Pointless oil changes?

[Sternwheeler]

At what rate of oil consumption does changing the oil become pointless? My daily driver is a 1997 Nissan Sentra with 425,000 miles. I’d like her to make a cool half-mil before rebuild or failure. An oil change with filter requires exactly 3qts. By the next oil change at 3,000 miles, I will have added 7qts more. (Makes 5qt bottles perfectly convenient.) At this rate of consumption and loss, is there any reason not to just run a higher mileage filter and extend changes to 6,000 miles to sync up with my tire rotations?

Thank you.

 

[The_Jeff]

I imagine you could get away with that.

 

[Patman]

The engine sounds like it’s beyond the point of no return but just for an experiment you could try using Restore and Protect to see if it helps in any way

 

[KGMtech]

I would consider just putting a new oil filter on at whatever interval suits your needs.

 

[jetman]

It's changing itself.
Just change the filter every 5k or 10k.
A long time ago there was someone here at BITOG w/Honda 2000 that did something like this.

 

[spasm3]

It's changing itself.
Just change the filter every 5k or 10k.
A long time ago there was someone here at BITOG w/Honda 2000 that did something like this.

This!

 

[NiwradND]

change the oil at 10,000 miles and the filter every 5,000.

 

[Mechanician]

Does the oil become discolored?

 

[trd1zz]

I would consider that it may be time for a new car

 

[Jango]

You need to set it up like an Epson Ecotank printer. Install a gravity feed pony keg filled with your favorite oil and just keep it topped off and skip oil changes altogether.

 

[Japanese]

An oil change with filter requires exactly 3qts.

What oil and filter do you use?

 

[altaylar]

The engine sounds like it’s beyond the point of no return but just for an experiment you could try using Restore and Protect to see if it helps in any way

This could definitely be an interesting experiment. Some engines (including mine) tends to increase the oil consumption at the begining of using Valvoline Restore and Protect, so that is something to be careful with.

Also, I am curious how does adding 7 quarts of oil in 3000 miles to an oil pan with 3 quart capacity works? I guess that is topping up every 200 miles or so?

 

[4wd]

The engine sounds like it’s beyond the point of no return but just for an experiment you could try using Restore and Protect to see if it helps in any way

This would certainly be worth a try …

 

[TheOilWizard]

Really no point in changing the oil in your situation. Change the filter out annually with something high quality and continue on.

 

[hemitom]

he is adding a quart of oil roughly every 425 miles !
why bother changing it always has fresh oil going in change the filter every 10k and drive on

 

[ClutchDisc]

And I thought my Forester was using a lot at a quart every 800 miles before I replaced the engine... I guess not!

I would still change it, but maybe extend the intervals a bit. Otherwise you never have completely fresh oil to start with.

 

[Sternwheeler]

I imagine you could get away with that.

Thank you.

 

[Sternwheeler]

The engine sounds like it’s beyond the point of no return but just for an experiment you could try using Valvoline Restore and Protect to see if it helps in any way

I had left a comment before, but I was unaware Valvoline Restore and Protect was referring to a single product. I shall investigate.

 

[Sternwheeler]

I would consider just putting a new oil filter on at whatever interval suits your needs.

Thank you.

 

[Sternwheeler]

It's changing itself.
Just change the filter every 5k or 10k.
A long time ago there was someone here at BITOG w/Honda 2000 that did something like this.

This seems to be the consensus.