Posted on 09/12/2010 9:59:05 AM PDT by posterchild
I have known several guys through the years who never changed, just added oil.
One of them had one of those toilet-paper roll filters.
Another one had one of those Marvel Mystery Oil injectors under the hood—al of them did OK!
Myself, I haven’t gotten close (knowingly) to a doctor since I retired USMC in ‘72—a chiropractor friend of mine agrees this is why I’m still in one piece.
Makes some folks wonder—not me.
I skimmed the article, looking to see if they were talking about SYNTHETIC oils. Thaey did not seem to make that distinction.
That said, it appears this is driven by some greenie California Waste organization (rolling eyes). So this revolutionary new guideline, may be just another save the planet, wipe you ass with a single sheet of TP, bit of environmental horse dung.
My 84 Accord called for 7500
No. Change the oil once it tastes like burned rubber.
I run the F350 on 6K, heavy duty service, changes, although I doubt I’ve carried anywhere near a half ton on the diesel beast.
Her Explorer goes in every 3K.
I too learned in the (very) old days, but I figure that it’s cheap insurance.
Thought it was an interesting topic however over the past couple decades I generally have been disabused of the idea that I can expect journalists to know what they are writing about.
I'm with you on that one.
One thing that will NEVER hurt a car is changing the oil and filter too often, especially if you live in a dusty environment like Vegas.
Goes for air filters too.
I was told by a mechanic once, that these new synthetics would last longer than the life of the average car, as long as every 7,000 miles or so, you drained the oil, changed the filter, put the old oil back in and topped it off. I’m not brave enough to try it myself, though...
I have been reading a lot about oils and oil change intervals since my 5/75 bumper (which included oil changes and inspections) ran out in June. I have decided that two changes a year with a synthetic oil should be fine. I dirve ~16k miles per year. My ford dealership will change the oil for <$20, so I can’t be bothered to get under the car.
Unless the addition of a new 6 qts to the dregs retains the last 3000 miles accumulation of metal bits and corrosive oils. In that case, it might be beneficial to remove even the last quart, otherwise it will accelerate wear-n-tear.
Over the years I’ve changed my oil at 6-month intervals. The engines have outlasted most of the rest of the cars — no oil burning, no internal engine troubles, at 150k+ miles.
This includes a Volvo 260 6-cylinder (had it 21 years until a fuel leak-caused fire) that I’ve heard described as the “engine from hell” as they tended to self destruct, I think due to top-end lubrication problems. My Volvo specialist recommended/used 40-weight (vs. specified 30-weight oil), and a good grade (Castrol).
“Some people remain attached to the 3,000-mile oil change and have a hard time trusting the recommendations in the owner’s manual. If you’re one of those skeptics, you can send your engine oil out to be analyzed. Blackstone Laboratories in Fort Wayne, Ind., one of the best-known places for engine oil analysis, will send you a “free” kit.
You send back an oil sample and for $25, they’ll tell you all sorts of things about your car.
“We would compare what your oil looks like compared to the average Mazda5 of that year,” said Kristen Huff, a vice president at Blackstone. If there is a lot more lead in my oil than in a typical Mazda5, for example, it means I have a bearing problem, she said.
Her lab runs about 150 samples a day and a fair percentage of those are consumers looking to find out how often they need to change their oil, Ms. Huff said.
“Very often, it is the case that they’re changing their oil too often,” she said. “They do what their dad did with his ’55 Chevy.”
Yeah, my 98 ford had 3,000/6,000 oil/filter, at 5,000 I would have the oil and filter changed as that’s typicly (from what I’ve heard) what the rental companies do.
I take mine in also. If I had 10 cars or more I’d do it myself but with only 2 cars in the household I don’t have an economy of scale to buy quarts and filters , get dirty, dispense with the oil, etc just for 1 or 2 cars.
That’s not too far off the 3-5000 mile rec. Also when people ask the hubby if they really need to change it that much he will ask them how long they plan on keeping the car. If they trade in every two years then you’re probably not going to do that much damage if you only change your oil every 5-10,000 miles (depending on how you drive). But if you want to keep it for 200,000 miles...change it frequentley.
synthetic was the worse stuff I ever used. castrol gtx
Yeah, the oil held up but I developed major leaks at 60k because the stuff was so slickery.
Now its good ole Pennzoil 3~5k a change.
Dad was right.
Yep, the first thing I thought of too. All just a “going longer between oil changes saves the enviroment” mentality....
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