What does 10,000 kilometers full synthetic mean?
2 Answers
10,000 kilometers full synthetic refers to the claim that a car needs to have its full synthetic engine oil changed every 10,000 kilometers. Even if the engine uses full synthetic oil, if it operates under harsh conditions for a long time, the oil will oxidize and deteriorate quickly. Therefore, the actual interval for changing full synthetic oil should be determined based on the actual usage condition of the oil. Below are the methods to determine when to change the oil: 1. Color comparison: Compare the color of the used full synthetic oil with new full synthetic oil. New oil has a lighter and more transparent color, while used oil appears dark and black. 2. Smell test: Oil that needs changing will have a burnt smell. 3. Touch test: Used oil will contain many impurities over time. Rubbing a bit of oil between your fingers will allow you to feel the presence of particles. 4. Engine performance: When the oil deteriorates, the engine's fuel consumption will noticeably increase, noise levels will rise, and there will be a noticeable lack of power while driving.
I only figured out these terms when accompanying a friend for maintenance. The '10,000 km full synthetic' refers to the recommended oil change interval for full synthetic oil. Full synthetic oil is chemically engineered with more uniform molecular structures, offering significantly better engine protection compared to mineral oil—especially for today's turbocharged engines that run hotter, as it has superior high-temperature oxidation resistance. The so-called 10,000 km interval means most vehicles under normal driving conditions should change oil at this mileage. But I've actually seen oil monitoring data from 4S shop computers—for cars frequently driven in urban areas, the oil often degrades by 8,000 km. So don't rigidly stick to the 10,000 km rule; if you encounter heavy traffic frequently, changing 800-1,000 km earlier is wiser. Remember to always replace the oil filter with every oil change, or it's practically a wasted effort.
