When do you stop changing oil?

[GreeCguy]

Here's what I'm wondering. When do you finally decide to stop changing the oil on a particular automobile? I've had some real beaters in the past - 100 dollar cars that I drove a while and then sold for a hundred bucks. On all, I faithfully changed the oil and filter. After a few such cars, I started wondering, why even change it. I bought the car dirt cheap, it wasn't in the best of shape, (dented, rusty, cracked windows, torn seats), why worry about changing the engine oil. Yet I never could bring myself to do this and so, continued to change oil and filter.

There is of course the soon to be on T.V. "Luv" machine which hasn't had it's oil changed in over three years, (I did drain it about a month ago to measure it and then poured it back in as the dip stick is broken). But the "Luv" machine is different than a regular "on the road" automobile.

My current two rides are a 1993 Ford Taurus and a 1995 Cutlass Ciera. The motors are good in both cars, but the body and interior on both cars are worn and tattered. The Ford is probably the worst - seats torn, (I have shirts for seat covers), headliner is completely gone, all the plastic is cracked and some is missing. The front bumper is made from a PVC pipe - obviously, this car is worth more dead than alive. When do you finally say, "enough" and simply run it till it dies?

Has anyone ever done that? Driven a car without changing the oil and simply top it off when it gets low and keep on trucking?

 

[147_Grain]

I'd change the oil (or sell the car) every year - whichever comes first!

 

[The_Jeff]

I still do just because I believe in "winter/summer", thin in winter to help a heap start against adversity and thick in summer so it doesn't drip or burn it all up and out.

I put 5w20 in an old dodge dakota 3.9 that was about to split in two from rust, and the oil light came on at hot idle to reward me. I felt bad for it and put something thicker in. This heap had a battery that wouldn't start but five minutes on a six amp charge and it'd crank right over. Since I was dumping it I kept this charade up. But I changed the oil.

 

[SuperDave456]

I never stop changing oil.

The engine is the last thing on a car to wear out, and the most important part of getting from point A to point B.
Why neglect it?

When I sold my 1983 Ford LTD in 2003 for $100, the mechanic who bought it told me that when he tore into it to change the head gaskets (the reason that I sold it) the engine was spotless.
I religiously changed the oil on that car every 3000 miles, and ran fuel system cleaners at the same interval to keep the carb in good shape.

Even in a beater. It would take A LOT of convincing for me to NOT change the oil.

 

[LeakySeals]

I know a quirky lady that hasn't changed the oil or filter in almost 5 years. Afraid to. Refuses help. Dodge Intrepid living on low oil and sludge too thick to consume. She adds SuperTech conventional or any old/banned oil from the dollar tree when the oil light goes on. When I see her I peek to check on it. Sounds fine, idles perfect. That car leaves me scratching my head asking why I bother changing my oil every 8-10k with fancy synthetics and filters.

 

[Doog]

I had a Honda once that had a perfectly maintained engine and trans. I bought it for my daughter and some jerk rear ended her and totaled the car. I got a really good payoff from his insurance and bought her another Honda. While at the tow yard cleaning out the car and removing the plates I had the opportunity to meet the next guy who wanted to buy the engine/trans since it was undamaged. He asked if I knew if the engine ran ok before being towed in. I went on for 15 minutes about how the engine and trans had been maintained perfectly.

The guy's face lit up like he had just discovered water in the desert. So, to answer your question: I take care of every engine no matter what. Hopefully some guy who needs it will get a good one. Maybe it is respect for a good running machine.

 

[GreeCguy]

Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
I never stop changing oil.

The engine is the last thing on a car to wear out, and the most important part of getting from point A to point B.
Why neglect it?

When I sold my 1983 Ford LTD in 2003 for $100, the mechanic who bought it told me that when he tore into it to change the head gaskets (the reason that I sold it) the engine was spotless.
I religiously changed the oil on that car every 3000 miles, and ran fuel system cleaners at the same interval to keep the carb in good shape.

Even in a beater. It would take A LOT of convincing for me to NOT change the oil.


