Two driving extreams, your suggestions please...

[gfh77665]

Car is '95 Chevy Caprice, 180K miles, excellent overall condition. Bought it new and ran syns (Mobil 1, PP, Synpower, etc.) until I gave it to daughter who left for college (DEANS LIST, PRESIDENTS LIST!!

) two years ago. OK, shameless bragging over.

Now, She drives it in one of two extreme ways. She runs around the campus literally just blocks to and from, for weeks. Then, she makes a three hour, 75 mph drive home once a month. So, its all extreme stop and go, or a long highway drive. Since the mileage accumulated is low, 5-6K per year, I change 2X per year, now using Pennz HM or Val. MaxLife. Opinions? Thanks.

PS: Can't bicycle or walk the campus, not enough time and too spread out, also she lugs teaching materials, etc.

 

[eljefino]

She'll still be okay. Should check the oil at the gas station on the highway though as there might be a sudden loss of fluid volume from all the junk evaporating out.

My biggest college car care peeve is the poor security in parking and general disrespect: drunks bouncing on the trunk lid etc. Fortunately its heavy gauge body panels should handle this better than most.

 

[spasm3]

An hedo might be good here, to handle fuel dilution, moisture etc.

 

[crw]

Your daughter lets you give her a Caprice? Mine demands a fine German sedan....

 

[raytseng]

car will be fine even if you stuck in conv oil. You'd probably have a 200% higher chance of the car expiring from a crash than from the oil.

The high concentration of students in the area means inexperienced drivers, and late night snack run may run into situations with alcohol. Not necessarily your daughter (who might be distracted by the car full of friends in the backseat) but everyone else on the road heading to/from a party.

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: gfh77665
Car is '95 Chevy Caprice, 180K miles, excellent overall condition. Bought it new and ran syns (Mobil 1, PP, Synpower, etc.) until I gave it to daughter who left for college (DEANS LIST, PRESIDENTS LIST!!

) two years ago. OK, shameless bragging over.

Now, She drives it in one of two extreme ways. She runs around the campus literally just blocks to and from, for weeks. Then, she makes a three hour, 75 mph drive home once a month. So, its all extreme stop and go, or a long highway drive. Since the mileage accumulated is low, 5-6K per year, I change 2X per year, now using Pennz HM or Val. MaxLife. Opinions? Thanks.

PS: Can't bicycle or walk the campus, not enough time and too spread out, also she lugs teaching materials, etc.



congratulations!! you have done a good job with her. as far as i know the caprice motor is easy on oil. plus she goes on the highway runs,and burns off the excess moisture etc. she should be fine,just make sure the oil is checked.

 

[Eddie]

I don't see this as being too extream. The driving sounds like many other socker moms. The highway drives ocers most of the short term sins so forget it.

 

[40Deluxe]

No joke! Most kids wont drive a car like that you really did good with that one.

 

[gfh77665]

Joke about the car, but do you have any idea how popular a loaded out mint condition jet black '95 Caprice is? People stop and ask me (now her) "is it for sale?".

 

[electrolover]

id would run maxlife blend and 3k ocis. it should be fine

 

[teddyboy]

My daughter's car got pretty much the same college treatment and it survived just fine. I used to change the oil every time she came home, provided the oil had at least 3K on the run. I continued using syn realizing that my access to the car was more limited. The car now has 217K and is going strong. I traded my lower mileage car to her and kept her car as my extra car.

 

[gfh77665]

Originally Posted By: lexus114

congratulations!! you have done a good job with her.


Thank you so much! I would like to take the credit but I do have to admit I have simply been BLESSED from above with an outstanding kid. I can honestly say not only does she excel academically, but we raised her for 19 years without her giving us so much as a single problem. Amazing. Simply amazing!

 

[ChrisD46]

2X per year OCI ? ...PP would serve you and your daughter well .

 

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
She'll still be okay. Should check the oil at the gas station on the highway though as there might be a sudden loss of fluid volume from all the junk evaporating out.

My biggest college car care peeve is the poor security in parking and general disrespect: drunks bouncing on the trunk lid etc. Fortunately its heavy gauge body panels should handle this better than most.

You ain't jokin'!! I bought a new (to me) Dodge Charger last month, an '07 with only 26k and perfect condition, I looked this thing over top to bottom not even a scratch that needed buffing out and not even a pin sized dent.

I park it at 9pm, see it the next morning at 10am and guess what I have, a dent on the passenger side fender and the front area above the grille is scratched as [censored]! That repair bill is $560 for a spot treatment, $805 to do it the right way...


Didn't mean to hijack the thread but to answer the OP, since she gets a good long highway drive once a month I think changes every 6mo with synthetic should suit you fine. What temps is the car seeing?

 

[gfh77665]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
drunks bouncing on the trunk lid etc. .

Type in "f-250 diesel burnout" into Youtube, to see how college kids act nuts with their cars & trucks. This video is so funny I laugh to the point of tears when I watch it!

I would post the link but I would get banned for sure! Youtube it!

 

[40Deluxe]

I know how kids can be,if it isnt expensive they dont like it,dont take it as a insult or slam.

 

[Scott88]

Originally Posted By: crw
Your daughter lets you give her a Caprice? Mine demands a fine German sedan....


Better nip that in the bud haha...

OP- I would run a quailty dino and call it a day. While the stop and go traffic isn't ideal especially if the car is cold, it should manage. Plus, the highway trips shouldn't be stressful.

 

[Capa]

I don't see it as extreme. The once a month trip should remove any fuel from the oil.