3000 mi oil change scam?

[901Memphis]

You won't get varnish with an API SN conventional and 5k intervals. Everything varies by application though, some engines are very easy oil while some require the more frequent changes.

I rack up about 1k per month but it varies.

What kind of engine are you changing every 3k on?

 

[Hyde244]

Follow the owners manual - they both most likely recommend a 5k interval.

 

[andyd]

A guy I know has his beater 535i commuter with over 500 K on it and his weekender which sees 1500 miles a year. He drains the barely used oil and uses it in the beater. He puts about 30k a yr on that

 

[The Critic]

Just to throw a wrench into the normal vs severe schedule debate. Kia came out with a TSB recently stating that most vehicles in the US are actually operating under normal service conditions:

http://www.kiasoulforums.com/2-soul-gene...not-severe.html

 

[itguy08]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
It's the possibility of getting varnish stains that keeps me from going a long OCI.


So? Have varnish stains been proven to actually hurt the engine? Doubtful at all if they affect the service life in any way. It's actual sludge that can mess things up.

 

[actionstan]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Just to throw a wrench into the normal vs severe schedule debate. Kia came out with a TSB recently stating that most vehicles in the US are actually operating under normal service conditions:

http://www.kiasoulforums.com/2-soul-gene...not-severe.html


interesting.. i was going to run my 13' forte per the severe schedule(3750 oci) for warranty purposes, but after seeing the TSB I may run the full 7500 or somewhere in between 5000ish oci..

The my 99 saturn will continue to get 3000 mile oci's most likely.. apparently due to some issues some of the cars have with starving the timing chains.. which I'm not sure is true or not, but scary either way.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Just to throw a wrench into the normal vs severe schedule debate. Kia came out with a TSB recently stating that most vehicles in the US are actually operating under normal service conditions:

http://www.kiasoulforums.com/2-soul-gene...not-severe.html

I was kind of curious about the Nissan I'm borrowing, and they currently have a pretty simple set of conditions - schedule 1 or schedule 2.

Quote:
http://www.nissanusa.com/owning/vehicle-care/maintenance.html

SCHEDULE 1 (more severe operating conditions), every 3,750 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first

Use Schedule 1 if you primarily operate your vehicle under any of these conditions:

• Repeated short trips of less than 5 miles in normal temperatures or less than 10 miles in freezing temperatures
• Stop-and-go traffic in hot weather or low-speed driving for long distances
• Driving in dusty conditions or on rough, muddy, or salt-spread roads
• Towing a trailer, or using a camper or car-top carrier

SCHEDULE 2 (less severe operating conditions), every 7,500 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first

Schedule 2 features 7,500-mile service intervals; with Schedule 2 fewer maintenance items are regularly checked or replaced than Schedule 1.

Generally, Schedule 2 applies only to highway driving in temperate conditions. Use Schedule 2 only if you primarily operate your vehicle under conditions other than those listed in Schedule 1.

The real difficulty is that they make it an either/or to keep it simple, when in reality a lot of people are in between. Even so, I think my wife would probably not fit schedule 1 given that most of the miles on a car she drove would be freeway miles, even if she's doing a lot of 5-10 mile trips in a warm climate.

 

[crazyoildude]

wow thats suprising the stealership wanting more business!
if you change your oil every 3000 miles you are wasting your money and they will laugh at you...lol

 

[Trajan]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
How long does it take you guys to put 3000 miles on your car?


I do about 25k/year, so not that long.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: actionstan
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Just to throw a wrench into the normal vs severe schedule debate. Kia came out with a TSB recently stating that most vehicles in the US are actually operating under normal service conditions:

http://www.kiasoulforums.com/2-soul-gene...not-severe.html


interesting.. i was going to run my 13' forte per the severe schedule(3750 oci) for warranty purposes, but after seeing the TSB I may run the full 7500 or somewhere in between 5000ish oci..

The my 99 saturn will continue to get 3000 mile oci's most likely.. apparently due to some issues some of the cars have with starving the timing chains.. which I'm not sure is true or not, but scary either way.

I heard it's about the oil hole possibly plugging up that lubes the chain with motor oil. Apparently there was a recommended modification, but not an outright recall. However, that was only supposed to be for the models up to '96. I think they supposedly fixed it for later versions.

Quote:
http://autorepair.about.com/library/faqs/bl811h.htm

There was a TSB, number 97-T-15A issued in June of 1997 referring to a modified oil pump cover that allows better lubrication of the timing chain components. It involves all 1991 to 1996 Saturns built before and including VIN TZ320852.

 

[TiredTrucker]

Originally Posted By: steve20
The oil is cheaper than a new engine.



That line of thinking went out years ago[/quote]

Agreed. But it sure hangs on. Especially prevalent in the commercial trucking community. Virtually every commercial truck engine manufacturer has OCI recommendations now of 25,000 miles or more. Still, you will have truckers bound and determined to change at 10,000 miles. They usually counter with the comment about oil is cheaper than a new engine. I ask them then, "if changing so frequently is better than the OEM recommendation, then why not change the oil every weekend? Wouldn't that be even better?"

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: itguy08

So? Have varnish stains been proven to actually hurt the engine? Doubtful at all if they affect the service life in any way. It's actual sludge that can mess things up.


I'm the guy that's gonna be taking it apart someday. I don't wanna see varnish stains in there.

 

[901Memphis]

You won't get varnish running longer than 3k.

 

[CHARLIEBRONSON21]

It's all about the money

 

[DragRace]

Personally,I dont care if someone changes oil @ 3000 miles,5000 miles or 10,000 miles,we all take care of our vehicles in our own ways.

The people I get worried about are the people who just dont change their oil as much as they should.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
You won't get varnish running longer than 3k.


The previous owner ran Pennzoil conventional at some unknown OCI. I've got the varnish cleaned off the rocker arms and the valve springs, but the under sides of the plastic rocker arm covers are still stained. I don't think I'm ever gonna get the stains out of the rocker arm covers.

 

[901Memphis]

It was probably SJ Pennzoil conventional, depending on how old the formula was. Also running extended intervals with an older API conventional could lead to varnish, but API SN is pretty stringent.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: RWDIII
Just got a new explorer and decided to change the first oil change at 6000mi and then when the oil monitor says its needed.



I like that plan. MC 5w20 blend is a good oil, and Ford knows how to program an oil monitor. The dealer is just trying to drum up business. If you are doing a lot of short trips, the oil life monitor will adjust.