Ultra Worry past 10k ?

[ericthepig]

I've been gone a while, but I'm back for answers.

My 06 Mazda 6 (w/ about 82k) is approaching 10k miles on this fill of Ultra 5w20. Filled last July. 1/2 qt top up so far. Vehicle runs daily to two different schools, piano lessons, wrestling practice, groceries, etc. Typically on the road for 30 minutes at a time (city).

I'm planning to push thru to a 1 yr, ~15k mile OCI (chg in July) - I love the simplicity of it. My best friend is an Amsoil rep and he's done 1 yr 12-15k OCIs for the last 15 years. Never a problem. (I did several of these back in the day (but w/ an older vehicle)).

The oil is now pure black (yes, that means nothing). Does anyone have doubts on Ultra's adequacy for the task ?

Thanks!

 

[webfors]

With a TBN of 13 I think it is. I'd be more worried about filtration... oil and air. If you have those covered, and a UOA to confirm your engine is mechanically sound and Ultra is healthy at 10k (again via UOA), you're all set to go to 15k.

 

[rg200amp]

Originally Posted By: ericthepig
I've been gone a while, but I'm back for answers.

My 06 Mazda 6 (w/ about 82k) is approaching 10k miles on this fill of Ultra 5w20. Filled last July. 1/2 qt top up so far. Vehicle runs daily to two different schools, piano lessons, wrestling practice, groceries, etc. Typically on the road for 30 minutes at a time (city).

I'm planning to push thru to a 1 yr, ~15k mile OCI (chg in July) - I love the simplicity of it. My best friend is an Amsoil rep and he's done 1 yr 12-15k OCIs for the last 15 years. Never a problem. (I did several of these back in the day (but w/ an older vehicle)).

The oil is now pure black (yes, that means nothing). Does anyone have doubts on Ultra's adequacy for the task ?

Thanks!



Why do people get off on pushing oil to it's limits and beyond???

Change the oil!

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: rg200amp
Originally Posted By: ericthepig
I've been gone a while, but I'm back for answers.

My 06 Mazda 6 (w/ about 82k) is approaching 10k miles on this fill of Ultra 5w20. Filled last July. 1/2 qt top up so far. Vehicle runs daily to two different schools, piano lessons, wrestling practice, groceries, etc. Typically on the road for 30 minutes at a time (city).

I'm planning to push thru to a 1 yr, ~15k mile OCI (chg in July) - I love the simplicity of it. My best friend is an Amsoil rep and he's done 1 yr 12-15k OCIs for the last 15 years. Never a problem. (I did several of these back in the day (but w/ an older vehicle)).

The oil is now pure black (yes, that means nothing). Does anyone have doubts on Ultra's adequacy for the task ?

Thanks!



Why do people get off on pushing oil to it's limits and beyond???

Change the oil!


With the new yota added, my Forester is hard pressed to get to 5k in six months... for others it might be to avoid a monthly service

 

[901Memphis]

He is not pushing his oil beyond, just getting the max out of the oil. If it still has TBN left and has been a reasonable time frame there is no reason to change the oil.

If everyone got the most out of their oil before the TBN ran out we would have a lot less waste.


To the OP, if this is your first extended OCI i would try 12k-13k before running my UOA just to confirm you DO have the TBN left to handle those last few thousand miles.

 

[ericthepig]

Originally Posted By: rg200amp

Why do people get off on pushing oil to it's limits and beyond???

Change the oil!


What is Ultra's limit? 10k or 15k or 20k (given 1 yr OCI) ? Tell me where it's at and I'll chg it before it's there.

 

[ericthepig]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
To the OP, if this is your first extended OCI i would try 12k-13k before running my UOA just to confirm you DO have the TBN left to handle those last few thousand miles.


Previous OCI was 11k (at 9 months) on M1 0w20. Posted UOA. Numbers were OK, but BITOGrs agreed oil was nearing the end. However, that was with zero top up. M1 0w20 didn't move from the fill line (also, didn't get black till the very end - and still not as black as Ultra I think). Meanwhile, Ultra has had 1/2 qt refresh on TBN.

 

[Brons2]

Originally Posted By: ericthepig
Originally Posted By: rg200amp

Why do people get off on pushing oil to it's limits and beyond???

Change the oil!


What is Ultra's limit? 10k or 15k or 20k (given 1 yr OCI) ? Tell me where it's at and I'll chg it before it's there.


There's really no 1 set answer, you really need to do a UOA and figure out what the TBN is before pushing it to 15K, IMO. Ultra might be able to do it...but then again it might not.

 

[rg200amp]

Originally Posted By: ericthepig
Originally Posted By: rg200amp

Why do people get off on pushing oil to it's limits and beyond???

Change the oil!


What is Ultra's limit? 10k or 15k or 20k (given 1 yr OCI) ? Tell me where it's at and I'll chg it before it's there.


