Oil conspiracy theories?

[FCD]

I've heard a lot of people say that manufacturers are starting to go to ever longer oil change intervals so that their engines are damaged and worn down on purpose so you have to buy a new car or engine sooner, am i the only one that's heard this?? sounds like utter B-S to me

 

[Shannow]

You could provide a link to where you heard it or heard it repeated.

 

[FCD]

Hmm not really just on facebook groups , also heard it around here from some old mechanics

 

[Justin251]

People also claim that the oil/gas companies own the patents to 100 mpg carburetors.

Some people also claim the moon landing to be a hoax.

Some people give real money to psychics.

Sometimes people are dumb.

 

[Shannow]

if its as widespread as offered, then just a tiny link would bust the conspiracy wide open...

just one, then we can work with it...

 

[AuthorEditor]

Well, if they are doing that it doesn't seem to be working. Engines seem to be lasting longer than ever in my experience. Where I live the car body, frame, and running gear are rotted out long before the engine dies--I've never actually lost an engine. Typically, I drive the car to the junkyard when it is done.

 

[CourierDriver]

If you order all those gas saving gadgets from JC Whitney back in the 60s, your VW would have gotten 100 mpg,,,,lol

 

[spk2000]

Flinstone style driving keeps them going longer. Skip the gas and oil.

 

[Bandito440]

I heard that the government puts fluoride into the oil supply in order to control the ECM's thoughts.

 

[NavyVet88]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
Well, if they are doing that it doesn't seem to be working. Engines seem to be lasting longer than ever in my experience. Where I live the car body, frame, and running gear are rotted out long before the engine dies--I've never actually lost an engine. Typically, I drive the car to the junkyard when it is done.



Yeah lots of vehicles seem to have that "Cummins" effect nowadays where the engine out lives everything around it

 

[BrocLuno]

Ah, there are things like BMW where there is no easy way to fill or check the fluids. That's to get the cars back for regular service at the dealers - user training... And marketing of OEM parts mostly.

And they do have extended drain intervals, so that folks who do not get them checked when they should are having some issues with failure ...

 

[yesthatsteve]

I think it has more to do with total cost of ownership. With Edmunds (and others) promoting TCO or cost-per-mile as long-term metrics to determine value, manufacturers with cars in the middle and lower segments of the cost spectrum are looking for every sales advantage they can get. People buy new Hondas and Toyotas because of the perceived value, so they and their competitors are going to find every edge they can to promote value. Since oil quality is significantly better than it was 20 or 30 years ago, extended OCIs are one way to reduce TCO and increase the value of owning a specific car. "Lifetime" ATF is another, but the cynic in me wants to think that's to promote expensive dealership repairs or trade-ins on new cars.

 

[NHGUY]

Talk amongst legislature in 1976/77 was that a law was imminent forcing manufacturers to "seal" the engine compartments/making a one piece front clip that required special tools to open.The powertrain unit was to be treated as an "assembly",forcing no repairs but complete replacement if something went wrong.This was an obvious reaction the Feds had to newfound emissions devices and the public's habit of unhooking/bypassing them.For some reason the discussion never went any further and to this day engine compartments are accessable yet they hold the big fines and jail time over heads for emissions tampering. Yes,at one time,big brother wanted to keep you out from under the hood of YOUR possession.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
I heard that the government puts fluoride into the oil supply in order to control the ECM's thoughts.

 

[zeng]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
I heard that the government puts fluoride into the oil supply in order to control the ECM's thoughts.

Interesting new technology indeed ..... care to further elaborate on its working principle.

 

[smithph]

Have not heard that about car companies... Are you trolling?

The state of California (US) had a senate bill working its way through the process last year that would have required oil manufactures to certify their motor oils sold in the state have a minimum useful life of 10,000 miles. (SB-778 2015)

 

[Yup]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Talk amongst legislature in 1976/77 was that a law was imminent forcing manufacturers to "seal" the engine compartments/making a one piece front clip that required special tools to open.The powertrain unit was to be treated as an "assembly",forcing no repairs but complete replacement if something went wrong.This was an obvious reaction the Feds had to newfound emissions devices and the public's habit of unhooking/bypassing them.For some reason the discussion never went any further and to this day engine compartments are accessable yet they hold the big fines and jail time over heads for emissions tampering. Yes,at one time,big brother wanted to keep you out from under the hood of YOUR possession.


I just talked with a guy that said a Honda minivan tranny can't be rebuilt because it's "one piece". I had never heard that before. His was a late 90s model. Said with 280k miles he can either buy a used one, new one, but they can't rebuild them...???? Is this true???

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: Bandito440
I heard that the government puts fluoride into the oil supply in order to control the ECM's thoughts.


There is some basis in fact here...in the 50s and 60s in the US, the water WAS fluoridated, with the reason given to help prevent tooth decay. It may still be fluoridated today, but if it is they aren't telling us.

Fluoride is still used today in mental hospitals to help control patients.

 

[SpecM]

Originally Posted By: Yup

I just talked with a guy that said a Honda minivan tranny can't be rebuilt because it's "one piece". I had never heard that before. His was a late 90s model. Said with 280k miles he can either buy a used one, new one, but they can't rebuild them...???? Is this true???


Not true at all. If it is 'one piece', then how is it assembled?

 

[Yup]

Originally Posted By: HosteenJorje
You can hear many "stories" from older mechanics, old teachers, old what ever. People tend to believe what they hear,read,see without bothering to investigate the facts. The biggest whopper in my life is the "Roswell" myth. A convergence of several real events lead to whoppers about crashed flying saucers and dead aliens and the daddy of all conspiracies.. All nothing but lies, half truths and hear-say started by individuals seeking fortune, fame or both. Of course the greatest myth of all time has to be the one about a Judean prophet who only had twenty three chromosomes because of his miraculous birth.


LOL +1