Synthetic Oil Extended OCI's are Foolish

[Mitch Alsup]

A couple of points:
A) the only service that qualifies as typical is driving down an interstate at 65 MPH for long distances after the vehicle is warmed up.
B) every other use of the vehicle puts it into the severe service catagory.
SO
C) the typical and average owner should service the vehicle at the severe operating conditions specified in his manual.
D) this is almost always 1/2 the milage/time for typical service requirements.
SO
E) Those 10K OCIs should really be 5K OCIs mor most people, expecially thos who are unedumacated in oil and lubrication.

 

[modularv8]

Originally Posted By: Mitch Alsup
A couple of points:
A) the only service that qualifies as typical is driving down an interstate at 65 MPH for long distances after the vehicle is warmed up.
B) every other use of the vehicle puts it into the severe service catagory.
SO
C) the typical and average owner should service the vehicle at the severe operating conditions specified in his manual.
D) this is almost always 1/2 the milage/time for typical service requirements.
SO
E) Those 10K OCIs should really be 5K OCIs mor most people, expecially thos who are unedumacated in oil and lubrication.


That is about right.

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: teddyboy
Tig needs to weigh in on this one. He's been using a 10 oci since moby **** was a minnow.


After reading some of this thred I'm surprised my 77 Nova didn't sludge up and throw a rod with the 10K OCIs i was doing with M1 in 1978. Dodged a bullet I guess.

 

[Oldwolf]

FWIW my new Toyota Prius C calls for 0W20 at 10k intervals. Nothing in the manual about severe driving conditions either.

 

[lexus114]

Since Moby **** was a Minnow? Hahahahaha!!!!

 

[WMSmotorhead]

Everyone loves to jump all over my opinions, so here's one to have fun with....

There's nothing wrong with short Oil Changes... Sooner than later is safe, and if you're taking the used fluid to a recycling center, more power to you.

Unless you take the time, money and effort to have studies done on the behavior of Oil X in the specific engine you have... and you plan to use that same formulation X over and over... then you may end up with oil breakdown.. Since formulations constantly change, and my driving habits are not consistent, I'd likely go mad trying not to waste but one TBN.

The WMSMotorhead method is to NOT STRESS about it. I always get on-spec budget oil... (usually a blend)... and use it for 1/3rd of 10K miles. Every 10K Miles, there are 3 OCI's. Every time a Valve cover has been removed, or an oil pan dropped, engines under my method have been CLEAN. I MEAN CLEAN.

I'm currently stocked up with Wpp and Amalie products that I got for 2.49/qt.... so I didn't break the bank on it. We use Federated/Hastings filters ($2.50) for the "Big Ford" model LF110. So that means less than 60$ in Oil change supplies per 10K miles. I sleep well each night knowing that my vehicle will rust out long before the engine meets its doom....At least for a Lubrication issue.

But, since this is a "Science Forum" Blackstone makes lord only knows how much off the research of many here.

 

[LineArrayNut]

I'm happy to change my good syns at less than 5K miles because it's cheap insurance. Hyundai agrees with me, lol! DI and turbo is hard on "TODAY's" oils, LOL!

 

[johnsmellsalot]

My advice:
1. Read the owner's manual.
2. Check the oil level often. (I check mine weekly even though I have no oil consumption or leaks)
3. Use the correct oil. If the owner's manual says to use 5W-30, use 5W-30. Some vehicles also have certain specifications such Chrysler MS-6395, Ford WSS-M2C945-A, and dexos. It's best to use the oil that has been tested and proven to provide maximum protection under all types of operating conditions.
4. Follow the recommended service intervals. No matter what type of oil you have, it will break down and pick up contaminants. It's not a good idea to leave dirty, gritty oil circulating in an engine longer than it's supposed to be. Some vehicle's maintenance intervals are based upon mileage or oil life monitors.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Toyota recommends 5k OCI for most engines until 2010 (may be 2011), since 2012 model year Toyota recommends 10k OCI for engines with synthetic oil.

Similar engines have 5k OCI with dino and 10k OCI with syn, what does it tell you ?

 

[moto94536]

I don't know about that HTSS.. Newer cars are design to run 10k with synthetic oil, like 2012 and up toyota.

It is easy. run the owner manual.

 

[teddyboy]

There's nothing wrong with changing your bath water half way through your bath either except that it wastes resources, money, your time and is totally unnecessary. Other than that, it's a great idea.

 

[Garak]

You can keep your bathtub ring-free that way, just like keeping your piston rings from sticking.

 

[chiks]

Shower us better than bath water.

