Extending OCI, partial change, match seasons.

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: FZ1
When in Doubt;Change it Out!
I like that. If I throw in the motohome (4400 miles since January on Maxlife Syn), I would have three changes all at once for a collective 15,000 miles.

Yeah, 10w30 winter, 10w40 summer, but the F150 goes 12000 miles per year and I am not inclined to stretch the OCI past 5000 on regular Maxlife or Durablend (current fill).

Oh well, maybe run the Aerostar out to 6000 miles and change it, maybe also a used oil analysis. By 6000 miles it will have had about as much top up as original fill.

 

[TallPaul]

They say the easiest decision is indecision. Maybe not the best, but the easiest. Anyway, between that and the fact I have little free time these days, both vehicles may get extend oil runs, so I am thinking that each could use a shot of zddp boost to help carry them along.

Also, haha, I just put 12 oz of Valvoline VR1 SAE 60 in the Aerostar. I may put the rest in soon as it needs more top up. She's still running fine, so must like the thick stuff in the 3.0 V6.

"This indecision's bugging me"

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: FZ1
When in Doubt;Change it Out!



My life goal it to get you to see the light and say "When it doubt; FIND OUT!"

I keep seeing my wife's habits of spending whatever it takes to make whatever it is go away.

Tall Paul ...it would seem a 6 month or biannual biased OCI would work for you instead of the fixed mileage thing. TeeDub's fuel component equation would be another good thing.

 

[FZ1]

Thanks,Gary. I need all the help I can get. Lol.

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Tall Paul ...it would seem a 6 month or biannual biased OCI would work for you instead of the fixed mileage thing. TeeDub's fuel component equation would be another good thing.
Okay, you have convinced me. I'll go 6 month OCI. It's not like either of these engines are going to be killed by that. Yep, now I just have to figure out what 6 months are the coldest around here. Hmmm.. we have a meteorologist on staff. We'll do this with about 300 % scientific overkill on the weather timing.

 

[Gary Allan]

Well, depending on how your fuel curve (average mpg) gets altered over the winter (that's wintah if you're frum NooWingland) it could be late Fall/early Spring. It could be 6k/6k - 7k/5k - (for the 12k vehicle).

Six months (or biannually) works out for most people unless they have exceptional conditions. If the mileage is higher, then a synthetic is sensible.

 

[junebug]

Here in the frozen tundra climate,I change oil in Oct. and April.That way I do not have to lay in the snow or on the cold ground.It's not fun Nov.-March.

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Well, depending on how your fuel curve (average mpg) gets altered over the winter (that's wintah if you're frum NooWingland) it could be late Fall/early Spring. It could be 6k/6k - 7k/5k - (for the 12k vehicle).

Six months (or biannually) works out for most people unless they have exceptional conditions. If the mileage is higher, then a synthetic is sensible.

The thought crossed my mind not of fuel usage variations between winter and summer, but of which season is harsher on the oil, and to shorten that one, but nah, I want to keep it simple, six months is a no brainer and at my age, I need all the no brainers I can get!

Now Bingo! Your synthetic suggestion makes a lot of sense. I am running syn in the motorhome based on it having very low mileage (began last year at 9700 miles) and to keep it pristine. However, that beast uses a half quart every 2000 miles, whereas the F150 uses virtually no oil and so would be a better candidate for synthetic. Alas, the F150 has many seeps. But then my synthetic is all Maxlife so maybe it is just what the Doctor ordered. Can throw in some Synpower 20w50 in the summer.

But then what do I run in the motorhome's 454 V8? I guess Maxlife Blend would be good enough. My older motorhome with the 460 V8 ran beautifully on regular Maxlife Blend. Yep Gary, you have stimulated some very good ideas and I will give them serious thought.

Now for the final question. If the F150 (4.9L inline six tractorish engine BTW) runs about 12000 miles per year, how long can I stretch the Maxlife Synthetic? Perhaps run 6K and UOA and take it from there.

Well, let's see if I go with that plan I can change out the F150 right now as I will be running the same thing year round more or less.

 

[TallPaul]

Okay, so how long can I go on Maxlife Synthetic in a 157,000 mile good running 4.9L straight six F150?

I am guessing that 7000 miles would be a reasonable OCI length.

The motorhome is better off with the Maxlife Blend since with the price of fuel, we are not taking such long trips. If I ever go to California, I'll put the Syn in.

 

[Gary Allan]

Well a one year OCI is too much of a stretch for most to do. It's just too long for most to handle. I did it by accident twice in a row with my jeep and my daughters stealing it from me for a few years.

