What's a safe OCI for a regular 10w-30 dino oil?

IBJanky · Aug 19, 2004

Let's assume:
good old regular dino oil 10w30
50/50 city/hwy driving, and engine not abused or driven hard
good weather like So. California (no extreme heat or cold)

Probably 90% of people out there are believers of the 3000-mile oil change myth, but we know better than that, don't we?

How long can you safely run dino oil? 4K-5k miles?

I personally wouldn't want to run it longer than 5K

Your input is appreciated

rshaw125 · Aug 19, 2004

I think I have read where Honda's OCI is 7500 miles on Dino. Their engines are known for longevity.

IBJanky · Aug 19, 2004

Let's not focus on Hondas only, let's assume just a regular passenger vehicle (make/model not important)

Generally, what's a safe OCI for dino oil?

Mamala Bay · Aug 19, 2004

About 12 years ago I had Corolla with 120K miles and did an experiment. I redline it in dusty condition cane field dirt. Changed air filter and oil every 3K. I was averaging 800 to 1K miles a week. I used Castrol GTX, Chevron, Pennzoil, Quacker State, Valvoline and Delo400. Dino is a better oil today, but my real test was on the Delo400, how well it held up in those conditions.

The Castrol held up better than the other dino, but the Delo400 could have gone a lot longer. The dino had hit it's limit but driving condition was not a norm for everyday driver.

Dino has improved the last 10 years. As far as a 4K or 5K OCI as being safe in certain driving conditions...I feel confident on a personal level is no problem. Base on my experience.

TC · Aug 19, 2004

I couldn't readily find the link, but in a thread a while back I posted links to about a half-dozen UOAs with approximately 4,500-6,500 miles on the oils (different cars and different owners). All of the iron levels were under 25 ppm, with most well under that. The oil and conditions that IBJanky listed are IDENTICAL to my ride, except I rev it hard fairly often. I typically change at 4,500-5,500 mi. So far, at 26,000 miles, not a speck of sludge or varnish either.

Flimflam · Aug 19, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Mamala Bay:
About 12 years ago I had Corolla with 120K miles and did an experiment. I redline it in dusty condition cane field dirt. Changed air filter and oil every 3K. I was averaging 800 to 1K miles a week. I used Castrol GTX, Chevron, Pennzoil, Quacker State, Valvoline and Delo400. Dino is a better oil today, but my real test was on the Delo400, how well it held up in those conditions.

The Castrol held up better than the other dino, but the Delo400 could have gone a lot longer. The dino had hit it's limit but driving condition was not a norm for everyday driver.

Dino has improved the last 10 years. As far as a 4K or 5K OCI as being safe in certain driving conditions...I feel confident on a personal level is no problem. Base on my experience.

That Chevron Delo 15w40 is one Helluva oil, isn't it? I just dumped out the Delo that I had in my truck since 11/15/2003, and it still looked like it had a lot of life left in it. The only thing I do not like about Delo is its lack of Moly. But I fix that with a few drops of Schaeffer Moly E.P. additive.

Before I went to Delo, I used Castrol GTX. I have been a GTX fan since 1977. Some of my rides from 1977 are still in great shape now, being used by my buddies. You are right, Castrol is a great brand and a great product, too.

IBJanky · Aug 19, 2004

Let's not wander off topic and turn this thread into a "who makes the best dino oil" thread

Please, let's keep on the subject

So generally, ANY 10w30 dino oil (with the conditions described above) should be ok with 4500-5000 mi. OCI?

bigjason · Aug 19, 2004

I would say, generally, those better dino oil should be safe for 5K OCI.

Mamala Bay · Aug 19, 2004

I would agree dino has much improved the last ten years that the major brands with good base and additive package are very safe for 4K-5K OCI being describe as in normal driving conditions.

Flimflam · Aug 19, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by IBJanky:

So generally, ANY 10w30 dino oil (with the conditions described above) should be ok with 4500-5000 mi. OCI?

No, not just any Dino 10w30. Only the top-grade 15w40, 20w-50 Dino oils, and similarly, oly the top-grade single-grade oils, such as Chevron Dino 30 weight and Castrol HD-30/HD-40, are good for 4000-5000 mile OCI.

Al · Aug 19, 2004

If there are no issues with the engine like excessive fuel dilution, coolant leaks, air filter leaks, or excessive insolubles. You are easily good for 5K under moderate driving conditions (IMHO) You could go up from there. A Used Oil Analysis would tell you where you stand.

Ugly3 · Aug 19, 2004

Al, I think you have it exactly right! Most any API certified SAE SL oil should easily run 5,000 miles under the moderate conditions described.

427Z06 · Aug 19, 2004

IBJanky, are we considering "sludgemonster" engines in this tabletop analysis? What about cars with small sumps used for towing up the Rocky Mountains occasionally?

I think there's way to many variables here to make a blanket statement about 10w30 dino OCIs, but IMHO, just to cover all the bases, I would recommend 3K miles or 1 year OCIs.

OffOrWFO · Aug 20, 2004

quote:

I think there's way to many variables here to make a blanket statement about 10w30 dino OCIs, but IMHO, just to cover all the bases, I would recommend 3K miles or 1 year OCIs.

I totally agree. Some engines can tear up an oil in 3-4K while some could go 7500K. It also depends on how much wear your comfortable allowing.
Doing a UOA every now and then is good preventative maintenance and you can establish OCIs. Plus it's interesting....to us anyway.

GROUCHO MARX · Aug 20, 2004

The number is three-thousand eight-hundred seventy-six and four-tenths miles on dino.

Ugly3 · Aug 20, 2004

The question is being posed as a general question. We are not being asked to cover the sludge monsters and street rods.

We are being asked to address a gently driven average car that is run about 50/50 hiway and city in a warm climate.

mikemc · Aug 20, 2004

IBJanky, 4K seems like a good interval for dino 10w30 in the situations you described. I had the opportunity to visit So Cal (Orange County) last November and I enjoyed the weather, people and scenery.

427Z06 · Aug 20, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Ugly3:
The question is being posed as a general question. We are not being asked to cover the sludge monsters and street rods.

We are being asked to address a gently driven average car that is run about 50/50 hiway and city in a warm climate.

OK. Then I'll revise upwards to 4-5K miles as long as it includes the filter. And that's my final offer.

OffOrWFO · Aug 20, 2004

quote:

I had the opportunity to visit So Cal (Orange County) last November and I enjoyed the weather, people and scenery.

Are people and scenery the same thing?
You know I'm not smart enough to read between the lines

What's a safe OCI for a regular 10w-30 dino oil?

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