Down with extending your drain intervals!!!

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Mark72
Originally Posted By: DragRace
I run synthetic to 5000 miles(which is what owners manual says to change oil) or 6-months whatever comes first.

The reason I run synthetic is because it gets [censored] cold here during the winter months,so IMO,I get my $$$ worth.


My best friend does the same exact thing you do...temperatures are much mileder here so oil should last longer... So? Ok..the oil lasted six months, but wholy Cr@ck Pipe!!! that stuff comes out of his engine as black as coal when he drains it. No thanks


Have you not been paying attention at all? Oil color means NOTHING AT ALL. Some oils come extremely dark, even black, right out of the bottle... Does that mean they are unfit to use? Oil color doesn't mean anything useful. The Maxlife blend 10W-40 that I dumped out of my car after a mere 2500 miles was pretty black too.

 

[Mark72]

Yes, I'm paying attention! I know well and good that oil color is no indicator of oil life. I'm not saying that pitch black oil can't go 20 thousand freaking miles, but what I'm saying is...to he!! with running dirty oil any longer. If it's that black, then I promise you, it's dirty.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
It's your right to be "down with" something that works.

I've been doing extended changes on all my cars, and 4 stroke equipment engines for over 10 years. All engines are very clean, including my turbo Volvo with spotless engine (and no oil consumption!) at 285K miles. I don't extend my OCI's by guessing or for sport. I do it logically and for a reason. The logic is along the lines of newton's fine post, the reason's are the lack of time and the absolute stupidity of changing lubricants mid January on my frozen wet back.


I thought about using "Down with" that way, but only after I made my post. I didnt think it would work knowing that so I had to hope someone else would come along and be a bit quicker. Kudos!

 

[Mark72]

Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
Originally Posted By: Pablo
It's your right to be "down with" something that works.

I've been doing extended changes on all my cars, and 4 stroke equipment engines for over 10 years. All engines are very clean, including my turbo Volvo with spotless engine (and no oil consumption!) at 285K miles. I don't extend my OCI's by guessing or for sport. I do it logically and for a reason. The logic is along the lines of newton's fine post, the reason's are the lack of time and the absolute stupidity of changing lubricants mid January on my frozen wet back.


I thought about using "Down with" that way, but only after I made my post. I didnt think it would work knowing that so I had to hope someone else would come along and be a bit quicker. Kudos!


haha...well, good or bad, this thread is getting a lot of publicity. Maybe I made myself out to be a fool to some of you, but I stand behind it. I'll say it again, I'm not disagreeing that dirty oil still has life left in it. I'm just saying that if its a vehicle a care about, I'm not going to let dirty oil circulate in it very long. Obvously, fresh iol gets dirty the moment you turn the key, but I'm talking about oil that has been in there long enough that it's too dark for my comfort level. I'm sure my car will last until my son starts driving in 4 years when he begins hotrodding it around town. LOL Engine longevity comes from clean lubricants.

 

[DragRace]

Originally Posted By: Mark72
Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
Originally Posted By: Pablo
It's your right to be "down with" something that works.

I've been doing extended changes on all my cars, and 4 stroke equipment engines for over 10 years. All engines are very clean, including my turbo Volvo with spotless engine (and no oil consumption!) at 285K miles. I don't extend my OCI's by guessing or for sport. I do it logically and for a reason. The logic is along the lines of newton's fine post, the reason's are the lack of time and the absolute stupidity of changing lubricants mid January on my frozen wet back.


I thought about using "Down with" that way, but only after I made my post. I didnt think it would work knowing that so I had to hope someone else would come along and be a bit quicker. Kudos!


haha...well, good or bad, this thread is getting a lot of publicity. Maybe I made myself out to be a fool to some of you, but I stand behind it. I'll say it again, I'm not disagreeing that dirty oil still has life left in it. I'm just saying that if its a vehicle a care about, I'm not going to let dirty oil circulate in it very long. Obvously, fresh iol gets dirty the moment you turn the key, but I'm talking about oil that has been in there long enough that it's too dark for my comfort level. I'm sure my car will last until my son starts driving in 4 years when he begins hotrodding it around town. LOL Engine longevity comes from clean lubricants.


Color means nothing understand?

If your one of these people that freak out because the oil no longer has that nice,golden color,then your wasting one of our most valueable resources on this earth.

 

[fsskier]

You are correct, the APV is towing well over its manufacturers recommendation. The basic vehicle certainly is adequate for this use, both the engine and transmission are original, stock and untouched. No signs of overheating are ever detected at any time. All failures have been the usual stuff, door handles, heater core, fuel pump, one starter, one alternator, new brakes every 100,000 miles, shocks about the same... not bad for 300K miles.

Why do you not like FWD? All that weight on the front tires is great on slimy boat ramps... heck the front tires are often on dry pavement, far from the moss at the waters edge. If I had bought a pickup, I would need to add 4wd or face huge traction problems.

The Sienna was available with all wheel drive but I did not buy it as there is really no need for it at all. IF you get on a really slippery boat ramp - like snow and ice...... (we did a new years day ski show a couple of years ago) the boat driver can tap the throttles slightly after loaded on the trailer.... with triple 150 hp engines you are going to go, even if the van is still in park!!

