Any indication longer OCIs = a dirty engine?

[The_Eric]

So my boss is a super hard core devout 3k/3mo fan. He he said that it was only recently he went to 3k/3mo and that he used to be 2k/2mo... Any longer and your engine will not be as "clean" or last as long and he recommends it in earnest to his customers. He also goes by oil color. Yes, I know... I used to too, but after reading, I've found it's not necessarily accurate.

With the OLM's out there and manufacturers recommending on paper your oil changes be done at anywhere from 4k to 15k, I know it's at least partly untrue.

What gets me wondering is even though dirty looking oil doesn't always equate to bad oil, does some of that "dirt" or darkness settle in, or stain the engine?

 

[Burt]

The used oil analysis posted here say to me that there is actually more wear in the first 3,000 miles than the second 3,000 miles between OC's. That's because at first, the detergents are at work cleaning and detergent laden oil is slightly less effective.

But what's the point of having a super clean inside of engine? No one sees it. Does he keep a car long enough and maintain the rest of the vehicle the same way to justify short intervals?

Does he brush his teeth six times a day, too, or does he just over maintains his engine?

 

[StevieC]

A used oil analysis is the only way to tell if the oil is falling down on the job, changing a 3/3000 could be proper if he fits in the severe service category or could be overkill if not.

One thing is for sure his engine should never suffer a lubrication related death.

 

[tig1]

I do 10K OCIs and my engines stay very clean, even with 200-300K.

 

[StevieC]

Yeah but you use M1 not a conventional oil...

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
Yeah but you use M1 not a conventional oil...

There ya go one should stick with a syn.

 

[StevieC]

Dino is just fine under the right circumstances...

 

[RacerE7773]

I'd be hitting up a synthetic and going about 5000 if I didn't have a LIM gasket leak. Someday I'm hoping to get it fixed.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: daman
Originally Posted By: StevieC
Yeah but you use M1 not a conventional oil...

There ya go one should stick with a syn.

I notice what people buy at the stores. I see a lot of Valvoline conventional,and Mobil 1 oil in carts around here.

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: RacerE7773
I'd be hitting up a synthetic and going about 5000 if I didn't have a LIM gasket leak. Someday I'm hoping to get it fixed.


You have to wait for GM to admit that it was a problem and come out with a LIM that actually lasts longer than 60K.

Some have found solace by using the aluminum version of the LIM and a thermostat that opens up at 180 instead of the 192 or 195 that the OEM spec's.

Then stay away from Death-Cool (Dexcool) and use green glycol and distilled water with a cooling system lubricant like Gunk brand.

I have done this in 2 GM products and they aren't suffering the same fate anymore it would seem!

 

[Thermo1223]

When will the myth go away that it purely a gasket issue. The fact that the gasket was incompatible with the coolant and the pressure caps leaked is not Dexcool's fault. GM's fault yes, but considering Dexcool is used it many other apps with zero issues and wasn't even developed by GM.

BOT:

None, unless you are doing something ridiculous like 10k miles OCI in Alaska when drive 3 miles a day.

 

[mechtech2]

"he recommends it in earnest to his customers"
Well, yeah.. more sales more frequently!

You are of course safe with a 3 month 3k plan, but most cars go longer, and some much longer.
4-5 on dino is normal now.

 

[znode]

Running longer than 3k ocis are basically the reason for this entire site's existence.

3k OCIs are a decent choice for severe service on a known sludger.

Other than that, it's just throwing away money - but you are allowed to do that if it's your money!

 

[Down_South]

I know some people that are so cheap they have given up changing the oil and filter, they just run the engine till the oil burns up and just add new oil to what's left in the crankcase, which is a poor way to maintain an engine. I bet you've see them too, driving down the road like they stole the jalopy with bluish grey smoke coming out the tail pipe! That's some ghetto car care! I guess the only real benefit is that its an effective way to keep people from tailgating, but dang...that engine is going to be shot dead in no time flat.

 

[fdcg27]

Everything depends upon the car, the oil, and how the thing is driven.
3K spread over six months of short trips might be a sensible interval.
3K for a month of traveling makes no sense as a change interval.
What oil are we talking about?
There is a difference between the various oils.
A really good syn could certainly be run longer than a bottom dollar SM.
What engine?
With a known sludger, 3K with any oil might be a good OCI, while with an engine known to be easy on oil, it would be excessive.
So, is 3 months/3K a good drain interval.
In most cases, no.
It is far more frequent than needed.
Even I, a die-hard 3K fan for many years, now go 5K on syn, which is still probably a shorter run than would be appropriate.

 

[Down_South]

Yeah, I'm still a 3K fan, but mainly because the engines in my vehicles were designed around conventional aka conventional oil. In the situation I'm in, conventional oil is cheaper and gets the job done just fine. I use mainly 10w30 Castrol GTX and have had great results with Pennzoil and Valvoline too.

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

None, unless you are doing something ridiculous like 10k miles OCI in Alaska when drive 3 miles a day.



lol, My brother lives in AK, drives about 5 miles a day and does 10K OCI on Mobil 1 5w30; I have to get a used oil analysis done his vehicle some day; it would be interesting.

 

[The_Eric]

I'm raising another post from the depths... Hey, I've been busy...

I really don't believe the boss takes driving conditions into consideration. I'd give him some leeway if he did. I also don't think it's about driving sales either. Really we don't make money on oc's... I believe that he absolutely thinks more than 3mo/3k is detrimental. Now, just so we're clear here... I'll go longer - say 5-6k on synthetics, BUT I can make the distinction that it wont hurt to go longer in most cases. He can't.

For the record, he uses nothing but Kendall GT-1 synthetic blend in the spec'ed grade unless the oddball vehicle comes in that requires something he doesn't have (Typically a 0w-XX). Then it's usually Mobil.

So, are there anymore thoughts on whether or not extended oci's contribute to a "dirty" engine???

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
I'm raising another post from the depths... Hey, I've been busy...

I really don't believe the boss takes driving conditions into consideration. I'd give him some leeway if he did. I also don't think it's about driving sales either. Really we don't make money on oc's... I believe that he absolutely thinks more than 3mo/3k is detrimental. Now, just so we're clear here... I'll go longer - say 5-6k on synthetics, BUT I can make the distinction that it wont hurt to go longer in most cases. He can't.

For the record, he uses nothing but Kendall GT-1 synthetic blend in the spec'ed grade unless the oddball vehicle comes in that requires something he doesn't have (Typically a 0w-XX). Then it's usually Mobil.

So, are there anymore thoughts on whether or not extended oci's contribute to a "dirty" engine???


My own limited experience from working on friend and family cars is that cars that have seen longer drains on conventional (5k+) tend to consume oil and have oil leakage as they get older. By older, most a number of these cars consume some oil and leak some oil before 100k.

On the other hand, cars that have seen religious 3-4k oil changes tend to burn 0 oil and have no oil leaks.

Of course, there may be other reasons why the engines leak or burn oil.

Would you happen to work at a Firestone auto care?

 

[The_Eric]

No, I work at a private garage. They've used Kendall since 1936 and he's adapted to using it as well since he's bought the business from the previous owner, his old boss.

Don't get me wrong, he's a good mechanic who cares about doing things right, it just that I want him to understand there's more to the world than 3mo/3k in many applications.