Maintenance book recommends 1.5-2k oil changes!

[addyguy]

I was at a Chapters bookstore today, and just casually glanced through some automotive maintenece books.

I don't remember the title or author of it; but one book really suprised me. Not an EXACT quote, but essentially it said this:

"Most manufacturers recommend oil changes every 3-5k miles. If a car is used for very short trips, or in cold weather, I recommend every 1.5-2k miles. An oil and filter for a change cost $25. Engines cost thousands more."

Publication date on this book? 2009!

 

[hpichris]

Book published: 2009
Author's mentality: 1932

Getting suckers to do OCI's every 1500 miles: Priceless

 

[FastSUV]

Well it is true that in the cold or frequent short trips can shorten the life of oil & the motor; especially motors that are prone to sludge & moisture buildup. Many cop cars & taxis get 3k OCI for severe service, instead of the 5-7.5k regular recommended interval.

I'd say 3k for severe service & 5k on dino is fine...he had the concept right but just gave his opinion on the shorter interval which was not an interval most in here would go for. But you can't fault him for that? (even though he is wrong)

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
Many cop cars & taxis get 3k OCI for severe service, instead of the 5-7.5k regular recommended interval.


..but every taxi and cop car isn't really doing 3k. It's what the odometer reads. The same fuel would take them 5-7k if they weren't either idling or flooring it or driving all stop and go.

If it's truly short trip usage, then 3months will occur probably around 1.5-2k

 

[Falcon_LS]

Reminds me of people here who change SL/SM-CF rated oil every 2,000-3,000 kilometres. That's 1,250-1,875 miles! Some drive as little as 1,000 km/625 miles a month, and change their oil on a monthly basis. Their reasoning - "our climate is too hot, and causes oil to turn thick like tomato paste." I've done 10,000 km/6,250 oil changes with mineral HDEO and have yet to see it come out as thick as "tomato paste".

Oddly enough, some of these people never even bother to replace any other fluids.

 

[Nayov]

Sure, why not the car will last forever that way.

I had an air-cooled VW and I used to change the oil every 1,500 miles.

Book recommendation was 3,000 miles.

For those who don't know, they had no replaceable filter, just a screen that had to be cleaned. Surprisngly, that screen actually did catch a lot of sludge.

 

[demarpaint]

I remember the mindset of the 60's was take the OCI offered in the OM and cut it in half. Seems like this guy might have grown up in the 60's and carried some of that mentality forward.

 

[river_rat]

Originally Posted By: Nayov
Sure, why not the car will last forever that way.

I had an air-cooled VW and I used to change the oil every 1,500 miles.

Book recommendation was 3,000 miles.

For those who don't know, they had no replaceable filter, just a screen that had to be cleaned. Surprisngly, that screen actually did catch a lot of sludge.

I never caught anything significant in my screen. I consider it more an oil pick-up strainer than a filter.
Now that I put a filter kit on the engine this summer, I will go to 3000 miles or higher. (stock 1600 single port on a '69 camper/van)

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: hpichris
Book published: 2009
Author's mentality: 1932

Getting suckers to do OCI's every 1500 miles: Priceless
For everything else there is

 

[Eddie]

Sounds like my 1950 Ford manual. Nonsense for today engines.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I remember the mindset of the 60's was take the OCI offered in the OM and cut it in half. Seems like this guy might have grown up in the 60's and carried some of that mentality forward.


The sad thing is that if he's carrying forward a mindset from forty years ago, and has not learned much since, he really has no business writing books and offering others "expert" advice on how to care for their cars. If that's the only grievous error on his part, I'd be surprised. I wonder what other pearls of wisdom are lurking between the covers of that book. I'd probably have bought it just to have fun picking it apart. . .

 

[ryland]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
I'd probably have bought it just to have fun picking it apart. . .


And Thats why you drive a prius!

 

[CATERHAM]

" for very short trips, or in cold weather, I recommend every 1.5-2k miles"

You know, living in a northern climate, that doesn't sound unreasonable to me.

I used to commute 10 miles to work. You'd think that would be far enough to prevent condensation build up in the oil (that dreaded mayonnaise like oil/water emulsion) but in our winters it frequently is not.

My neighbour's wife drives her Corolla 1.5 miles to work and back. That's frequently all it's ever driven. I gave a similar short OCI recommendation. I actually said change it at 3 months and use 20 wt oil and have her husband once a week or so drive the car on his 40 mile commute into Toronto.

So my question is; for very short trips in a cold climate where the oil NEVER gets anywhere near normal operating temps and there is a resulting massive condensation build up in the oil what OCI would you recommend?