I believe it's the latter. An "oil analyzing" probe would be very complicated and expensive.

On a general note:
I'm with Chazmo on this. People start threads to ask questions. Logical and reasonable answers are given regarding warranties, owner responsibility, etc, when it comes to oil maintenance. Some thread starters don't even bother taking note of those answers and just go on and do their own thing anyway. Why ask the question in the first place if you don't pay attention to what's been presented? Such posters receive very little in the way of credibility for future questions.
I'm done here (and possibly everywhere else such posters ask questions). It was like some of us were talking to a dead chicken.

 

Chazmo: No problem, some don't want to run oil for an extended period and that's fine.

I'd just suggest following whatever you believe is best, and if you want to spend the money ($20 is nothing for an occasional UOA if you are buying synth oil anyways) to get a UOA and find out exactly how your car is stacking up against average (and against your baseline after the second change) then you'll have an idea if you can extend it also.

Personally I will be using the UOA to determine my OCI, NOT the MMS. I'd rather have data than a guesstimate (no matter how good that guess is). Once I determine my OCI (whether it's 5k, 6k 7.5k or whatever) I will likely change the filter and add make-up oil at half my OCI.

Actually I think Road Rage suggested similar things. I don't recall him stating a number however (but I didn't either, just a random example to clarify FMINUS' question).

Just searched for it actually.
Everyone here seems to have faith in RR's information, as do I.

He also states (as I have) that the OCI should be determined from UOA's.

I am against misinformation on forums, and would never purposely post any, so if you take any of my posts in this thread as dangerous please feel free to delete it or let me know and I will.

 

Thanks for all the advice guys, didnt mean to start an argument.
I think I will just stick to the recommended changes!

 

hmm, im not sure if the filter are rated for 6k... as for stp filters that is... maybe hondas filters are... then again im not sure..
tryin to cut cost by spending more i guess

 

I wouldn't say you started an arguement.

This is a discussion, I'm not "argueing" with anyone and I don't think anyone else is either.

fujimi: I'd really suggest checking into that filter choice. The Honda PCX filter is a very well constructed filter and it's the only choice for a filter on my car. I don't recall paying too much for my PCX filters..

 

MY understanding is that oil never wears out but that it does become contaminated over time. Also additives can lose their added lubricating abilities because of these contaminants. The simple answer is to follow the recs. in the owners manual since these intervals are almost without a doubt, conseverative.
If it makes you feel better to change oil or use synthetic at shorter intervals, do it.
I think most of us would admit that a fresh oil change does make us feel that we have actually done somthing positive in the maintanance of our cars and this alone could easily be worth the small price of a change.

 

x2

 

I assume you can still buy reclaimed oil which would probably have the same lubricating abilities as virgin oil but lack the sophistication of additives that major oil companies use. Refining reclaimed oil may not have the same specs thus lower standards as virgin. Maybe a petrolium engineer can elaborate?

 

Aside from the additives breaking down, the base oil can succumb to heat and other stresses caused by the demands from a combustion engine.