Switching a high-mileage engine to extended OCI.

[Mustang_Cougar]

Three months ago I bought a "beater" '97 Grand Caravan (3.3l w/~158K miles), intending to use it for light duties such as errands. As such, it should only see around 4,500 miles per year; however, many (if not most) of those miles will be short-mileage trips (
The previous owner took good care of the vehicle and maintained it with MaxLife on a 3-month schedule. Obviously that's not going to happen; I have continued with ML (& Super Tech filter), but settled on a 6-month OCI. Yet today I took a look at the mileage and wondered if I shouldn't bump up to a synthetic (& better filter) and go with a 1-year OCI. Two OCI's of ML run $39, whereas one OCI of M1/PP w/a Bosch filter would run $28; furthermore, it would save me the hassle of one oil change per year.

My only real concern is fuel dilution. I live in a northern state and winter low-temps average in the upper-teens. The van also has a remote starter, which means the first short trip of the day sees it idling for ~5 minutes. Should this dissuade me from an extended OCI? If it is an issue, could it be minimized by ensuring the OCI starts after March (when low-temps are ~30)?

Thanks for any input.

 

[PT1]

If the engine was taken care of with 3000 OCI's then why not continue? You could end up with a 2-300K mile engine and surprise yourself. If cost is a factor and fuel dilution is a consideration too then just use any regular brand conventional oil and Super Tech filter and change every 6 months. I would go with what ever is on sale. You might be a good candidate for all of those oil change specials they run at AAP or Autozone where you get 5 quarts of oil and a filter for $12.99 as they run them all the time.

 

[Mustang_Cougar]

Thanks for the reply, PT1.

3K OCI's just aren't going to continue...I weaned myself off of that with my other cars (to 6-month OCI's) and I don't want to get back into it. Furthermore, the difference between 3K and 4.5K with a good quality oil like MaxLife is negligible, IMO. As such, I could probably stretch the ML to a year...if I wasn't such a chicken.

Another thing I'm considering is my oil stash. I have 35 quarts of synthetics...Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum, Quaker State TP, Super Tech Synth...which are starting to "age" like collectible wine. The only issue with using these is that all of my oil is 5w30, whereas the van currently gets 10w30 (the previous owner swore that ML 10w30 was the only oil that cured a small oil leak). If I were to change weights and use my oil stash, I would only be paying for a decent filter with my 1-year OCI (though the oil leak might come back).

 

[bluestream]

On an old vehicle once a year oil change is fine. In fact, given what you have said I would do once a year on the dino with only 4500 miles being driven. I take it you are not planning to keep the vehicle as a "classic"

If you read this forum long enough you will become very anal about oil changes. Remember lots of people with new cars only change evey 6-9-12 months

 

[Mustang_Cougar]

Hmmm...I think my problem is that I have too many choices.

Dino probably would work well and I wouldn't hesitate on the 1-year OCI if the van had half the mileage and I knew the complete service history. And, of course, I also have a dino stash (Havoline, Kendall GT-1, Chevron Supreme).

But there are these two 5-qt jugs of Super Tech Synthetic sitting next to some VSOT in my garage that are starting to sway me inre the 1-year OCI.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[caravanmike]

i would continue to use maxlife at your interval, for the rest of the vehicles life.

 

[sangyup81]

I don't see anything in your post saying the caravan sits for days or weeks or anything like that. I would be comfortable with the 5000 mile OCI using any oil up to that 1 year.

If you want to be exact, try a used oil analysis. Otherwise, all we can give are our BITOG educated opinions =)

 

[labman]

I really intended to switch from Pennzoil Conventional to Kendall full sythetic this month in my 143K truck and 160K car. A busted oil pan on the car resulted in a Pennzoil refill. Nobody locally stocks full synthetic Kendall.

 

[Mustang_Cougar]

Originally Posted By: sangyup81
I don't see anything in your post saying the caravan sits for days or weeks or anything like that. I would be comfortable with the 5000 mile OCI using any oil up to that 1 year.

If you want to be exact, try a used oil analysis. Otherwise, all we can give are our BITOG educated opinions =)

No, the van doesn't sit...except maybe on Sunday; the problem is that all the trips are short-mileage.

As for a used oil analysis, it's a $2K van that I only plan on keeping for three years or so. I'm not sure the cost-to-benefit ratio of getting a used oil analysis is worth it (plus, I'm scared to see what's really going on).

 

[98dakarM3]

Originally Posted By: Mustang_Cougar

No, the van doesn't sit...except maybe on Sunday; the problem is that all the trips are short-mileage.

As for a used oil analysis, it's a $2K van that I only plan on keeping for three years or so. I'm not sure the cost-to-benefit ratio of getting a used oil analysis is worth it (plus, I'm scared to see what's really going on).


Its only a $2k vehicle and you aren't looking to keep it until the apocalypse, so I wouldn't stress it.

Use whatever dino is on sale and don't look back. Run the first oil change for 6 months then get a used oil analysis. If fuel delution isn't any issue, then run 1yr changes and the savings pay for the used oil analysis.

If the used oil analysis says 6 months is the limit, then you lost a few bucks but have the peace of mind that you are running the proper interval.

Don't over think it.. its a commuter van. Parts are plentiful and hardly expensive.

 

[addyguy]

If it's a 'beater' vehicle, I'd keep using the Maxlife, and do a 1 year UOA. Oil is stout enough it can handle it.

 

[sicko]

Personally, if you have a NAPA near you, I'd use NAPA high mileage. Last time people checked it was being made by Ashland (owners of Valvoline), and is very similar to MaxLife but at a decent price savings. While there you can pick up a nice NAPA oil filter and be done with the issue.

Again, if it were my vehicle I'd just do 1 year oil changes on it. But if you're worried about the oil and/or the short trips, then do it twice a year. Regardless of which oil change interval you choose, you could probably get away with changing the filter annually.