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 used oil analysis, 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 ... "5w30". This is the official API method of identifying a multi-grade lubricant. DO NOT get lazy or creative using alternate formats such as 5w30, 5w30, 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 ESP 5w30, 2.7k miles; Ford Maverick, 2.3L EB, 46.2k mi
Examples of bad thread titles we have seen and had to change ...
- "used oil analysis 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 used oil analysis, 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 ... "5w30". This is the official API method of identifying a multi-grade lubricant. DO NOT get lazy or creative using alternate formats such as 5w30, 5w30, 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 ESP 5w30, 2.7k miles; Ford Maverick, 2.3L EB, 46.2k mi
Examples of bad thread titles we have seen and had to change ...
- "used oil analysis 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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