New oil change interval technique

[Drew99GT]

Got a new neighbor recently and started off by talkin cars...AWESOME! Guy tells me his oil change routine is to change it when it becomes really black and to simply screw the mileage and time recomendations. Has 185,000 on an older 350 Suberban that tows regularly. He uses nothing but QS 10w30, even in the coldest of winters.

Maybe it's a bit risky, but I simply hear to many stories like this to make my justification for frequent oil changes null and void

He said he maintains the cooling system more routinly as that is more important to long engine life and no catastrophic engine failures. I'm really thinkin about extending out at least a bit more with dino cause it just seems to not make a difference. I mean like 5,000 miles, not 15,000!

 

[SSDude]

Today's dino oils (GF-3 and GF-4) can do 5,000 miles standing on their heads. You are not pushing it if you use a good name brand dino.

 

[haley10]

Well Drew, observing the oil's color is somewhat less than scientific at best. Perhaps his Burb is too old to be fitted with the GM OLM? Towing can take it's toll on low cost dino, so I think following the Severe Schedule or the OLM if equipped is a better idea.

The cooling system is important as well as keeping the proper tranny and rear end service.

Observing color ?

I have oils that get dark once around the block and some stay golden a long time. What does color tell you about when the add pak is shot? Not too much.

[ May 24, 2005, 01:14 PM: Message edited by: haley10 ]

 

[Cutehumor]

quote:

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Originally posted by SSDude:
Today's dino oils (GF-3 and GF-4) can do 5,000 miles standing on their heads. You are not pushing it if you use a good name brand dino.

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that's a little disconcerting for those 5k mobil 1 oil changers

 

[widman]

It depends so much on the tuype of driving. All highway driving (at reasonable speeds and loads) could probably give you 20,000 or 30,000 miles on a Group II with no problems.

 

[Audi Junkie]

"that's a little disconcerting for those 5k mobil 1 oil changers "

I had a guys ask me what is the "best" oil for 3500 miles changes. I think he means best overall oil, but my answer was $.99c supermarket dino...it's "best" for 3500 miles. Anyway, my cousin's GM OLM went off at 2200 miles of stop-n-go, so miles alone is no better than checking oil colour.