Hello Scotty. I'm a guy from the Philippines and I own a Suzuki APV mini family van 1.6 liter gas manual. It's just 3 years old with 11,000 kms. I just changed to the recommended 5w30 oil but this time went for synthetic. Even if we're a low mileage family, for how long can I extend my oil beyond a year? Is there truth to water condensation ruining the oil/engine? And does our tropical climate have an effect on condensation?
Unless Suzuki specifies a different oil change interval for synthetic oil I would change it just as frequently. I definitely wouldn't go over a year. Yes, condensation in the oil is an issue, although a good drive on the highway should take care of that.
Oil & filters are cheap, engines are not. Change it once a year at least.
Never go beyond a year.
Don't be "penny wise, dollar foolish." The main reason to perform good maintenance (besides peace of mind) is that it's cheaper to spend a little, now and when needed, to prevent major expenses later.