But you see, that's my point. You religiously changed the oil all those years and got 100 bucks for the car. You didn't get the benefit of all those oil changes, the guy who bought the car did. That's the way it worked for me with my Ford. The fellow who owned it before me changed the oil every 3,000 miles using Mobil 1. The motor is in great condition, but everything else is falling apart. I've even thought about finding another Taurus to buy and drop my motor in it or perhaps a little Ranger truck, but those are getting harder to find by the day.

 

[GreeCguy]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
I know a quirky lady that hasn't changed the oil or filter in almost 5 years. Afraid to. Refuses help. Dodge Intrepid living on low oil and sludge too thick to consume. She adds SuperTech conventional or any old/banned oil from the dollar tree when the oil light goes on. When I see her I peek to check on it. Sounds fine, idles perfect. That car leaves me scratching my head asking why I bother changing my oil every 8-10k with fancy synthetics and filters.


Exactly - I think we've both been scratching the same spot on our heads.

 

[Quest]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
I know a quirky lady that hasn't changed the oil or filter in almost 5 years. Afraid to. Refuses help. Dodge Intrepid living on low oil and sludge too thick to consume. She adds SuperTech conventional or any old/banned oil from the dollar tree when the oil light goes on. When I see her I peek to check on it. Sounds fine, idles perfect. That car leaves me scratching my head asking why I bother changing my oil every 8-10k with fancy synthetics and filters.


My uneasy feeling sez that disaster is just waiting around the bend for your quirky lady (friend), and the cost of towing+ used engine swap won't be cheep.

Q.

 

[RF Overlord]

It's a sickness. I had to actually stop myself from changing the oil early in my DD because it will mess up my OCI "system". I thought about it almost every day until it was "time". I am beyond help.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: GreeCguy
Here's what I'm wondering. When do you finally decide to stop changing the oil on a particular automobile? I've had some real beaters in the past - 100 dollar cars that I drove a while and then sold for a hundred bucks. On all, I faithfully changed the oil and filter. After a few such cars, I started wondering, why even change it. I bought the car dirt cheap, it wasn't in the best of shape, (dented, rusty, cracked windows, torn seats), why worry about changing the engine oil. Yet I never could bring myself to do this and so, continued to change oil and filter.

There is of course the soon to be on T.V. "Luv" machine which hasn't had it's oil changed in over three years, (I did drain it about a month ago to measure it and then poured it back in as the dip stick is broken). But the "Luv" machine is different than a regular "on the road" automobile.

My current two rides are a 1993 Ford Taurus and a 1995 Cutlass Ciera. The motors are good in both cars, but the body and interior on both cars are worn and tattered. The Ford is probably the worst - seats torn, (I have shirts for seat covers), headliner is completely gone, all the plastic is cracked and some is missing. The front bumper is made from a PVC pipe - obviously, this car is worth more dead than alive. When do you finally say, "enough" and simply run it till it dies?

Has anyone ever done that? Driven a car without changing the oil and simply top it off when it gets low and keep on trucking?


Oil changing is so much fun, why stop? I would continue to change at 5000 but get the oil from BigLots or Family Dollar.

More to the point, are these cars safe to drive? How far do you drive (distance from house if you get stuck?)

I need my vehicles to be not embarrassing and pretty reliable.

 

[LeakySeals]

Originally Posted By: Quest
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
I know a quirky lady that hasn't changed the oil or filter in almost 5 years. Afraid to. Refuses help. Dodge Intrepid living on low oil and sludge too thick to consume. She adds SuperTech conventional or any old/banned oil from the dollar tree when the oil light goes on. When I see her I peek to check on it. Sounds fine, idles perfect. That car leaves me scratching my head asking why I bother changing my oil every 8-10k with fancy synthetics and filters.


My uneasy feeling sez that disaster is just waiting around the bend for your quirky lady (friend), and the cost of towing+ used engine swap won't be cheep.

Q.

Maybe this summer will be the apocalypse. I've been saying that for the past 4 years. Forgot to add black transmission fluid and no coolant for the past 2 years in the expansion tank. Going to take a pic of her dipstick and down the filler next time.

