Thanks to everyone for the food for thought!
(but I do sleep good using Mobil 1 5w30)
(but I do sleep good using Mobil 1 5w30)
switching to dino AGAIN
- Thread starter Thumper_sr5
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Some years ago Consumer Reports did a comparison test where they ran some taxicabs on conventional motor oil and some on synthetics, then tore the engines down after 100k miles or something like that. As I recall they were unable to find any measureable differences between the two sets.
Even so, I usually run synthetic oils in my high use modern cars because it makes me feel better
. Sometimes I get into a more frugal frame of mind and run conventional oils because being frugal makes me feel good too.
John
Even so, I usually run synthetic oils in my high use modern cars because it makes me feel better
John
with the recent cold blast in toronto when the temp. went below -30C the benefits of synthetics were demonstrated to me. my wife thought I did a tune-up and put a new battery in her car. all this from changing to synthetic 5-30. right there the extra cost seemed worth it.
Another consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet is consumption. You aren't just paying for synthetic oil when it is changed, but you are continuously paying to keep it topped off as well. It is even worse with some synthetics which seem to have higher consumption rates than dinos.
I'm no "tree hugger" but while changing the oil and filter every 3months/3k miles may make some feel better this is also adding alot more waste oil to the environment.
Just a thought that I'm quite sure has been mentioned here before.
Just a thought that I'm quite sure has been mentioned here before.
1Maniac: Bingo!!! Lot's of great, insightful info on this board, but also a few fallicies which refuse to die, such as the "3,000 mile" dino nonsense. The 1966 Chrysler Imperial called for 4K mi changes, yet API standards haven't somehow greatly improved oil longevity since then, and maybe even regressed..? My 2002 model car doesn't even visually dirty its oil until after 3K miles -- only at about 4K does it go from "dark honey" to "root beer." 3K changes for vehicles like this are a complete waste of time, money, and environmental resources.
The waste issue does come up now and then. Many of us are concerned about the environment. Part of the reason dino is cheaper is that it takes fewer resources to produce. if you then recycle it, there isn't that much waste.
I do my part of the environment other ways, avoiding driving when I can, and driving a relatively small car and truck. I recycle, and have my house heavily insulated. Of course this protects my wallet too. I am not a fanatic about it, but we do have to live in this environment.
I do my part of the environment other ways, avoiding driving when I can, and driving a relatively small car and truck. I recycle, and have my house heavily insulated. Of course this protects my wallet too. I am not a fanatic about it, but we do have to live in this environment.
Landfills are full of millions of oil soaked, used oil filters leaching into groundwater supplies. I run my high capacity, Amsoil SDF filters for 12,000 miles between changes, then take them to the local quick lube to be recycled,after allowing them to drain completely.
I'd like to see everyone take the time to also recycle their used oil filters, regardless of what brand of oil they use ....Most Quick Lubes are glad to take them!
TS
I'd like to see everyone take the time to also recycle their used oil filters, regardless of what brand of oil they use ....Most Quick Lubes are glad to take them!
TS
Luckily in our area the curbside program includes used oil filter and used oil pickup services. They leave a heavy duty plastic zip lock type bag to put the used filter in after draining.
Most chain stores with auto service centers and quick lube places will also accept used oil and filters to recycle.
Now if only they would pick up used antifreeze I would be all set.
I think that most of the used oil which is collected ends up being processed into fuel rather than becoming new oil. All the same it is getting used as something.
John
Most chain stores with auto service centers and quick lube places will also accept used oil and filters to recycle.
Now if only they would pick up used antifreeze I would be all set.
I think that most of the used oil which is collected ends up being processed into fuel rather than becoming new oil. All the same it is getting used as something.
John
Regarding the issue of frequent oil changes and environmental waste:
My commercial equipment runs Mobil Delvac 1 5W-40, with bypass filters. Some of the equipment has gone 300,000km with only oil filter changes. I only change the oil when UOA tells me to.
When you figure how large the sump is in a large Cummins motor, I know I'm keeping a lot of used oil out of the environment by running a superior oil that lasts so long.