Remember, I do this 4 days a week and often add weekends to my schedule. An all around tow vehicle that does everything well is better than a one-trick-pony that just does one thing well.

 

[Mark72]

Originally Posted By: DragRace
Originally Posted By: Mark72
Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
Originally Posted By: Pablo
It's your right to be "down with" something that works.

I've been doing extended changes on all my cars, and 4 stroke equipment engines for over 10 years. All engines are very clean, including my turbo Volvo with spotless engine (and no oil consumption!) at 285K miles. I don't extend my OCI's by guessing or for sport. I do it logically and for a reason. The logic is along the lines of newton's fine post, the reason's are the lack of time and the absolute stupidity of changing lubricants mid January on my frozen wet back.


I thought about using "Down with" that way, but only after I made my post. I didnt think it would work knowing that so I had to hope someone else would come along and be a bit quicker. Kudos!


haha...well, good or bad, this thread is getting a lot of publicity. Maybe I made myself out to be a fool to some of you, but I stand behind it. I'll say it again, I'm not disagreeing that dirty oil still has life left in it. I'm just saying that if its a vehicle a care about, I'm not going to let dirty oil circulate in it very long. Obvously, fresh iol gets dirty the moment you turn the key, but I'm talking about oil that has been in there long enough that it's too dark for my comfort level. I'm sure my car will last until my son starts driving in 4 years when he begins hotrodding it around town. LOL Engine longevity comes from clean lubricants.


Color means nothing understand?

If your one of these people that freak out because the oil no longer has that nice,golden color,then your wasting one of our most valueable resources on this earth.


No, I did not say that. I do not freak out when my oil isn't that nice golden color anymore. LOL. But when my oil is getting to where it is beyond brown and closer to black, I'm not leaving it my engine any longer. No way, no how.

 

[BobFout]

Originally Posted By: Mark72
No, I did not say that. I do not freak out when my oil isn't that nice golden color anymore. LOL. But when my oil is getting to where it is beyond brown and closer to black, I'm not leaving it my engine any longer. No way, no how.


So when the oil is brown/black, UOA shows the oil is no longer fit for use?

 

[Mark72]

Originally Posted By: BobFout
Originally Posted By: Mark72
No, I did not say that. I do not freak out when my oil isn't that nice golden color anymore. LOL. But when my oil is getting to where it is beyond brown and closer to black, I'm not leaving it my engine any longer. No way, no how.


So when the oil is brown/black, UOA shows the oil is no longer fit for use?


Nope, I think the UOA's are telling us the oil IS still fit for use even though the oil is dirty as he!!. And that's IF you think a UOA is giving you the true picture. I care too much for my car to run that filthy dirty oil to it's last limits like all you guys do. I prefer to error on the side of caution. Cars are expensive, oil is not. In addition, my friend who purchased his car brand new, dumped the factory fill for M1 after 500 miles and has used nothing but M1 every 6 months with only 2-3k on the oil...well his car runs much unlike mine which is nice and smooth, and buttery at 152k and counting. This is not my imagination. I bought my car with 50k on it, dino every 4 months, and it runs better than his with 30k on it. He can keep his M1 and 6 month oci's with black as [censored] oil coming out the drain plug when he dumps it.

 

[[RT] ProjUltraZ]

yo Mark, please do a UOA w/ TBN just for the heck of it. if not, it's still your choice i have way more important things to rail against than changing oil at 4 months instead of 6 or 7 or XK miles. you wanna talk about waste, i know this drag racer who changes every 3 or 4 months w/ GTX only, in a tacoma, but to him it's frugal cuz he used to change his pro gas car's oil after every 3 runs, or was it 5? i can't remember but i thought it was crazy. fuel dilution? something

 

[Nick R]

Mark, just because the oil is black doesn't mean it is unfit for use. It does not necessarily mean it is dirty. The color change is something called a CHEMICAL REACTION. I don't recall what it is offhand. Dark coloured oil can still be plenty fit for use. By the same token, oil can come out of a car completely still amber and golden, and a UOA would show that the TBN has been expended. Also contributing to the color is simply combustion gasses making past the piston rings and valve stems. It isn't dirt.

 

[Captain_Klink]

I really don't believe in extended either. My brother (passed away 5 yrs. ago) left his Dodge Colt to me, in his will. Now I know this car "only" has 215,000 miles on it - so it is just a baby - but my brother changed the oil every 2,000 miles - so that would be about 110 oil changes. The average price for a jug of oil, and filter, - it takes 3.5 quarts - and car was new in 1995, when oil was a lot cheaper, let's say average $12 per oil change, times 110 changes, works out to about $1300 worth of oil and filters - works out to 0.6 CENTS per mile for the oil. For the GASOLINE, it gets 40 miles per gallon, which is about 6 Cents per mile.

