3000 mile oil change is a myth!

[trebuchet03]

Originally Posted by DifferentPointofView

Tiny less as in going to a shop? I change my oil in a driveway. I also Have to use 6 QUARTS OF FREAKING OIL!!! I use synthetic, which is expensive having to buy a big jug and an extra quart.

5qt of Mobil1 is about $21 for me locally (not sure what you use, I just happened to see it the other day ). 1 standard oil analysis test is $25. So ya, that would be quite expensive... Normally I mention I run dino oil in my oil change interval posts - so ya, I'm running dino in my crankcase... My tranny is OEM fluid (which is synthetic) which costs a whopping $19.50 per 500mL - I need 4.2 500mL bottles to fill the tranny! <-- totally worth it though.

I use ~$2/qt dino oil (I think - gotta double check on that). About 4qts per change. So that's ~$8 of oil per change. Over 10K miles (3.3 oil changes) - that's $26.4 worth of 3K mile oil plus $16.5 for 3.3 $4 oil filters. That's $42.90

For the 10K mile OCI - I spend $8+$4 for oil+filter +$25 for analysis. Which is $37.

Originally Posted by DifferentPointofView

Also, what happens if the oil needs changed? then you have to spend more money...

That's not how oil analysis works, for me. I analyze my oil (collect the sample to mail in) on the way out of the oil pan. Based on those results, I adjust when I change my new oil. TBN too low? I'll change a little early UNLESS we're moving into warmer months. etc. etc. etc. My 10K intervals have been good - no problems at all. I did have one change that was a little shy of 15K that started to have some undesirable insolubles though. Oh, I did have slightly high copper on a 10K mile change - but I'm attributing that to my upside down piston rings as it hasn't come back...

I don't like wasting oil - and I don't like the extra wear associated with disturbing oil films (which is why I don't subscribe to the "it's cheap enough just to change it out frequently" camp)

[TomO]

I like to use the Kublin Method to determine oil changes. The formula can be found HERE as well as other formulas for determining the best time to change oil.

[johnpr]

according to the kublin method i should change the oil in my trans am about every 10,000 miles, yay for me thats about what i've been doing sadly in my jeep i have to get it changed every 3,000 for my warranty, oh well, ive driven almost 30,000 in the last year so my warranty is almost over anyway

[DifferentPointofView]

Well, My vehicle in it's current state, burns about 1 quart every 3000 miles. I looked at my air filter the other day, and could see the nasty dirt from the country roads I drive on, I'm gonna have to clean that too.

If I lived where all my driving was in cleaner conditions, yea, I'd be fine with it, but I'm just changing the oil for what is recommended for what i drive in. Crappy air. If I get another vehicle, maybe, but this is a Jeep we're talking here, it's not Always driven on concrete, otherwise it's just another moon pie getter. Mud hits the windshield sometimes. And Covers It

I tried to buy a geo not to long ago, but they sold it too quickly. *sigh* oh well, there's always next time.

[fanamingo]

Originally Posted by trebuchet03

...and I don't like the extra wear associated with disturbing oil films (which is why I don't subscribe to the "it's cheap enough just to change it out frequently" camp)

I haven't heard of this before. What do you mean by disturbing oil films, and why does this only apply to newer oil? (A Google search for "disturbing oil films" returns this thread as the second result).

[DAN]

if you did happen to get grub or water in the oil your in big trouble with long changes. having said that i know of oil changers who save good looking oil and use it on their cars. truckers may use a brand of marked blotting paper. a drop of oil that spreads out to far is thinned. you can see the thining and judge the trash is in the middle. i have done that to check my oil when i was wondering if it was to old or dirty. but i hated doing it.