My oil consumption is also much less. Similar motors run on regular 15w40 (API CI-4, CES 20078 approved) average 1 litre every 3,000km, I get 1 litre every 5,000km or better.
I just don't like how the CI-4 rated Delvac 1 has lost it's cold temp performance: it's now marginal at -40. It's high cost only makes sense if you have a motor that's VERY hard on oil, or if you extend the drains out like I do.
Due to the same extreme cold temps, I have to change the oil twice a year in my 2000 GMC Sierra with Vortec 5.3 V8: Mobil 1 0w30 winter and Mobil 1 10w30 summer. Otherwise I'd run one grade year round and change once every year or two, with filter changes as appropriate.
Running 0W-30, the Vortec uses around 1 litre every 6,720km. Running Mobil 1 10w30, around 1 litre every 10,800km. Locals with similar trucks and motors report much higher oil consumption on regular conventional oil, in some cases they feel fine with a litre every 3,000km.
I will be switching my GMC Sierra to Delvac 1 or the new Mobil 1 Truck and SUV in April. I'm curious what effect running a 5W-40 versus a 10w30 in hot summer will have on oil consumption, noise, and fuel economy.
If you run a very light base oil, say 0W-20, you can expect minor fuel economy gains. Say up to 1%. If you also have much higher oil consumption, what are you "saving?"
In most cases, a good synthetic lowers oil consumption. I know when I ran Mobil 1 15W-50 in my 1990 Toyota 4Runner with 3.0 V6, I easily got over 13,600km per litre of oil.
I'm not too sure if the Consumer Reports test on the taxicab fleet has much relavance to us: taxi cars have minimal cold starts, and even conventional oils made since around 1996 have MUCH improved high temp performance. Though synthetics have much better high temp volitility.
Jerry
My commercial equipment runs Mobil Delvac 1 5W-40, with bypass filters. Some of the equipment has gone 300,000km with only oil filter changes. I only change the oil when UOA tells me to.
When you figure how large the sump is in a large Cummins motor, I know I'm keeping a lot of used oil out of the environment by running a superior oil that lasts so long.
My oil consumption is also much less. Similar motors run on regular 15w40 (API CI-4, CES 20078 approved) average 1 litre every 3,000km, I get 1 litre every 5,000km or better.
I just don't like how the CI-4 rated Delvac 1 has lost it's cold temp performance: it's now marginal at -40. It's high cost only makes sense if you have a motor that's VERY hard on oil, or if you extend the drains out like I do.
Due to the same extreme cold temps, I have to change the oil twice a year in my 2000 GMC Sierra with Vortec 5.3 V8: Mobil 1 0w30 winter and Mobil 1 10w30 summer. Otherwise I'd run one grade year round and change once every year or two, with filter changes as appropriate.
Running 0W-30, the Vortec uses around 1 litre every 6,720km. Running Mobil 1 10w30, around 1 litre every 10,800km. Locals with similar trucks and motors report much higher oil consumption on regular conventional oil, in some cases they feel fine with a litre every 3,000km.
I will be switching my GMC Sierra to Delvac 1 or the new Mobil 1 Truck and SUV in April. I'm curious what effect running a 5W-40 versus a 10w30 in hot summer will have on oil consumption, noise, and fuel economy.
If you run a very light base oil, say 0W-20, you can expect minor fuel economy gains. Say up to 1%. If you also have much higher oil consumption, what are you "saving?"
In most cases, a good synthetic lowers oil consumption. I know when I ran Mobil 1 15W-50 in my 1990 Toyota 4Runner with 3.0 V6, I easily got over 13,600km per litre of oil.
I'm not too sure if the Consumer Reports test on the taxicab fleet has much relavance to us: taxi cars have minimal cold starts, and even conventional oils made since around 1996 have MUCH improved high temp performance. Though synthetics have much better high temp volitility.
Jerry
Not really. Take your used oil and filters to an oil change location and the oil is recycled. Also consider that if I burn 500L worth of petroleum products (gas or diesel) during the 5000km usage of those 4L of oil, it pretty much becomes a non-issue IMHO.
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