 

[1999nick]

Originally Posted By: Mitch Alsup
A couple of points:
A) the only service that qualifies as typical is driving down an interstate at 65 MPH for long distances after the vehicle is warmed up.
B) every other use of the vehicle puts it into the severe service catagory.
SO
C) the typical and average owner should service the vehicle at the severe operating conditions specified in his manual.
D) this is almost always 1/2 the milage/time for typical service requirements.
SO
E) Those 10K OCIs should really be 5K OCIs mor most people, expecially thos who are unedumacated in oil and lubrication.


The manual for my 2005 Nissan Pathfinder Lists the following as severe service: repeated short distance driving at cold temperatures, driving in dusty conditions, extensive idling, and towing a trailer. That's it. That is why I have done once a year oil changes since Mobil One came out back in the middle 1970's. Up until 2001, when I retired, this was 18,000 to 20,000 miles. I always checked the oil level frequently, and made sure it was always full.

This was mostly back in the pre-2000 days when synthetic oil was really synthetic, and not just highly refined dino oil. I am still doing once a year OCI's, but that is now about 9000 miles.

The manual for my 2005 Pathfinder recommends the use of 5W30, 10W30, and 10W40 oils, with a preference for 5W30. Foir the last couple of years I have used M1 0W40 with good results. No oil usage (less that a sixteenth of an inch on the dipstick) in 9000 miles, and the oil still looks good. I go ahead and change it anyway.

According to the OP, I have been foolish for about 35 years. My cars and their engines would not agree with that.

 

[BrianWC]

Originally Posted By: moto94536
I don't know about that HTSS.. Newer cars are design to run 10k with synthetic oil, like 2012 and up toyota.

It is easy. run the owner manual.


Heck my newer Hondas w/ the maintenance minder make no big deal about synthetic and my wife's mostly in town Odyssey sees MM come on around 6,000 miles. While my Si (and Fit before it) go 12-14k. Again, no admonition by Honda to use synth. I'm not following it in the Si, I've decided. But I had no stress doing so in the Fit.

Has no one else run dino in MM'd Hondas out this far?

 

[mechtech2]

WMSmotorhead -

Why are you taking valve covers and oil pans off of your cars all the time if your maintenance is so good?

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: BrianWC
Originally Posted By: moto94536
I don't know about that HTSS.. Newer cars are design to run 10k with synthetic oil, like 2012 and up toyota.

It is easy. run the owner manual.


Heck my newer Hondas w/ the maintenance minder make no big deal about synthetic and my wife's mostly in town Odyssey sees MM come on around 6,000 miles. While my Si (and Fit before it) go 12-14k. Again, no admonition by Honda to use synth. I'm not following it in the Si, I've decided. But I had no stress doing so in the Fit.

Has no one else run dino in MM'd Hondas out this far?




I look at it this way, with today`s Conventional oil`s being as good as they are. Just as you already mentioned, if the motor call`s for Synthetic oil, use it. If not (i.e my RX) go with the totally fine Conventional oil`s we have now. Again, I mentioned this before. I used Pennzoil and Castrol GTX in my 1984 Chrysler Laser Turbo. And even Lived in Kentucky briefly. And I had some fun with that car, never any motor related problem with it. (and that was with the mid 80`s oil`s)

 

[mauric3]

Originally Posted By: BrianWC
Originally Posted By: moto94536
I don't know about that HTSS.. Newer cars are design to run 10k with synthetic oil, like 2012 and up toyota.

It is easy. run the owner manual.


Heck my newer Hondas w/ the maintenance minder make no big deal about synthetic and my wife's mostly in town Odyssey sees MM come on around 6,000 miles. While my Si (and Fit before it) go 12-14k. Again, no admonition by Honda to use synth. I'm not following it in the Si, I've decided. But I had no stress doing so in the Fit.

Has no one else run dino in MM'd Hondas out this far?


I use Amsoil synthetic oil on my 8th gen honda civic r18 and just follow the MM .. i usually try to change the oil at around 15%.. So i try to change the oil before oil life reaches 0%.. On my last oil change.. i used Amsoil SSO 5w20... On my next oil change.. i might just use the amsoil XL 5w20 since i don't go over 10k miles on my MM.. so i can save some money and the XL series is API certified oil as well..

 

[brandini]

You could use OE at factory intervals and be perfectly ok. It meets minimum specs and that's what Honda tests with so they program the oil life monitor accordingly.

 

[Ran23]

THERES WATER IN PENNZOIL? I knew I didnt like that yellow bottle for a reason!