The ultimate low cost oil change

[brokenear]

Years ago I decided that a 3K oil/filter change was a waste of time and $ so I decided to save on both. My long time friend and neighbor who is positively anal about his oc's has never spared any expence to use only what he considered 'the best' oil/filter combos for his vehicles. Not having a shop he did all of his auto work in mine and it just drove my crazy to see him discard what I considered good oil. Soooo, I built what is basiclly a 30 gal by-pass filter that uses multipal TP rolls to filter his used oil and have been changing my oil ever since (last 20+years) with his used oil. I do my vechicles oc's every 5-6K using what I consider quality filters (Wix, Hastings and AC Delco) and have never had an oil related problem on my cars/trucks. My current Vortec LQ4 and Vtec 3.2 TypeS engines are running fine on a mix of his Royal Purple, Mobil 1, and TropArtic Syntec 5-10w30 motor oils. As are other various small engines on the farm. Lucky?...maybe to an extent but after reading on this site for a while and boggleing my mind with all thefacts, info and UOA's I've come to the conclusion that I was right all along, and ALOT of good engine oil is wasted every year on unecessary oc's. And get this...the oil I change is mixed with kerosine and burnt in an oil heater to heat the shop in winter time! How's that for being a cheap a$$.
BTW- A big thanks to all who share their wealth of oil knowledge with those of us want to learn.

 

[Brandon Gatz]

that rocks.

my RP...although it went in purple...has a nice honey brown sheen nearly 3000mi into the OCI. M1 full syn was black as death at 3k.

 

[AstroVic]

You know, sometimes when I hear stories like this I think we're all just wasting a lot of time on here.

I ran into an old friend of mine the other day. We used to be on the force together but he left for greener pastures. Anyhow, he's got a delivery service here in the Houston area and he drives a Dodge Ram 2500 with the Hemi gas 5.7L engine. He told me he got 450,000 miles out of the last one using nothing but Castrol 10W30 and whatever filter he happened to pick up at the auto parts store. He said he "usually" changes the oil in his trucks at 10,000 miles, but sometimes lets them go "a bit longer" when he gets really busy.

His current truck (a 2004 model) already has 180,000 miles on it. He told me that he's been using this maintenance "routine" since he started his business and he's never lost an engine in any of his trucks. (He usually has to rebuild the transmission two or three times, though, and he goes through brake pads like most people go through toilet paper.) He usually keeps his trucks 400,000 miles or longer.

So, when I hear stories like these, I just laugh and think what an anal nit-picker I am about something that really probably doesn't matter much in the big picture.

*sigh*

Does anyone have an 800 number I can call for help?

 

[ARB1977]

What ever floats your boat. Have you ever done a UOA to backup your claims. Oil is cheap and shouldnt be taken litely. He probley pushes his rides to their limits every now and then and thats why he may change his oil more often. Just because the oil looks good doesnt mean it is.

 

[AstroVic]

quote:

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Originally posted by TRDUSA2002:
What ever floats your boat. Have you ever done a UOA to backup your claims.

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Somehow I get the feeling he wouldn't wanna spring for the money to pay for a Used Oil Analysis.

Heck, he's been doing it for 20+ years and hasn't had a problem (that he's aware of anyhow). I'd say that's a pretty solid track record, though I would never have the stomach to do that!

 

[LargeCarMan]

brokenear, I feel a full synthetic can be filtered in a TP or other system and be reused. But dino won't fit the bill. What oil was he using 20years ago? I feel you have been lucky over the years with the 5 to 6 K recycled OCI. Your handle should be luckyman

AstroVic,This really sounds like fish tales men talk about in the driveway drinking beer. 10K on a full synthetic oil is nearing the limit. Dino oils just don't go 10K without some nasty effects on the engine. 450K on V/8 engines using full synthetics is rare, but 450K on dino in a V/8 with 10-12K OCI's sounds like a big fish to fry

 

[ARB1977]

Heck, he's been doing it for 20+ years and hasn't had a problem (that he's aware of anyhow). I'd say that's a pretty solid track record, though I would never have the stomach to do that!

[/QB][/QUOTE]
As being a BITOG member its made me more aware on how critical oil changes are and not to take it lightly. Maybe he might get some education on how using used oil shouldnt be used unless its backed up with a UOA. Even if the UOAS came back perfect youll never see me use someones used oil. With his luck im sure his rides will last a ton of miles and mine will fall apart in a short period of time.

 

[AstroVic]

quote:

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Originally posted by LargeCarMan:
...but 450K on dino in a V/8 with 10-12K OCI's sounds like a big fish to fry

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Yeah, but he's too stupid (er...simple) to lie about something like that.

 

[AstroVic]

quote:

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Originally posted by TRDUSA2002:
With his luck im sure his rides will last a ton of miles and mine will fall apart in a short period of time.

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That would be my luck also.

I'd just never be able to put someone's used oil in my car....not even in a beater. Heck, it wouldn't even be worth my time to build that 30-gallon toilet paper filter contraption!

I'd just settle for the SuperTech oil/filter change if I was *that* much of a cheapskate! Total cost = less than $10.

Still, I love hearing stories like this. They just make me laugh.

Here we are over-analyzing every little detail - moly, TBN, ZDDP, particle counts, etc. - and along comes this guy who tells us on his very first post that he's been using his buddy's mixed-up brew of nasty old oil for 20+ years and never had the slightest problems with any of his cars. You just gotta love it! Hahahhaa....

 

[blmqzjc]

My next oil change (this week) will cost $3.65, plus tax:

4 qts Exxon Superflo @ $.79 = $3.16

1 Purolator Prem Plus @ $.49 = .49

Above costs after rebate. Guess I'm a cheapskate too, but my oil is brand new!