So 6 cents per mile for gasoline, and 0.6 cents per mile for the oil. So, you want to save money on the OIL???? - like how much? 0.3 CENTS per mile??? by doubling the OCI. This car runs like brand new, the compression and power are perfect, and it uses ZERO amount of oil. I have seen similar car to mine, but not well maintained, and BURNING oil. To repair that car, would cost MORE THAN $2000 dollars, which is almost TWICE what was spent for the proper maintenance. So I firmly believe in FREQUENT oil changes, and for me, that means change it 3000 - 4000 mile intervals. My Subaru, according to manual, with severe duty, needs oil change every 3000 miles.

It is very penny wise and pound foolish to run long OCI. Like they used to say in the Quaker State ad - you can pay me now.... or you can pay me later. I would rather pay more for oil, and send the used oil for recycling, instead of having to pay for a new engine, just to save 0.3 CENTS per mile. Especially when the REAL COST of owning a motor vehicle is over 30 CENTS per mile, which is 50 times the price of changing the oil every 2,000 miles(averaged out from 1995 - 2010)

The "cost" of 2000 mile oil change, increases the ownership cost by 2%, but this pays for itself, because the engine does not need to be replaced, which means the oil changes are actually for free, and you are not stuck having to buy a new car, means you are a better steward for the environment. - cheers, Captain Klink.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Captain_Klink
I really don't believe in extended either. My brother (passed away 5 yrs. ago) left his Dodge Colt to me, in his will. Now I know this car "only" has 215,000 miles on it - so it is just a baby - but my brother changed the oil every 2,000 miles - so that would be about 110 oil changes. The average price for a jug of oil, and filter, - it takes 3.5 quarts - and car was new in 1995, when oil was a lot cheaper, let's say average $12 per oil change, times 110 changes, works out to about $1300 worth of oil and filters - works out to 0.6 CENTS per mile for the oil. For the GASOLINE, it gets 40 miles per gallon, which is about 6 Cents per mile.

So 6 cents per mile for gasoline, and 0.6 cents per mile for the oil. So, you want to save money on the OIL???? - like how much? 0.3 CENTS per mile??? by doubling the OCI. This car runs like brand new, the compression and power are perfect, and it uses ZERO amount of oil. I have seen similar car to mine, but not well maintained, and BURNING oil. To repair that car, would cost MORE THAN $2000 dollars, which is almost TWICE what was spent for the proper maintenance. So I firmly believe in FREQUENT oil changes, and for me, that means change it 3000 - 4000 mile intervals. My Subaru, according to manual, with severe duty, needs oil change every 3000 miles.

It is very penny wise and pound foolish to run long OCI. Like they used to say in the Quaker State ad - you can pay me now.... or you can pay me later. I would rather pay more for oil, and send the used oil for recycling, instead of having to pay for a new engine, just to save 0.3 CENTS per mile. Especially when the REAL COST of owning a motor vehicle is over 30 CENTS per mile, which is 50 times the price of changing the oil every 2,000 miles(averaged out from 1995 - 2010) - cheers, Klink.



So how about the cars with 200+ thousand miles that got oil changes every 5,6k miles and don't burn oil, run great, etc? Notice if the oil changes were done every 4k miles, the price would be $650. Every 6k would be $430

 

[Nick R]

--Oh, and oxidation, and exposure to heat also help the oil change color. NOT DIRT.

 

[Captain_Klink]

this is true enough, it's just that these things are unpredictable when the car is new, so I would rather err on the side of caution, especially since I am pretty efficient with the oil change, and I enjoy doing it.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Captain_Klink
Like they used to say in the Quaker State ad - you can pay me now.... or you can pay me later. .


Since I've been "Frozen In Time", I think the ad your are quoting here was an ad for Fram oil filters. LOL Many years ago.

 

[BobFout]

I think we've entered the Twilight Zone. I hear Rod's voice

 

[stenerson]

I don't get all the OP's drama? Most here agree that frequent changes with dino would keep our engines in great shape. And many of us have many years and miles with longer OCIs on synthetics. If I get an oil related failure some day I might change my mind. I doubt it's gonna happen. No one's gonna flog him. If he's happy with his way that's all that counts.

 

[Hermann]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: Captain_Klink
Like they used to say in the Quaker State ad - you can pay me now.... or you can pay me later. .


Since I've been "Frozen In Time", I think the ad your are quoting here was an ad for Fram oil filters. LOL Many years ago.


+1 on it being a Fram commercial, but it should read "you can pay me now, and probably pay me later too"

 

[el_zorro]

Mark72,

Lots of folks have followed your model of 3-4K OCIs mostly with dino and they are happy campers for life, I was a 3-4K OCIer for many many years and never had a problem, that was also when I could buy conventional oil for $1 per quart on sale.

About 10 years ago I bought a new GMC Sierra pickup and switched to synthetic and never went over 5K OCI. My truck has gone 266K miles and is still going strong.

A few of the things have changed in the last 5 years that have driven many people to longer OCIs and using synthetics.

The price of conventional motor oil has doubled in price but difference in price between conventional and synthetic has decreased. As the price of vehicles has gone up the cost difference of a synthetic oil seems like a pittance.

I have increased my OCIs since coming to this site mainly because of education and after I saw how much better the synthetics (mainly because their add packs are stronger) I increased the OCI to 6-8K. I think it makes sense to give your engine better protection throughout the OCI at a lower price don't you think ?