We also don't like carrying over OCI's past a calender year. People tend (there are always exceptions) to have all their maintenance fall into evenly divisible numbers of months ..especially if they're in any type of true 4 season climate.

That reduces most users to 3/4/6 month divisions. They all fit into a year without carry over. Some truly set mile markers for their standards ..but most do it this way ..and the mileage that results is in some range that they're comfortable with. The 5k+/- OCI/UOA may be a 3, 4, or 6month OCI.

The fuel component that I was suggesting is part of Ted's OCI calculator. That is, if you're getting 16 during the 9 month period ..and 14 during the wintah ...you're putting 115% more fatigue on the oil during that 3 month period. Assuming that you wanted two evenly distributed "fatigue curves" over two OCI's ..you would bias the time base shorter on the wintah OCI.

...but ..for all we know the stuff used on an even up 50:50 split would still have enough internal fortitude to go even further (which is what I suspect) ..so it comes down to your level of needing symmetry on one level over another (OCI/UOA OCD) ..so the 6month UOA, over the alleged most severe half of the year would be the sensible thing to do.

I think you'll find that limits would probably fall in an uneven (as in how you fit it into the year) number of months ..and then you're left with ........6 months

 

[TallPaul]

Yeah, I could do 6 and 6 months and ensure always changing at same time. I could just change Oct and April regardless of miles (within reason), but actually I don't really follow the symmetry thing, so would not care if my schedule went 7000 miles and was Oct, May, Dec, Jul, Feb etc. I once shoveled out some fresh falling snow to change my oil--diehard oil addict!

As for fuel usage tracking, too much paperwork. Seems I consistently get about 14.5 mpg winter or summer. Maybe is due to the constant lead foot. Hour meter would be fun, but miles is close enough. At 14.5 mpg the fuel usage will be huge in a 7000 mile OCI, about 483 gallons! Only time I get better mileage is long freeway trip where lead foot has little play, then it's about 17 mpg avg, but I rarely take such trips. Mostly it's 15 mile one way freeway/surface streets.

I am 85 miles from the 5000 mile mark on this Durablend 10w40, and since you suggested this golden plan, I am now salivating over the prospect of running the Max Syn in the F150. Ahhhh, this may be my sweetest oil change ever, first Max Syn in her and first racy red color Baldwin filter. Perhaps I should pick up a bottle of champagne?

 

[Gary Allan]

Shampagknee

Quote:
but actually I don't really follow the symmetry thing


Well, since you don't get different mileage over the year, then 6 months should be symmetrical in the condition of the oil decay ..with some minor drift.

Now if it was 480something over the warmer 6 months and 600 over the colder six months ...(see where you're (maybe) trying to attain symmetry??)

 

[TallPaul]

Yeah I suppose I should write down the mileage and see if winter is worse, should be. Maybe I just don't remember beyond a few months.

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan

Shampagknee

Yeah! All of BITOG should crack open a Shampagknee on this one because this will be a first for me since I became "oil aware" in 2003. I am going to be running.....TA DA......5w30!!!!!!

Have I gone crazy? Have I lost my marbles?

No, actually I will run any 5w30 that meets ACEA A3 as does Maxlife Synthetic 5w30.

 

[Gary Allan]

(cue dramatic music)

5w30!!!

Why, Paul ...that's amazing.

 

[TallPaul]

With the ACEA A3 and the $3 per quart (or less) clearance at AA and other stores, I couldn't resist.

 

[Gary Allan]

Buy it and, sooner or later, you'll find a use for it. That's the story of most of our stashes. We're just people looking into the future waiting for our purpose

 

[TallPaul]

Whelp, Tomorrow is the BIG DAY! About 5 pm as I pull in from a 15 mile run, good an hot. Will be backfilling the filter tonight.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: TallPaul
Will be backfilling the filter tonight.


(imagine Darth Vader as he paused a moment as he "felt" Obi-wan on the Death Star - include simultaneous breathing while vocals emerge in the image)

Hmmm..I sense something I haven't felt in a long time. A new BITOGism. Filter pre-fill soak time.

 

[TallPaul]

Ah yes, and the red paint on that Baldwin has a nice feel, more grippable than the slick surface of a Purolator or Wix. Also a nice smell to the filter, kind of a paint and metal smell. She's backfilled and sitting in the box, gasket already smeared with oil. I have added about 1.75 oz of Bruce Juice (21,600 ppm zinc PCMO additive) to the oil, which will boost the zinc and associated stuff about 200 ppm from it's 1000 ppm SL level. Yep this is SL stash. I have 69 qts of Max Syn and this is the oldest (vintage 2004). Ahhhhh..... life is good!