Oil changes and driving

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: B00ne
What is it with the US and oil changes?

Here oil change intervals are usually 1 year or 10k miles (sometimes even 19k miles). And the engines here certainly have to endure more wear than the average engine in the US...

More wear? How so?

Well, more densly populated, hence more stop and go traffic, much higher speeds on the Autobahn(when there is no stop and go 😉), smaller country - shorter trips, and last but not least: engines here have a lot less power (average sold here is probably around 100hp maybe less) so the engines are always running at or close to maximum - on the Autobahn anyway)

 

[Colt45]

I wouldn't worry about it. A gallon of oil costs more than a '99 taurus, doesn't it?

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

B00ne - interesting to hear that. Is that opinion widespread in Europe?

You mean the oil change interval? Dunno if that is the opinion , but thats what the manuals for most cars say. (The 19000 miles interval is certain diesel engines though)

BTW, I doubt that the average Joe has much of an opinion on oil change intervals - it's simply done at the yearly service....

 

[TallBill]

I'm starting to do mine at 5k these days.

 

[DurocShark]

Regardless of the car I do 3k changes. Why?

Oil gets contaminated by blowby from the rings, acids, etc. 3k changes catch the crap BEFORE it reaches dangerous levels. This goes for synthetics too. They still get contaminants at the same rate as dino oil. They just work better to begin with.

Seriously, $25 every 3 months is cheap insurance against engine wear.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Regardless of the car I do 3k changes. Why?

Oil gets contaminated by blowby from the rings, acids, etc. 3k changes catch the crap BEFORE it reaches dangerous levels. This goes for synthetics too. They still get contaminants at the same rate as dino oil. They just work better to begin with.

Seriously, $25 every 3 months is cheap insurance against engine wear.

This is true, and I'm not trying to tell you that you shouldn't change your oil every 3k.. but modern engine oils are designed to deal with these things.

The oil in my Dad's Camry was still good after 5,000 miles and 8 months. The analysis also revealed a small headgasket leak, which was contaminating the oil even more.

Of course, I was using a much more robust conventional oil(Mobil Delvac) than is generally used, but still.

Now that the headgasket leak is fixed, I fully expect the oil to last ~7,000 miles and 1 year, perhaps even longer. My dad doesen't drive very much, many of his trips are less than 5 miles, which is hell on your oil.

I guess it's a 'pushing the envelope' thing. With analysis, you can see how long your oil is lasting in your engine, in your environment with your specific driving habbits.

 

[BoomerD]

Funny enough, my Ford Expedition maintenance schedule says to change the oil every 5000 miles, but when it's changed at the dealer, the window sticker gives a 3000 mile interval for the next change.
I've always tried to change oil every 3000 miles, even though it CAN go longer. I figure oil changes are relatively inexpensive insurance against engine wear. Oil is MUCH cheaper than parts & labor! Do I change it sooner than needed? Perhaps, but I don't object to the extra cost.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
Typo - it's been 3350 miles. A lot of it was through the mountains, so some of it was pretty hard. It's a 99 Taurus with the regular/cheap oil.

Were you towing a trailer and have the transmission blow?

Seriously, a 3k mile oil change interval is crazy, expecialyw hen you just drove cross country.

Originally posted by: TG2
I always do 5000 mile changes in the cars and motorcycles, I take the used oil out of the car (Mobil 1) and put it in the lawn mower or snowblower depending on time of year.
- call me crazy !

Ok, you are crazy. small engines are much harder on oil, they run at higher tempeatures, and get more crap in the oil because they do not have filters. When you change the oil, you are alos removing all the junk in there. Why would you take oil from another vehicle, that comes 'pre-crapped'and put it in a small engine?

Heck, I use synthetic in my small engines. (honda, and a bunch of brings up to 17HP) Not because I think it needs synthetic, but because my Zuk takes 4.5 quarts, and they come in packs of 6.

How cheap can you be to put used oil in a lawnmower? Oil and grease are cheap, parts 'aint.

 

[Windogg]

3000 miles oil changes are a way for dealers to fatten up their profit margins. Kinda like the schmucks at WorstBuy, CircuitSh!tty, and CrapUSSR that push the extended warranties because "50% of these things come dead out of the box" or "These things are designed to break after the factory warranty is over."

Engine oil formulation and computerized fuel injection make 3000 miles overkill. Although my auto manufacturer recommends a 15,000+ mile oil change interval on 5w30 synthetic, I go with 7,500 miles because my new commute has more stop and go driving. The limiting factor is not the oil but the filter. I had my friend do an oil analysis after 7,500 and he tells me the report came back just fine. The oil "looked" bad but could have easily gone to 15,000 miles. The filter on the other hand was in pretty sad shape and probably would not have lasted. So I guesstimate my oil changes based on the filter and NOT the oil.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Regardless of the car I do 3k changes. Why?

Oil gets contaminated by blowby from the rings, acids, etc. 3k changes catch the crap BEFORE it reaches dangerous levels. This goes for synthetics too. They still get contaminants at the same rate as dino oil. They just work better to begin with.

Seriously, $25 every 3 months is cheap insurance against engine wear.

Yes, and you know what? 5k also catches the crap before it reaches dangerous levels. In some cases 7k, 10k, or even 15k can catch the crap before it reaches dangerous levels.

How come everyone who analyzes their oil (where you actually measure the level of crap) has a 7k+ interval?

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Funny enough, my Ford Expedition maintenance schedule says to change the oil every 5000 miles, but when it's changed at the dealer, the window sticker gives a 3000 mile interval for the next change.
I've always tried to change oil every 3000 miles, even though it CAN go longer. I figure oil changes are relatively inexpensive insurance against engine wear. Oil is MUCH cheaper than parts & labor! Do I change it sooner than needed? Perhaps, but I don't object to the extra cost.

So why don't you change it at 2k? After all, it's cheap insurance...

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: DurocShark
Regardless of the car I do 3k changes. Why?

Oil gets contaminated by blowby from the rings, acids, etc. 3k changes catch the crap BEFORE it reaches dangerous levels. This goes for synthetics too. They still get contaminants at the same rate as dino oil. They just work better to begin with.

Seriously, $25 every 3 months is cheap insurance against engine wear.

Yes, and you know what? 5k also catches the crap before it reaches dangerous levels. In some cases 7k, 10k, or even 15k can catch the crap before it reaches dangerous levels.

How come everyone who analyzes their oil (where you actually measure the level of crap) has a 7k+ interval?

Originally posted by: BoomerD
Funny enough, my Ford Expedition maintenance schedule says to change the oil every 5000 miles, but when it's changed at the dealer, the window sticker gives a 3000 mile interval for the next change.
I've always tried to change oil every 3000 miles, even though it CAN go longer. I figure oil changes are relatively inexpensive insurance against engine wear. Oil is MUCH cheaper than parts & labor! Do I change it sooner than needed? Perhaps, but I don't object to the extra cost.

So why don't you change it at 2k? After all, it's cheap insurance...

Well, driving conditions don't dictate such an oil change regimin. Lots of dusty road driving, and I might consider such a thing, but 3000 miles is a good "happy medium" IMO...
You change your oil at the mileage YOU want, I'll change mine when I want...

BTW, annual oil changes seems like a very long time. acids from the combustion process can combine with moisture from the atmosphere, and can cause the oil to break down faster, leaving your engine potentially with less lubrication than it needs...