An old idea on oil changes?

[ffhdriver]

I enjoy the comments on this forum. Thirty to fifty years ago it was suggested that you should never change brands of oil as long as you owned a car because to do so would cause engine problems. Most of the forum members seem to change quite often. Did the old idea die with better oils and better engine technology? TIA

 

[ericgl]

I honestly don't think that suggestion held any water back then.

 

[CharBaby]

There is more consistancy between brands of oil along with better quality. Better quality engines also. But even then, as you mentioned 30-50 years ago, my dad used any major brand oil and mixed/changed brands often. So did I! Even in my 68 LeSabre I changed brands often and even mixed different brands and weights as well. Never had issues due to oil. How would it be then if we only used one brand of gas? Then, some gasoline brands did better than others but today I can't tell the difference. Then, there was alot of sceptisism about brands and maybe it was true. Today there is less so.

 

[Steve S]

All the oils have fairly common additive packages .Additive clash was "is" used as a marketing ploy so those who have no idea would not change brands. Like types of oil have always been compatible. I am old enough to know.

 

[dwendt44]

Back in the 60s, most common brands of oil met federal government speifications/standards, and stated so on the back of each can. That spec/standard was a 'mixability' spec.. That ment that in order to sell their oil for government and military motor pool use, it had to be able to mix with any other oil that met those specs.
Feds/military purchased oil from whoever had the lowest price that day/week.
The 'don't mix' was largely hype so consumers wouldn't switch brands.

 

[Curious Kid]

Other than has been said, I also ponder if there was some business incentive behind such advice. I mean, like thinking how stocks can fluctuate so for any one company for whose share holders are wanting money as the prime objective if only, where financial support for something the investor believes in could be moat. The bigger the business, the greater it seems the company focuses on pleasing share holders. I think it would be nice to have a stabilized consumer base, or at least one that's not so volital. Let the employees work and not burden them with strict "parental" measures.

Stepping off the box now...