Originally Posted by Onetor
The more I read and listen. I realize that (most) everything we have been taught is not true. Even history is being re-written. Depressing......
Let's not prepare to jump off a cliff here ...
I think much of what we were told as kids (for my generation at least; I'm in my 50s) is that frequent oil/filter changes were good. Knowing and seeing what I have of much older vehicles (from 1950s to early 1970s) there was some truth to that mantra. If you didn't OFCI often, you'd get sludge build up from poor combustion control and lower ability of lubes to handle stuff with anti-agglomerates and detergents. Frequent was good back then.
This does not translate well today's vehicles and lubes; not stuff made in the last couple of decades at least. Modern combustion controls (ECMs, fuel injection, etc) and good quality lubes (even inexpensive ones like the RK I use), all show a propensity to really do a great job. Everything you were taught may well have been true at some point, but today's (and even yesterday's) equipment and lubricants and filters do a great job.
The things to glean from my UOAs are thus:
1) normal OEM OCIs are typically grossly under-rated; it's a default practice to protect the OEM warranty risks that costs them nothing
2) normal products can easily go well past the OEM limits; typically 2x is a safe factor I've seen in most cases; more certainly possible with proper data tracking
3) even extended applications of moderate distance show no benefits from premium products
4) wear rates don't change much overall; whatever your engine does for wear, is what it's going to do for wear. Only abuse or neglect will cause major shifts in wear
5) most engines can last FAR past where most folks will drive them (excluding true mechanical issues due to manufacturing defects, etc)