I bought a new Renault R8 in 1966. No love of a thing was more true than my love for my first new car. Every 2k miles it was oil and filter, check the points, condenser, plugs, water level in the battery, fluids and valve clearances. The whole thing took a half hour. The only thing you could not reach in the engine compartment while looking in was the drain plug on the pan and the battery was in the trunk in the front. It was a push-rod engine so there was not timing chain or belt. The carb was a one barrel thing with about 10 parts. The cooling system was a sealed unit, as the called it and life was much more simple in 1966. 2k oci's were not trouble at all, and yes I did use a detergent multi grade oil. And something else. We, the neighbors and I dumped our used oil in the alley to keep the dust down. We did not know about that warming effect we are not supposed to talk about. It had not been invented yet.
3000 OCI-Why still?
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What was driving the camshaft then?
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Even Mobil is trying to give people a hint that the 3000 mile oil change is a bit dated. Their conventional oil Mobil Clean 5000 is good for "5000" miles.
This is so true. Hint Hint. 3k oil change is for those who would need When to change oil for Dummies book or something. I used that oil to break in my Honda which had EM for its FF then the 75k for added detergents..
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a couple of gears
I've been on board with extended OCIs for a few years. IMHO any SM rated oil should be able to go 5K and most used oil analysis bear that out. Amsoil's been pimping extended OCIs for years and now Mobil's come on board, good for them.
Why push an oil to it's limit when the oil is still relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of replacing the engine before its time?
Most would agree that 3 months/3000 miles is overkill, but it is simple and easy for people to remember.
A more complex but appropriate OCI interval would look like this:
Change your oil at (schedule A) 6 months or 3000 miles whichever comes first, unless the average miles driven per month are in excess of 1500 miles, then a (schedule B) 6 month/4000 mile interval may be used, unless average miles driven per month are in excess of 2000 miles, then a (schedule C) 6 month/5000 mile interval may be used unless any of the following are true; mountain driving, racing, excessive idle time, temps over 100*F or below 0*F, soccer-mom duty, then use the aformentioned schedule B interval.
Try explaining that to the average car owner
IMHO, car companies have gone overboard with overly generous OCI's. Some have pulled that back, recognizing the error of their ways. Perhaps a more appropriate interval that would be a one-size fits all would be 4 months 5000 miles.
Just because their is additive and/or base number left after 6000 miles does not mean that that oil is protecting your engine and keeping it as clean as fresh oil.
Changing oil too often may waste resources, but creating a situation that will lend itself to premature engine life failure is an even greater waste of resources.
I have yet to see a Honda engine with 300,000+ miles on the orig engine that follows the 10,000 mile interval on conventional oil. I may be proved wrong, but until then, i'm sticking with 3000 miles for MY driving conditions and MY car.
A more complex but appropriate OCI interval would look like this:
Change your oil at (schedule A) 6 months or 3000 miles whichever comes first, unless the average miles driven per month are in excess of 1500 miles, then a (schedule B) 6 month/4000 mile interval may be used, unless average miles driven per month are in excess of 2000 miles, then a (schedule C) 6 month/5000 mile interval may be used unless any of the following are true; mountain driving, racing, excessive idle time, temps over 100*F or below 0*F, soccer-mom duty, then use the aformentioned schedule B interval.
Try explaining that to the average car owner
IMHO, car companies have gone overboard with overly generous OCI's. Some have pulled that back, recognizing the error of their ways. Perhaps a more appropriate interval that would be a one-size fits all would be 4 months 5000 miles.
Just because their is additive and/or base number left after 6000 miles does not mean that that oil is protecting your engine and keeping it as clean as fresh oil.
Changing oil too often may waste resources, but creating a situation that will lend itself to premature engine life failure is an even greater waste of resources.
I have yet to see a Honda engine with 300,000+ miles on the orig engine that follows the 10,000 mile interval on conventional oil. I may be proved wrong, but until then, i'm sticking with 3000 miles for MY driving conditions and MY car.
I guess because my warranty says that I have to keep the warranty. Would like to see 4 or 5000 but if the book says 3 then that is what I will do.
3000 mile OCI's keeps the engine nice and clean
Because for the other 99.99% of the population that isn't a member here at BITOG, the only time the hood gets opened on those cars is while at the IFFY Lube.
I can tell you that when I'm at the gas pump, checking my oil, I seldom see others checking their oil too. I doubt they all check it at home either. Some may, but for the most part, people just put gas in it and drive until they get to the mileage on the oil change sticker, and then swing in to the quickie lube for a change.
So, to keep customers from lunching their cars because they don't check their oil, a 3K/3mo interval works for them.
I can tell you that when I'm at the gas pump, checking my oil, I seldom see others checking their oil too. I doubt they all check it at home either. Some may, but for the most part, people just put gas in it and drive until they get to the mileage on the oil change sticker, and then swing in to the quickie lube for a change.
So, to keep customers from lunching their cars because they don't check their oil, a 3K/3mo interval works for them.
Patman
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In most cases 3000 miles is not even close to the limit of an oil though.
Neither of our cars are at the 3000 mile mark yet, and though it has been three months since the oil was changed, I'm not going to bother until the weather guessers decide to give us spring. I mean the oil is nowhere near black or even dark.
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I mean the oil is nowhere near black or even dark.
OUCH, i can't believe you said that on this site!
In 5 years of ownership having the oil changed every 3k would only be 20 oil changes for the average person. Taking it to the shop at $20 a pop is only $400 and the engine will likely out last the owners desire to keep the car. To top it off, the owner never lifted a finger or thought about the oil type.
What fun would that be?
None! I like the warm fuzzy feeling that I'm helping the engine be more happy...Quote:
What fun would that be?
Being retired we make a lot of short trips around town in one vehicle and change the oil and filter every 3000 miles. The other vehicle is used mainly for trips and oil and filter gets changed at every 4,000 miles or every 6 months.
We live in the southeast and use 5W20 Motorcraft Oil in both vehicles.
We live in the southeast and use 5W20 Motorcraft Oil in both vehicles.
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