 

[bar1]

quote:

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Originally posted by LargeCarMan:
10K on a full synthetic oil is nearing the limit.

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Most European cars have OCI of 10K or more. My current Astra has OCI of 18K or 2 yrs.

 

[Cutehumor]

ya, you see a bunch of posts about what grade oil Europe uses in their car compared to here in the US. Don't people realize that it's not the same oil over here as over there? their oil is spec'd for 15k+ oil changes.

 

[Gary Allan]

quote:

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Originally posted by LargeCarMan:

AstroVic,This really sounds like fish tales men talk about in the driveway drinking beer. 10K on a full synthetic oil is nearing the limit. Dino oils just don't go 10K without some nasty effects on the engine. 450K on V/8 engines using full synthetics is rare, but 450K on dino in a V/8 with 10-12K OCI's sounds like a big fish to fry

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Delivery type commercial service is a different animal. Lots of miles ...not so many heating/cooling cycles. 10k would surely be a stretch ..but it's not impossible. Who says anyone wants them when they have 400k on them?? They're probably worth more in scrap.

 

[jsharp]

quote:

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Originally posted by LargeCarMan:


AstroVic,This really sounds like fish tales men talk about in the driveway drinking beer. 10K on a full synthetic oil is nearing the limit. Dino oils just don't go 10K without some nasty effects on the engine. 450K on V/8 engines using full synthetics is rare, but 450K on dino in a V/8 with 10-12K OCI's sounds like a big fish to fry

---

Not much time to change oil when you're driving 250 miles per day, every day, for 2 straight years.

 

[BrianWC]

We posted on this possibility in the oil filter forum a little while back. How would it be different from someone using a bypass filter?

Kills me how no one will give an inch on this.

 

[Black Thunder]

my buddy's dad never changed the oil on his truck for 18 years

he would just top it off and change the filter every now and then
the engine actually ran fairly decent, but the body fell apart, truck still ran when they took it to the junk yard

 

[miraCRD]

Stories like the first one in this thread and the one above by JK, coupled with the (sometimes criticized) 1996 Consumer Reports Oil Test that found that ANY brand of dino or syn that had API certs would protect about the same, makes me feel like we're all sweating the details for nothing!!

I'm beginning to feel that motor oil is like a comodity...like sugar or flour. Sure, there are going to be differences between brands and variation in quality among baking flours available, but using ANY of them in your cake recipe is still going to WORK as flour. It seems like with engines as long as there *IS* oil in the thing at the proper level, it is getting lubricated enough to prevent mechanical failure.

Do I think it was always like this? No way. The internal combustion engine is highly evolved and has been perfected for more than a hundred years. With most modern designs, adequate lubrication is almost a given, again, as long as there is oil present in it.

Old habits die hard. Particularly old habits revolving around the pasionate interest of motor vehicles. 80 years ago, you HAD to sweat the details. Do you need to today? Apparantly not. But I am not going to stop....it's TOO MUCH FUN!!

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by Gary Allan:
Delivery type commercial service is a different animal. Lots of miles ...not so many heating/cooling cycles.

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Bingo!

 

[brokenear]

Thanks for all kind replys. My friend (GW) actually dared me to tell you all what I've been doing over the years, saying that I'd get bashed and blasted plum off the internet. I feel better now.
TRDUSA2002- No, I never have had a UOA done on any of the oil either before or after my using it but I can tell you it looks and smells clean after going through the tp rolls. After having read and studied the 'way too many to count posts and links to various bonified oil tests on this super informative site' I do realize that my looks and smells clean test is far from being anything close to a genuine UAO. But it at least covers a couple of the basics I expect from a engine oil.
AstroVic-Thanks for the detailed description of my handywork...'30-gallon toilet paper filter contraption'...that's exactly what it is!

And, no...not a single oil related problem over the years. No bearing failures, no flat cam lobes, no clacking lifters, tappets, or pluged push rods, not one...in both my domestic and import autos. All of my vehicles when traded-in or sold outright were running perferctly reguardless of milage.
LargeCarMan-As far as the oil used early on I remember alot of Texaco and Phillips 66 then later Conoco and Pennsoil. GW would get 'inside' info from his favorite mechanic at the dealership he's used for years and off to the parts store he'd go to stock up because this newfound oil was better in this way or that. I can remember the gleam in his eyes and the unbridled enthusiasm he couldn't hold back when he discovered synthetic oil. The Holy Grail of engine oil he explained to me. No more guessing this is it! It's really kinda funny because now he's facing the same dilemmas he faced with dino oils. He's got his own corner in the shop and there are several opened cases of oil including Royal Purple, Amsoil and Mobil 1. It'll never end. He's got a 91 3/4ton chevy with a big block motor he bought from me with 130+K miles that has almost 200K on it now that he has no problem deciding what oil to use in it. TropArtic Syntec...plenty good for a farm truck he says, every 3K when he changes it.
But he can't decide for sure if his wifes Lexus gets better mpg with the RP or the Amsoil...but he does know his new Crown Victoria likes Mobil 1.
Maybe you're right my handle should be 'luckyman' but I think it's a little deeper than that. I think engine oils have always been better that what was required and I think they have kept pace with engine developement...actually I think they have always been ahead.
blmqzjc- You've definately got the cost down to a minimum!
jk- I'm a tightwad...but not that tight

Once again thanks for the replys ya'll...they have been both enlightening and entertaining.

 

[UncleS2]

If it's working well for you, just keep on keepin' on!

And if you'd care to share, I'd be very interested in a detailed description of that multi-gallon TP filter you use.