Oil change plan. What do you guys think?

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I have a 93 buick with a chevy tbi 5.7. 72,000 miles on her. The previous owner has not taking great care of her as far as sevice went. He took great care of the cab and paint, car looks great.I have put the last 25,000 on her. In that time I have changed all the fluids multiple times all syn, changed all hoses and vacuum lines, egr, pcv every 10,000 to 12,000,fuel ,rear end with Mobil 1 syn, trans suck out 3 1/2 qt every 10,000 first mobil 1 now maxlife atf, a complete tune up. Car mech runs great, very strong. I was currently run maxlife syn 10-30 and a k&n oil filter, car holds 4 and 1/2 qt. I was going to do 5,000-suck out 4qts-5,000-suck out 4qts-5,000 then change oil and filter. Or 6,000 suckout 4 qts then 6,000 more then change oil and filter. With maxlife syn of mobil 1 high mileage when my maxlife syn stash dries up, with a k&n or mobil 1 filter. Do you guys feel that one of these is safe? And which idea do you like better? Thank you in advance!!
 
Your plan seems safe enough, though not sure on filter mileage. I like the change filter after two 6K runs better, but not sure what the KN can go.

If the oil gets dirty quick because of the previous neglect, then I would run cheaper high mileage, like regular Maxlife or what is on sale for a few OCIs and use cheaper filter, Purolators on sale sometimes pretty cheap, but maybe $3 normal price. Once the oil starts staying cleaner, switch to the high mileage synthetic and Wix filters. I would not run a KN filter or other super high quality pricy filter as I like to change filter every OCI.

Suck out, you mean you have a evacuation pump instead of pulling the drain plug? I never liked the pump idea because of having to clean it. Fumoto drain valves are really nice.

Transmission, depending on capacity, may need 5K suck outs with the small quantity you get out. Periodically (see manual) drop pan and also replace filter.
 
Thanks, By the way, I like your username. We used to have a member "Idrinkmotoroil" and haven't seen him post in a long time.

Heh heh, think I better change the oil in the Aerostar. It was last changed Jan 27, 2007! Only has 4850 miles on it though and the blotters look nice and clean. Seems a shame to change out, but hey I guess after a year it's justified. Had to add about three qts oil over that period and not sure why, but that may be what helps keep it clean. She was running Maxlife and will get another load of Valvoline MaxLife 10w30 for 2008.

So hey, any other Oilophiles out there to comment on idrinkoil's plan???
 
Originally Posted By: TallPaul

So hey, any other Oilophiles out there to comment on idrinkoil's plan???

Can't say I'm an oilophile (love that term!
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) but I am a mechanic by profession. The fact that in his words the car "runs great, very strong" tells me that despite the less than stellar care it received with its previous owner no serious damage was done- otherwise it wouldn't have the relatively high mileage it has now and still be running strong. If it were damaged early in life it would be showing by now with the engine pushing 100,000 miles.
Since the car is running cleaner and higher quality fluids than 95% of the other cars on the road, he seems to have that aspect of maintenance covered and little would be gained by repeated continued flushings. Good oil, replaced by more good oil, does nothing but deplete one's wallet.
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IMO if he simply puts the car on a good High Mileage oil like Maxlife and does 3k-5k mile oil & filter changes, and changes the transmission fluid every 25k miles, the car will easily give him another 75k-100k miles or more before requiring any serious work.

In any case Idrinkoil, good luck with and enjoy what sounds like a really nice automobile. :)
 
Thanks Lost1! Yeah I put the last 25,000 on her. Complete tune up since I got her. So she has had all syn fluids for the last 25,000 or yr and a half. I replace everything down to all the vacuum hoses brake flush power steering. I thought at first she wasn't my type of car (buick roadmaster limited). Been a sports car guy. Then I feel in love with her. Plenty of power, smooth ride, 16 way power seats :). They don't make em like that any more. I'm already sad thinking, when she dies I can't buy another roadmaster like her in this shape. A little old lady had her. She bought a brand new caddy. I was just trying to find a safe oci for her. I think I'm going to do 5,000 oci with hm syn and a k&n filter. Then suck out 4(thats all I can suck out) of the 4 1/2 qt pan and keep filter. Then add oil and go 5,000 more. Then do a filter and oil change. I don't have a place to do oil changes (live in a apt). I have to do it in a parking lot somewhere. So going 2 oci on the filter keeps me from getting under the car more often.
 
As I recall those Roadmasters had the LT-1 350, the same as was in Camaros at the time, and were running about 260 hp or thereabouts. That is a well-built engine and will last a very long time under your care. Good friend of mine had one and I rode in it a time or two- rode just like a big Caddy and had scads of power. Surprisingly fast for such a big car.

I see now why you want to limit your trips under the car, and agree that minimizing the trips underneath is the best plan of attack.

Enjoy your Roadmaster!
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Quote:
car holds 4 and 1/2 qt.


I don't know why you can't get more oil in there; both my truck and my Buick with its little 3.8L will hold 6 quarts just fine. I use an oversize filter on the Buick though.
 
The year newer had a Lt1 engine. I believe mine is a L05. The k&n filter is larger slightly than the others I've tried. Any bigger it's hanging below everything else. I was shocked too Merkava when I first changed the oil and dump in 5 qts, than checked the dip stick lol. Manual says 4 and 1/2 with filter, 4 with out filter, and they ain't kiddin. Puts it at the max mark. The old owners manual also say oil and filter every 3,000 maintenace schedule 1. Then say maintenance schedule 2, oil only at 7,500, oil filter the first and every other oil change. LOL 1993 technology!
 
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