Hypermilers subject to "Severe Service" Schedule?

[thebrad]

I don't remember the list verbatim but I was looking at recommended service intervals for my car yesterday in class and it seems like we should all be servicing our vehicles on the severe service schedule. There was probably ten things listed, but what stuck out to me were primary use during temperatures higher than 90 degree F (coolant/oil I am guessing), operation in dusty areas (air filters), and frequent trips less than 5 miles or lots of stop and go driving.

Now, I figure we're all meticulous enough to be borderline obsessive when it comes to servicing our vehicles or maybe I am overgeneralizing, but I've always used a 5,000-7,500 or Honda "regular" service interval but have recently begun hypermiling so I question if EOC is similar to short trips/stop and go traffic on the engine and we should be changing our oil more frequently.

However, it seems we also take everything with a grain of salt and a healthy dose of skepticism/cynicism, so could this be a Honda ploy to help the dealerships earn money from service after point of sale? Or is it to possibly help the oils, lubricants, and filter companies?

Just thought it would be an interesting bit of discussion.
I've previously submitted oil samples to Blackstone laboratories for analysis, but that was just to determine synthetic oil life on my previous car (then it was totaled shortly after that oil change).

So yeah, just wondering how you all treat your vehicles.

[basjoos]

My engine is only running for 2/3 to 3/4 of the total distance that the car travels, so I usually add about that much distance to the odometer reading when deciding when to do engine-related servicing.

[RH77]

I would say only on an Automatic transmissions regularly EOC'd.

RH77

[AndrewJ]

yerp.

I only change oil every 7500 or so. With over 300k on the odo, I'm not really too concerned with extending engine life

[DifferentPointofView]

Just check the condition of your oil and fluids and you should be fine. black oil isn't good. nor is metal shavings on the dipstick. brown or black tranny fluid isn't good either. I don't change the oil till I think it's too gritty. which is when it turns a slightly darker than usual brown.

[Arminius]

Consumer Reports recommends changing oil at around 7,500, I believe. They ran their tests on New York City cabs. I doubt anyone can top that.

[JohnnyGrey]

That 90F is for ambient temps.

Your engine prefers its coolant around 195F and oil can reach 300F.

[Lazarus]

Really the only way to know what your oil is doing is to have an analysis done.

Black oil does not necessary mean it needs to be changed.

And don't worry about the engine oil turning black. It will lose it's golden-brown colour within a few hundred miles of being put in to the engine. That doesn't mean it's not working. Quite the contrary - it means it is working well. It changes colour as it traps oxidised oil, clots and the flakes of metal that pop off heavily loaded engine parts.

[thebrad]

Originally Posted by JohnnyGrey

That 90F is for ambient temps.

Your engine prefers its coolant around 195F and oil can reach 300F.

With the exception of today the past week as been 90+, things are definitely starting to heat up in So. Cal.

However cabbies changing every 7500, that's pretty interesting I am going to search for that article.

Thanks for clarification Laz, I was going to say it but didn't want to come off as a ballbuster.

[DifferentPointofView]

But if Black oil contains all of that stuff, wouldn't that be bad if it's being rubbed against parts? it's kinda like wet-sanding?

My oil is about 4K miles into it and is still golden-brown. It's not pretty like it is when you pour it in, but it's definitely not black. It's darker, but not black.