Automakers Lengthen Oil Change Intervals
in [Cars]
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From: Steve Barker on 27 Mar 2007 22:25 I hear that brother! -- Steve Barker YOU should be the one controlling YOUR car. Check out: www.lightsout.org "Ron & Maggie" <rmboz(a)everestkc.notnet> wrote in message news:c25c2$4609ccd6$4adedd28$14710(a)EVERESTKC.NET... > Hey Steve when it git's dirty I change it, I have this rare disease and I > need the speed clean oil gives me to chase trains. > > Ron > > Steve Barker wrote: > >> Even the waste of money $ynthetics get dirty in 3000 miles. It's never >> been an issue of the oil being worn out, it's DIRT and DIRT is what kills >> moving parts. Do as you please, it's your junker. >>
From: SMS on 27 Mar 2007 22:27 Eeyore wrote: > > Steve Barker wrote: > >> $ynthetic oil is a waste of money. The cheapest oil in k-mart works just >> fine when changed at the proper interval. > > Completely and utterly wrong. > > You might as well put gravel in the sump as dino oil. It simply can't compete > with synthetic's lubricating properties. In reality, the base stock of the oil (petroleum or synthetic) makes no difference in most engines, operated in temperate climates. Both products are highly engineered, with viscosity modifiers, detergents, etc. It's when you're dealing with high-performance engines that synthetic can have an advantage, but you want to stick with a high performance synthetic, not something like the consumer version of Mobil 1. The lubricating properties are equivalent, it's how and when they break down, how well they flow at low temperatures, and how much dirt they can suspend. It's a common misconception to think that when an oil turns darker that it's "worn out" when in reality you should worry if it's not turning dark because that means that it's not suspending all the combustion by-products. Synthetics should last longer because there is more base stock, and less viscosity modifiers than with petroleum based oil.
From: Mark Jones on 27 Mar 2007 23:10 Willy wrote: > Had we been having this conversation 10 years ago, I would totally > agree. But with todays technology, both in oil as well as mechanical, > it is simply no longer necessary to change oil at 3K intervals. I > have put well over 100K on my last 2 vehicles, changed the oil at > 7500 miles, and never had a mechanical issue of any kind. I have been doing 5,000 miles on my 2004 F-150 and plan to continue doing it that way. Oil quality has been greatly improved to the point where 3,000 miles is now a waste of money. The only time that I might consider a 3,000 mile interval is if my truck was driven on a construction site with a lot of dirt in the air.
From: Arif Khokar on 27 Mar 2007 23:26 Steve Barker wrote: > That's exactly what I was saying. What were you saying?
From: John Henderson on 28 Mar 2007 01:34
SMS wrote: > The 3000 mile interval was back in the days before > multi-weight detergent motor oil. These older oils had too > high of a viscosity when cold, and could not suspend > particulates. We were using multi-grade detergent/dispersant oils back in the 60's. That's what VW specified for their engines, with a 3000 mile change interval. I worked for the Australian VW importers at the time. John |