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Old 09-16-2011, 08:22 AM   #22 (permalink)
Frank Lee
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: up north
Posts: 12,762

Blue - '93 Ford Tempo
Last 3: 27.29 mpg (US)

F150 - '94 Ford F150 XLT 4x4
90 day: 18.5 mpg (US)

Sport Coupe - '92 Ford Tempo GL
Last 3: 69.62 mpg (US)

ShWing! - '82 honda gold wing Interstate
90 day: 33.65 mpg (US)

Moon Unit - '98 Mercury Sable LX Wagon
90 day: 21.24 mpg (US)
Thanks: 1,585
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It depends on the duty cycle. My old commute was on the poor end as it wasn't long enough for thorough warm-up so the naughty stuff didn't get evaporated off. My Mom's commute was absolutely perfect though- about 15 miles of lonely straight level 2 lane one way with only a couple stops the entire trip. The cylinders in her car at 150,000 looked as new- no ridge at all and crosshatching looking fresh. Her car didn't get the "severe service" oil change regimen either. If I had that sort of duty cycle I would change the oil even less often than now. I've only recently put synthetic in one of my vehicles not for any oil longevity reasons but mainly for flow at -40F cold starts. I believe I hurt my '94 way back when it was nearly new with one of those cold starts- ever since there's been a slight lifter tap on cold start.
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