Who knows? Whats your engine's limit? Your filter's?

I would *at least* follow what Mazda says as for OCI.

 

[chubbs1]

Holy I would at least get a UOA. That short city driving can really work against you....it kills oil+engine= Sludge bucket. Change the oil with that kind of severe service! The Amsoil has a warranty. PU doesn't.

 

[rg200amp]

Originally Posted By: chubbs1
Holy I would at least get a UOA. That short city driving can really work against you....it kills oil+engine= Sludge bucket. Change the oil with that kind of severe service! The Amsoil has a warranty. PU doesn't.


+1

Another reason to change it. Neither the car maker nor the oil company say it should be or can be done.

It may be totally possible to do 15K oil changes for decades with out an issue.

Your on your own tho while you do it.

 

[ericthepig]

If I get any hard data on the issue in this thread then that could be a game changer.

Meanwhile, I won't UOA early. And I'll likely push thru to June. I think I can risk one run to this OCI level. I doubt Ultra will be tank on TBN (esp. given the refresh). And even if it does, I don't think one ("bad") run will be the end of my engine. UOA in June will be the truth teller (sort of. I'm aware of the short comings of UOAs).

 

[NateDN10]

Originally Posted By: ericthepig
Meanwhile, I won't UOA early. And I'll likely push thru to June. I think I can risk one run to this OCI level. I doubt Ultra will be tank on TBN (esp. given the refresh). And even if it does, I don't think one ("bad") run will be the end of my engine. UOA in June will be the truth teller (sort of. I'm aware of the short comings of UOAs).

That makes a lot of sense!

 

[tig1]

I realize that the One Drop Test is not very sicentific, but I do this test at 7k on a 10K oil run and it does give a little clue as to the condition of the oil. Here is the link.

http://www.acustrip.com/specs/onedrop.html

 

[fsskier]

[/quote]


Why do people get off on pushing oil to it's limits and beyond???

Change the oil! [/quote]

I would ask the question in reverse: Why do people get off changing oil much more often then needed??

Why not change ball joints, tie rod ends, brake pads every 30k miles also..... they may affect your health and well being directly.... no, we try and wait until they are worn out.

Should be the same with motor oil.

Since my last two vehicles (Escort commuter car and 3.1 litre GM severe use tow vehicle) lasted 300,000 miles on Mobil 1 0W20 and 20K oci's, it would seem that running the max recommended by the manufacturer would almost always be safe.

Note that both the engines listed above still perform like new, do not drip, leak or burn oil and are very quiet.

If I changed oil 15 times (in 300 k miles) times 30 bucks each time (oil and filter) times 2 cars, then it cost $900 for oil changes anyway.

If I had changed every 3k miles, as some do, then the cost would be 100 changes X 30 bucks X 2 cars = $6,000!

This does not include any time, vehicle out of service, trips to buy the products or to recycle the above.

I would NOT extend the interval on any of the known "sludger" motors!!

 

[HTSS_TR]

I would change the oil with the first use of Ultra, it's cleaning your engine from previous oils. The next use of Ultra may be able to do 15k miles.

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: tig1
I realize that the One Drop Test is not very sicentific, but I do this test at 7k on a 10K oil run and it does give a little clue as to the condition of the oil. Here is the link.

http://www.acustrip.com/specs/onedrop.html


Hey tig, do i just call the number at the top to order the strips?

 

[rg200amp]

Originally Posted By: ericthepig
If I get any hard data on the issue in this thread then that could be a game changer.

Meanwhile, I won't UOA early. And I'll likely push thru to June. I think I can risk one run to this OCI level. I doubt Ultra will be tank on TBN (esp. given the refresh). And even if it does, I don't think one ("bad") run will be the end of my engine. UOA in June will be the truth teller (sort of. I'm aware of the short comings of UOAs).


There is no data. Either way!

Are you that hard up for cash? why blindly push your already extended OCI to june? You said so yourself your oil is black. (blah blah color does not mean anything)

It's all fun and games till you have a problem. I do not know about you, but I have had a catastrophic cooling system fail. Actually, try a cracked coolant housing and valve cover. My lincoln boiled the little coolant left over and overheated while I was on a highway.

It's these little things that can and do happen. You want jet black oil with 14k miles onit when your engine temp doubles and you have to get to an exit two miles up a highway????

Let me know how it works out. I really don't know how it will. I do know that my car made it off the highway, it was towed to the dealer, a swipe of the amex, one new valvecover, one new coolant housing, and coolant flush and refill and it's back on the road running like a top. Tech said the engine was spotless under the valve cover.

So, you push your OCI. Good luck with it.

 

[electrolover]

i would probably change it.
it will probably go farther but i think you got your moneys worth

 

[Warlord]

I support you Eric! How convenient it would be to change the oil and air/oil filters once a year at 15k. Unless the UOA is a disaster at 15k I would keep doing it if I were you.