Reducing fuel consumption is a huge issue as evidenced by CAFE. I can't imagine clean air is so much the need (with how clean modern automobiles run) as simply to reduce supply depletion. So my question is how much would it help reduce petroleum supply depletion by reducing motor oil waste due to too short of oil change intervals. Seems there is a lot of savings to be had and it is strange the government leans so heavily on fuel economy and appears to totally ignore motor oil use (not so in Europe I understand). Now I am not one to proomote government regulation, but it sure is irksome when so many opportunistic oil change places push 3000 mile OCIs to pad their bottom line and of course the back of a bottle of Valvoline says to change your oil every 3000 miles too. Just venting to some degree, but also wondering. How much crude oil does it take to make a gallon of gasoline, vs to make a gallon of motor oil?
Conserve fuel or oil?
- Thread starter TallPaul
- Start date
- Status
Interesting point. Part of the problem is that many auto makers still recommend a 3,000 mile interval for 'severe service', so it's not just the oil companies pushing the short intervals. Gas prices are going to reach all time highs and as long as people insist on buying huge gas guzzling SUV's & trucks, I see no solution in sight.
also, remember that we consume way more gas than oil. a gas guzzling suv fills up once a week 30 gallons of gas. changes every 3k maybe 6 quarts of oil. probably use 240 gallons of gas in that 3k time frame on 6 qts of oil. I hate it when someone tells a 3k changer about hurting the environment when they are drivin a gas guzzlin suv ![[Mad]](images/icons/mad.gif)
[ April 01, 2004, 02:12 PM: Message edited by: Cutehumor ]
[ April 01, 2004, 02:12 PM: Message edited by: Cutehumor ]Yes, we consume way more gas than oil, & oil is less costly to process, but that doesn't mean we should completely ignore how much motor oil we consume. If you're changing 14 qts of oil every 3,000 miles, then you're "using" a quart every 200 miles. Similarly, if you're changing your oil every 3,000 miles simply because that's what you're familiar with, even if it's only 3-1/2 quarts, then you're still just throwing your money, resources & time away.
Conversely, if you buy a vehicle appropriate to your needs & change stuff only when it requires changing, you might end up changing 4 or 5 quarts of oil every 20,000 miles, & only "using" a quart every 4,000 miles. That's twenty times less oil consumption than the guy in the first example. Maybe not as much difference as gasoline consumption, but certainly a substantial amount when factoring all vehicle owners in.
But humans are irrational, & we justify the most inane practices based on the emotional attachments we create.
quote:True. Hopefully GM's oil change monitor computer will rectify that. I hope Ford and Chrysler will also use it or similar technology.
Originally posted by mikemc: Part of the problem is that many auto makers still recommend a 3,000 mile interval for 'severe service', so it's not just the oil companies pushing the short intervals.
quote:I am somewhat guilty too, driving my F150 with the big block 300 cid 6-banger. I like the Ranger 4-banger, but can't bear to drive a Ranger when there are F150s out and about. High fuel prices would make the Ranger much more attractive to me.
Gas prices are going to reach all time highs and as long as people insist on buying huge gas guzzling SUV's & trucks, I see no solution in sight.
Unnecessary waste is unnecessary waste. Likely everybody can find a place to take their used oil. I think more of it gets burned in place of other fuel, than is made into lubrication oil again. I am still looking at options to get away from 3 month/3000 oil changes.
Easiest option: same oil, same filter, run 5K miles.
quote:
Originally posted by labman: Unnecessary waste is unnecessary waste. Likely everybody can find a place to take their used oil. I think more of it gets burned in place of other fuel, than is made into lubrication oil again. I am still looking at options to get away from 3 month/3000 oil changes.
quote:Me too. Just did a UOA at 3000 miles and the lab said I can run it to at least 4500 miles, so I am doing it. Future changes without UOA should be good to 4000 to 5000.
Originally posted by labman: Unnecessary waste is unnecessary waste. Likely everybody can find a place to take their used oil. I think more of it gets burned in place of other fuel, than is made into lubrication oil again. I am still looking at options to get away from 3 month/3000 oil changes.
Patman
Staff member
So true! If we could just get the die hard 3k/3mo people to even shift to a 4k/4mo schedule instead that would save a lot of wasted resources.
quote:
Originally posted by MikeW: Easiest option: same oil, same filter, run 5K miles.quote:
Originally posted by labman: Unnecessary waste is unnecessary waste. Likely everybody can find a place to take their used oil. I think more of it gets burned in place of other fuel, than is made into lubrication oil again. I am still looking at options to get away from 3 month/3000 oil changes.
quote:That fits with QS's "free" 10yr/250K warranty even on their base SL oil, and every grade. They require a 4K/4mo OCI. So, everyone could run that distance/time. Now, collecting on it might be a different story...
So true! If we could just get the die hard 3k/3mo people to even shift to a 4k/4mo schedule instead that would save a lot of wasted resources.
- Status
