Why does every say their car "likes it?"

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Bster13

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Maybe I'm just not in tune with my car or something, but how does everyone know their car "likes" the new brand of oil they put in the other day?

I mean, sure your car likes it... it's new oil vs. oil, dirty oil. And there's probably a psychological difference for the good deed you did for your car. But do forum members really think they can tell an audible difference or difference in the vibrations from the engine? From the sound/vibration deadened cabin of their Cadillac w/ plush leather steering wheel and seats?

If there is a true difference wouldn't you think they either a) hadn't changed the oil in a million miles or b) they had horribly wrong weight oil in the car?

*scratches head*
 
I think almost every case of it is placebo effect. I have never noticed a difference in the way any of my engines run no matter what kind of oil I put in. I can understand noticing a slight change if you change viscosities, but simply changing from one brand to another in the same viscosity, no.
 
I noticed a minor change from switching from PYB 5w30 (only oil the car has had since I bought it 25k miles ago) to FS 5w30 with a top off of the PYB, but it was a very minor change.

MPG has stayed the same, idle is more or less the same, but the classic Subaru tick and/or piston slap has reduced. My only guess is the higher Moly content in the FS compared to the PYB as many of their specs are fairly close. Enough for me to see how it does on a total FS run next OCI.
 
I guess I call [censored] on a lot of the "She likes it!" comments.... you'd think there were just as many "She hates it!" comments if people were being impartial. *shrugs*
 
Simply because there are a bunch of dudes on this board, and every guy wants his bragging rights about their oil being best. How else to tell than noise and pectoral feel.

Every car I have ever changed oil in has sounded better with fresh oil. So the car must like it.

BTW HDD 5w30 is an oil my Volvo really likes.
 
"The car loves it," "I had excellent results," and "ABC worked much better than XYZ!" are 3 of my favorites. What do any of those statements mean? I don't think many people can tell any difference at all, but it's purely psychological. When you're talking about a product that makes such minuscule differences to the life or performance of a car, I don't believe so many people can tell the difference.

But at the same time, what metrics are there to use, other than a UOA, and what does that really tell us anyway? Oh look, I had 15 irons in my oil. What does that mean? Should we really be worried because Blackstone says "that's high iron"? With no way to tangibly quantify the differences, most of the results people report here are probably wildly speculative. Unfortunately, some of the junk science and uninformed opinion translates into fads and trends and unjustified anxiety and over-thought maintenance schemes.

In the final analysis, I'd bet that anybody who changes anywhere near the OLM recommendations or manufacturer specs with any modern oil probably gets nearly exactly the same performance, economy, and lifetime from their engine as someone who uses MMO, LC20, FP60, ARX, LubroMoly, Slick 50, TEC, or any other additives and overwrought maintenance routines on a religious regimen. But where are those people at the end of their car's life saying "I did what the manufacturer said and my car is totally busted! Stupid oil!"???
 
The difference is indiscernable for the most part, but just maybe one oil is better at reducing cold engine clatter than another... say if you are comparing a high end group three/four synthetic to some cheapo dino no-name oil.

But the question is great, and many of us are suckers for branding.
 
The oil in my Fusion has 9K on it now and I can never tell a bit of differance in any way with 10K oil or new oil in this engine with M1 5-20EP.
 
Well, if someone is using a UOA, and comparing that to their own previous UOAs, I think they might have some basis to make a objective statement. I do think that sample error comes into play, but it is still a basis for judgment.

The rest... sure it's a bit of placebo effect, but I *LISTEN* to my vehicles all the time. I turn the radio way down and listen carefully at idle. This morning I noticed a slight hitch in my idle on the Mark VIII. Very slight. On my way to work I stopped at Wal-Mart and bought a can of B-12. Poured half the can in right there in the parking lot. Within a few miles the hitch, or hesitation, was gone.

Yes, it's a little bit fanatical. But that's BITOG.

On the other hand, EVERY time I change the oil I can feel a difference. It lasts a few miles, then it's gone.
 
Originally Posted By: crw
Well, if someone is using a UOA, and comparing that to their own previous UOAs, I think they might have some basis to make a objective statement. I do think that sample error comes into play, but it is still a basis for judgment.


A UOA comes close to giving you something useful, but again, what good are the numbers? What difference is there in the life of your engine if you have copper at 3 PPM versus copper at 29 PPM? And what good are the comparisons and averages if you don't know what other people's maintenance routines are or how long their engines last, how they perform, etc.? So what if the copper is 50? What does that really tell you?

Originally Posted By: crw
The rest... sure it's a bit of placebo effect, but I *LISTEN* to my vehicles all the time. I turn the radio way down and listen carefully at idle. This morning I noticed a slight hitch in my idle on the Mark VIII. Very slight. On my way to work I stopped at Wal-Mart and bought a can of B-12. Poured half the can in right there in the parking lot. Within a few miles the hitch, or hesitation, was gone.


How do you know the B-12 changed anything? Or even that it ever went through the injectors at all?

Originally Posted By: crw
On the other hand, EVERY time I change the oil I can feel a difference. It lasts a few miles, then it's gone.


What is the difference? And why does it only last a few miles?
 
The last time somebody did UOA from different places, the results were all over the map. Wasn't there a case where same sample got different results even from the same lab?

Problem is most people either never take any statistics course or promptly forget what they learn in the class.

- Vikas
 
I change oil once a month rotella t6 5w40. Why, because i run 8k to 10k miles per month in my cargo van hauling expedited freight. I got lots of noises, mostly road noise,lol. Engine noise at a new oil change,,no change, always runs well and I add 8oz of mmo too. 2002 Dodge one ton van , lead sled,318 v-8, 5600 lbs wgt without a load. Some oils in the past could not make it past 5000 miles without adding a new quart or so, but Rotella t6 and M1 truck and turbo stopped that. I settled on Rotella t6, but M1 is also great oil for the way I drive. 272k miles now and doing well.
 
I like Valvoline because it comes out of the bottle clearer and lighter and color than any other brand. I readily admit that has no bearing on how well it lubricates or prevents/removes sludgy deposits. My car has no opinion of it whatsoever. It would probably "like" a fresh fill with store brand just as much. (Not that I would intentionally anthropomorphize my car....except for when E10 gasoline is concerned
lol.gif
)
 
When oil is changed the old oil is is usually hot and "thin" When new oil is installed and the engine started the new "thick" oil makes the engine a bit quieter, therefore the owner assumes the engine "likes" the oil.

Also, there is a psychological "happiness" by the owner when the oil and filter is changed; this is the above mentioned placebo effect. Out with the old, toxic, dirty oil. In with the new clean oil. Its like pouring yourself your favorite drink...
 
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
When oil is changed the old oil is is usually hot and "thin" When new oil is installed and the engine started the new "thick" oil makes the engine a bit quieter, therefore the owner assumes the engine "likes" the oil.

Also, there is a psychological "happiness" by the owner when the oil and filter is changed; this is the above mentioned placebo effect. Out with the old, toxic, dirty oil. In with the new clean oil. Its like pouring yourself your favorite drink...
I agree, its psychological
11.gif
 
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