dnewton3
Staff member
We are getting a LOT of complaints about misleading UOA and VOA thread titles because they do not follow the proper format.
Using the proper format helps in three ways:
- when a new thread is posted, it is easily seen/scanned visually and the reader has the ability to decide if it is of interest or not
- when a member uses the search tool, picking out keywords of interest will result in high-value returns (the right info he/she seeks)
- when a non-member uses a search engine to look for info, it will direct them to our site; increased views and search hits are highly valued for our continued survival and success
So again, this bears repeating .... Title your UOAs, VOAs, and other threads this way:
Oil brand, oil grade, OCI miles; Vehicle make, model, engine displacement and total miles.
A few notes:
- engines are almost always listed by liters of displacement. Very old engines will be by CI (such as Ford 460, Pontiac 455, etc ...)
- you may use abbreviations if they are sensible, but don't make them overly complicated. ("mi" instead of miles is OK. Or "kms" for kilometers)
- abbreviate and round off the distances in thousands (or hours); do not post out the full mileage
- leave out the superfluous words ("with", "has", "my" ...)
- do not create a thread with no info, only intending to use it as a placeholder. When you get the UOA, post it. But don't create a thread with no appreciable content
Further, if the lube is a multi-grade product, the proper way to state it is this way ... "5w-30". This is the official API method of identifying a multi-grade lubricant. DO NOT get lazy or creative using alternate formats such as 5w30, 5w/30, 5/30, etc. When improper methods are used, they will then not return in search results and otherwise good information is not found.
Example of a good thread title: Mobil 1 5w-30 ESP, 2.7k miles; Ford Maverick, 2.3L EB, 46.2k mi
Examples of bad thread titles we have seen and had to change ...
- "UOAs for Ford truck"
- "5/30 502 in Golf"
- "My GM 6.0 litre with 178,965 miles using Castrol"
- "75-90 Syntec"
As typical of the world of computers, the quality of information found is a function of the information as it is created and stored. Or, more simply put ...
GIGO (garbage in; garbage out).
Thank you for cooperating with our format; it helps all of us benefit for many reasons.
Using the proper format helps in three ways:
- when a new thread is posted, it is easily seen/scanned visually and the reader has the ability to decide if it is of interest or not
- when a member uses the search tool, picking out keywords of interest will result in high-value returns (the right info he/she seeks)
- when a non-member uses a search engine to look for info, it will direct them to our site; increased views and search hits are highly valued for our continued survival and success
So again, this bears repeating .... Title your UOAs, VOAs, and other threads this way:
Oil brand, oil grade, OCI miles; Vehicle make, model, engine displacement and total miles.
A few notes:
- engines are almost always listed by liters of displacement. Very old engines will be by CI (such as Ford 460, Pontiac 455, etc ...)
- you may use abbreviations if they are sensible, but don't make them overly complicated. ("mi" instead of miles is OK. Or "kms" for kilometers)
- abbreviate and round off the distances in thousands (or hours); do not post out the full mileage
- leave out the superfluous words ("with", "has", "my" ...)
- do not create a thread with no info, only intending to use it as a placeholder. When you get the UOA, post it. But don't create a thread with no appreciable content
Further, if the lube is a multi-grade product, the proper way to state it is this way ... "5w-30". This is the official API method of identifying a multi-grade lubricant. DO NOT get lazy or creative using alternate formats such as 5w30, 5w/30, 5/30, etc. When improper methods are used, they will then not return in search results and otherwise good information is not found.
Example of a good thread title: Mobil 1 5w-30 ESP, 2.7k miles; Ford Maverick, 2.3L EB, 46.2k mi
Examples of bad thread titles we have seen and had to change ...
- "UOAs for Ford truck"
- "5/30 502 in Golf"
- "My GM 6.0 litre with 178,965 miles using Castrol"
- "75-90 Syntec"
As typical of the world of computers, the quality of information found is a function of the information as it is created and stored. Or, more simply put ...
GIGO (garbage in; garbage out).
Thank you for cooperating with our format; it helps all of us benefit for many reasons.
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