 

[Hethaerto]

Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: Quest
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
I know a quirky lady that hasn't changed the oil or filter in almost 5 years. Afraid to. Refuses help. Dodge Intrepid living on low oil and sludge too thick to consume. She adds SuperTech conventional or any old/banned oil from the dollar tree when the oil light goes on. When I see her I peek to check on it. Sounds fine, idles perfect. That car leaves me scratching my head asking why I bother changing my oil every 8-10k with fancy synthetics and filters.


My uneasy feeling sez that disaster is just waiting around the bend for your quirky lady (friend), and the cost of towing+ used engine swap won't be cheep.

Q.

Maybe this summer will be the apocalypse. I've been saying that for the past 4 years. Forgot to add black transmission fluid and no coolant for the past 2 years in the expansion tank. Going to take a pic of her dipstick and down the filler next time.


She must be running Synlube.

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: Donald


Oil changing is so much fun, why stop? I would continue to change at 5000 but get the oil from BigLots or Family Dollar.


Around here, those places have the highest priced entry-level oil. I've got a stash of $1.79/qt Trop-Artic and still have quite a few FAR G-Oil jugs. (They still owe me for one jug, but I've given up hope and, of course, they've given up trying to sell me any more of their oil.

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Originally Posted By: SuperDave456
I never stop changing oil.

The engine is the last thing on a car to wear out, and the most important part of getting from point A to point B.
Why neglect it?

When I sold my 1983 Ford LTD in 2003 for $100, the mechanic who bought it told me that when he tore into it to change the head gaskets (the reason that I sold it) the engine was spotless.
I religiously changed the oil on that car every 3000 miles, and ran fuel system cleaners at the same interval to keep the carb in good shape.

Even in a beater. It would take A LOT of convincing for me to NOT change the oil.


plus one.. its just not in me to let anything die.

 

[GreeCguy]

Originally Posted By: Donald

Oil changing is so much fun, why stop? I would continue to change at 5000 but get the oil from BigLots or Family Dollar.

More to the point, are these cars safe to drive? How far do you drive (distance from house if you get stuck?)

I need my vehicles to be not embarrassing and pretty reliable.


I drive as far as 80 miles one way at least once a week. The cars are safe to drive, brakes, suspension, drive-train are all in order. It's just all the "creature comforts." The AC doesn't work on either one, the stuffing is coming out of the cushions. Something was growing from the carpet in the backseat of the Olds, so I took a razor and cut the carpet out. For a good comparison of the Ford interior, watch Mel Gibson in "The Road Warrior." The interior of his "Last of the V-8's" car looks a lot like mine, (except without the cool dog).

As for Family Dollar and Big Lot oil, that's what I've been running for the past five years. Big Lots had some 30 weight on sale about five years ago for .90 cents a quart - I bought all they had.

As far as embarassment - the car is painted flat black with a white roof - that's how I roll

 

[Triple_Se7en]

In 2001 I drove my 1984 Pontiac 6000 to the junkyard because it was dangerously rusted. It had 240,000 miles and ran tip-top. It's last day on the road saw a crystal clear dipstick. It's 2.5 engine only held 3.5 quarts (with filter) and I changed the oil every 3K back then.

 

[yonyon]

Sue, my '88 Fiero, got two oil changes after she died in the flood. Before the second one I knew she was dead and would only be revived as a zombie car and that that would be her last oil change, just enough that she can still move around when needed.

 

[KitaCam]

I always expect to keep my wheels so $20 2x a year is a reasonable expense...
I've had cars where other parts I knew needed replacing, but at some point I say to myself...it's still working so why....unless it's a safety issue...

 

[01rangerxl]

I maintain vehicles well regardless of their outside appearance, but the drivetrain in my beat up truck has a lot of life left in it. No sense in wearing out the engine in a vehicle that may continue to be reliable for years.

For me to simply not change oil, it would have to be on a non-roadworthy farm truck or something. Any vehicle I'm going to register and insure is going to be maintained.