9,694 Mile Oil Sample with M1 5W-20.
 

I got my last oil sample back. I know, spending $35 to find out my oil can go longer when I can just change my oil for $35 is not saving any money, but I like getting the samples and knowing my oil is working and my engine is healthy. Also, it's a good way to keep an eye on my head gasket since 7th Gen Civic's like to blow their head gaskets.

Here they are, my last two samples. This one used Mobil 1 5W-20 and I went 9,694 miles on it. I think I am going to go for 12,000 miles this time.

I figured I'd post because less oil changes means using less oil...

Sorry the lines aren't straight. Formatting is a pain!

I use Mobil 1 5w20 in the Fiesta. I change the oil at 7500 and use an extended life filter which I change at 15k, every other oil change. I also only fill to half of the low to high range on the dipstick. Last 5 quarts was $22.26 at Wal Mart, so it's about $26 per change with that method. The Fiesta will drop to the add mark at 7500 when I change the oil, so I never add any oil. The slightly lower oil level saves me a little oil and the oil warms up faster.

regards
Mech

Why is your Silicon so high? :eek: Did you check to see if your air filter has a hole or vacuum leak somewhere?

It's beach sand. I used to surf and stay on the beach on 59th street.

regards
Mech

59? Off Atlantic Ave?

Nothing like taking a big wide mouth yawn and get that salty taste in your throat. :thumbup:

Wait, salt and metal dont mix. :eek:

How much oil does the Fiesta hold? The Civic only gets about 4 quarts. I am nervous to run less than that, but I guess it would be fine.

I think my Honda manual recommends 10,000 miles for oil and 20,000 miles for the filter. Honda decided to put the oil filter on the back of the engine and then added a brace from the block to the trans. So, whenever you take off the oil filter, oil goes down to both control arms and leaks everywhere.

We do go to the beach about once every week or two. I also have a K&N filter, so that might have something to do with it. The other metals were low, which suggests to me that the silicon isn't eating the engine alive. But then again, I am no expert.

Every once and a while we go down there. We usually end up going to Dam Neck since it is less crowded.

The K&N is your sand issue.

regards
Mech

there is a blackstone thread here some place...

here's a link to my blackstone test on my 2002 Q45Sport w 150k plus miles

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...e-20705-2.html

I was going to sneak in a jab about running a K&N filter until...

Sarguy, I run a Honda 4-cylinder engine 12,000 miles on the same oil, so you should be good. I'd do something about the Si level, and by do something I mean ditch the K&N.

What did the report comments say?

I may get rid of the K&N after my next oil sample.

Here is the comment:
Indeed, the Mobil 1 held up really well for you. The viscosity was fine, insolubles are within limits, and the TBN was good at 3.3 (1.0 is a low reading). Wear metals are fine too, so your engine didn't mind the long oil run one bit. The one weird finding here is silicon, at 68 ppm. If that were abrasive, wear would have been through the roof, so we're thinking this is something that was introduced during the sampling process, or a harmless lube or sealer. It's probably fine, so we'll just see what happens next time.
If you're interested, try for 11,000 miles next time.

How many miles are on that car??? 250,000???

I had a KN air filter on a road motorcycle. After a while there was grit in the carb parts and intake manifold.

Not sure how long you want your engine to last, but I would be changing the oil instead of testing the oil. There is nothing to prove with extended oil changes.

Honda recommends 10,000 mile oil change intervals. I went 9,694 miles. So, I didn't have an extended oil change. It is a fact that Honda Civic's last a long, long, long time and most are probably not maintained as well as mine. I'll take Honda's word that my car is good with a 10,000 mile OCI.

I am not trying to prove anything. Cars are a hobby for me, hence the oil sample.

With the later gen insights we notice a lost of mpg as you approach the year/10 thousand mile oil change. I usually change it at 20% or about 8 thousand miles. This is about the time I notice a drop in mpg and some random tapping, clicking, clackings that do not belong.

Has anyone tested old but low milage oil and what did they find?

I ask because my fleet averages ~2,500miles each per year and after a year the oil still looks like new, but I wonder if it's still getting contaminated/ broken down.

I went through Blackstone labs. They still a sample kit that you put down the dipstick hole. I think it's $25 or so. Then, an oil sample is $25, or $35 with the TBN. It might be worth it for you to have a test instead of changing a fleets' worth of oil.