's winter beater and plow truck

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

They send you a sampling kit, you send back with $25 and they tell you all about the oil that came out of your engine.

_________________
Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock