What is "severe"

[John W. Colby]

I bought a new (to me) Chevy Venture low milage (19K) van. My typical "daily" useage ATM is:

.6 miles to the freeway (highway to you easterners), 5.6 miles up the highway to the nearest town, then surface streets for anywhere from 1/2 to 2 miles to do shopping. Then the reverse back home.

I make a trip like that every morning and afternoon to drop my son off at school. Others very similar when I need to go to wallyworld or get a pizza.

Long trips (240 miles interstate @ 80 mph each way over to Syracuse) every month or so.

So is that "severe" driving?

Next question - I had the van inspected by my mechanic as suggested for any used car, then I had a "transmission flush" (that machine) and new synthetic fluid as well as synthetic oil (Mobile1). I have put about 3k miles on it since (~6 weeks) and am wondering if I should do a UOA to establish a baseline (and look for any possible problems) or if it is too soon.

And finally, what would be a reasonable OCI for this situation? It is still under warrenty (and I bought an aftermarket warrenty as well) so I need to dance gingerly around that. But mostly I just want this thing to last as long as I can make it.

 

[SPITMAN]

Keep a very close eye on the intake manifold gasket and the possibility of antifreeze getting into the oil. If the antifreeze starts to go down in the overflow tank have the dealer pressure test for leaks. Use the oil change interval indicator to determine when the oil should be changed. If you are using a quality synthetic it will still have some life left when the indicator's dino based formula says "change".
Other than that, enjoy!!!

 

[John W. Colby]

Spitman,

This is a 2004 which is supposed to have a new design for the gaskets. I think I read somewhere that they were crushing as things heated up and cooled down (am I being too technical here?

). I understand they put some kind of washer around the bolt holes in the gasket to prevent the crushing. Thus this problem is SUPPOSEDLY fixed.

To be quite honest though, that is exactly one of the reasons I intend to do occasional UOAs, just to keep them honest so to speak.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

On a similar thread someone brought up a very good way of determining OCI's by using proportions. Why stick with one number or another?
Go with what fits your use. Usually 5k is a good solid number for mixed service with conventional or semisyn oils.
I would call that 75-80% normal service. Most of the severity would be from cold temps. Doesn't sound too severe to me so I would run it to 75 to 80% of the normal service interval.

 

[edhackett]

Yes, I would consider any usage where the vehicle is driven less than 15 miles in one shot to be severe service. Over the years I've owned two cars with oil temperature gauges, a 1959 Alfa Romeo and my WRX. Neither reach operating temperature for the oil in less than 15 miles of freeway driving. In the winter it takes about 6 miles for the WRX to come off the peg at 100F.

Ed

 

[RJCorazza]

I investigated the severe vs. normal driving some time ago & discovered it is a very opinionated issue (much like the good 'how long to idle an engine' threads!)
What Ford says is trips less than 10m in cold (less than 0f) temps, trailer towing, dusty conditions, or excessive idling are severe duty.
How I define severe is any of the above, but less than 10m trips in any temperature (and going 6m to someplace for an hour or less then 6 miles back is a 12m trip.)

 

[John W. Colby]

quote:

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Originally posted by RJCorazza:
... but less than 10m trips in any temperature (and going 6m to someplace for an hour or less then 6 miles back is a 12m trip.)

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And that was what I was going to ask next, because for example, when taking my son to school, I turn off the engine for about 5 minutes, then right back in and home. It certainly seems like that would be a single trip of ~14 miles. Still not a long one but certainly different from a trip to the store a few blocks away.

I live "out in the country" a few miles so wherever I go I drive at least 5 miles to get there, often times more. The big cities / malls are 15 miles down the highway. Realistically though, the little town 6 miles down the highway is where we do most of our business.

 

[oil pan 4]

Driving any where in japan is severe.
Every thing is close so in winter if you start and go you won't get all the way warm, if you do go for a longer trip you end up doing some hard core stop and go driving.
Your (John W. Colby) driving sounds a lot easier then what I do to my car daily. I hardly ever drive my car more then 10 miles. I let it get real good and warm a couple of times a week and drive to work and rev the engine out to 6000rpm a few times. Just to drive all the moisture and fuel out of the oil, and burn all the crap out of the exhaust along with the water.

 

[TC]

"What is 'severe?'"

MILD: Britney Spears forcibly tickling one with an ostridge feather.
MODERATE: Britney Spears slapping one with a bamboo reed.
SEVERE: Britney Spears cracking a bull whip at one's buttocks.

As for motor oil (Booooooring!), Quaker State defines "severe" as:
"...short trips (under 10 miles), dusty or sandy conditions, cold weather, extended idling periods, trailer towing or other harsh conditions."
http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/carcare/whattoknow.asp

The Britney fetishists at Texaco suggest the following as severe: "Short trips with insufficient warm-up, extensive idling, cold weather driving, off-road driving, towing trailers, and getting thrashed in the buttocks by a bull whip wielding Britney."
http://www.texacoxpresslube.com/carcare/didyouknow.html

 

[motorguy222]

The best and probably the most advisable way to determine what 'severe service' is for your car is to go by what the owners manual says.

The severe service category can vary from maker to maker.

Also,with 19K miles,this vehicle is still under warrenty,you really need to follow what the owners manual says regarding when to do oil changes etc.