Engine Oil Change

[mcrews]

Originally Posted by XYZ

Does the test cost $35?

By the time you are testing the oil, it is dirty and of questionable usefulness, right? Wouldn't it be more economical simply to change the oil?

Guess you failed to read the info provided by the report???????

1 gives feed back on engine wear....kinda important
2 show if you should run the current oil longer or run the next change longer also valuable information

Ex: if you oil is still good at 5k then running to 8k each time just saved you the cost of 1 change every 2 times

I ran my 2002 Infiniti q45 to 270,000 miles based primarily on the reports received from Blackstone at the 150k and 190k mile markers

[mikeyjd]

Originally Posted by mcrews

Guess you failed to read the info provided by the report???????

1 gives feed back on engine wear....kinda important
2 show if you should run the current oil longer or run the next change longer also valuable information

Ex: if you oil is still good at 5k then running to 8k each time just saved you the cost of 1 change every 2 times

I ran my 2002 Infiniti q45 to 270,000 miles based primarily on the reports received from Blackstone at the 150k and 190k mile markers

So you're saying you think it's worth the $35?

[redpoint5]

I don't think it's worth $35 to test at every oil change (although I do), but once in a while is good. The Blackstone analysis sans TBN test is $25. Although I don't believe a $35 test is necessary, by sharing my results, others can have confidence that extended oil change intervals won't harm the engine. There is no reason to follow the advice of the lube shops.

Did you see the part of the report that said to go to 18,000 miles on this oil? This suggests that even 5,000 mile intervals is likely unnecessary. My motorcycle revs to 14,000 RPM, has a 12/1 compression ratio, uses a wet clutch (clutch sits in oil), and the owners manual says to change the oil every 8,000 miles! I go through tires faster than I go through oil changes.

I haven't tested my other vehicles, but now that I think about it, I think I will. I'm interested to see how the oil turns out in a 250,000 mile Camry, a 26,000 mile CBR600, and a 330,000 mile Dodge\Cummins.

[XYZ]

Originally Posted by mcrews

Guess you failed to read the info provided by the report???????

No, I didn't "fail" to read the report. I just don't think it's worth $35.

1 gives feed back on engine wear....kinda important

But reading the report won't change the condition of the engine any. If my engine is getting old and it has high mileage on it, I already know that without buying the report.

You still need to change the oil sooner or later. Oil is relatively inexpensive and you'll never go wrong by changing it sooner, rather than later.

DIY oil change = $10.

Report plus DIY oil change = $45.

[ssnsvibe09]

I like the idea of getting the oil tested. modern cars demand synthetic oil. setting aside warrantee concerns later in life that would be a significant cost savings.

For my truck using a GM filter and Mobil 1 oil that is on sale 6 quarts at 8.59 each. it cost me over 78 dollars to carry out that change. If I could spend 35 dollars to save 43 right on.

I wonder how much it costs here and where I could take a sample. I am get close to 16000 kms on my car using 0w -20 full synth.

[mcrews]

Originally Posted by XYZ

You still need to change the oil sooner or later. Oil is relatively inexpensive and you'll never go wrong by changing it sooner, rather than later.

DIY oil change = $10.

Report plus DIY oil change = $45.

There is so much wrong w ur post....
But let's start with $10......please post the link to detail the actual true cost of oil and filter and tax to equal $10.

[Fat Charlie]

2006 Kia Sportage 2.7l
Napa 1334 Gold: $13.82

Now you just need to find someone to give you four bucks for taking five quarts of oil off his hands and you've spent $10!

[user removed]

I still change my own oil, rotate tires and other normal maintenance items myself. I can see the benefits of oil analysis but have never done one myself. I use Mobil1 and extended life oil filters. Last oil change on the Fiesta (no warranty) I did not change the filter. I watch for sales on oil and filters and usually I can get 5 quarts and a quality filter for around $33 including sales tax. I do oil changes at 7500 miles. Her Sorento has a 100k warranty and the dealership told her to keep reciepts for proof of purchase to keep the warranty valid, which is crucial to me. Over 7500 mile intervals would allow them to void the warranty so that will not change. The Sorento is also direct injection, so that raises the issue of deposits from the DI, which I hope the synthetic will minimize.

The Fiesta has no warranty since it is a salvage vehicle. I change the oil and filter every 7500 miles in the Fiesta.

I was going to change the oil and filter on the Ranger at 3k miles after purchase, but when I checked the oil it was full and still very clean, so I went 5k miles, before I changed it with regular oil and filter. Not sure how I would like the potential issues of changing to synthetic on the Ranger which now hasonlyseen 1100 milessince the beginning of 2014.

I'm not saying I am either for or against oil analysis, but in my particular case with the intervals and warranties (or lack of) involved, I am comfortable with my current intervals.
Ford recommends 10k or 1 year with their semi-synthetic oil. When I change the oil in the Fiesta I only fill it to the middle of the level on the dipstick. It barely looses any oil in 7500 miles.

regards
Mech

[Frank Lee]

I won't change at 3000 and I won't pay for an analysis.

My driving isn't in the "severe usage" category so I consider several things: manufacturer's "normal usage" recommendation + knowing even that is meant to be idiot-proof and cover the worst-case scenarios + noting the recommended change intervals from others' analyses = I just go between 1x and 2x the miles of the mfg's "normal" change rec. And sometimes the filter gets changed every time or every other time, depending on... oh, gut feeling.

After decades of doing this, I can't think of any oil-related failures on any of my vehicles. The rest of the vehicle fails before the engine.

Cost: I went bananas a few years ago and hoarded a huge box of Wix filters (when there was a deeply discounted sale) for most everything me and my parents own, and a couple dozen cases of free (after rebate) dino, semi-synth, and full-synthetic oil. Until I use that stuff up my (very infrequent) oil changes are only a couple dollars each. Usually I use the cheap Fram or Supertech Wal-Mart filters, no problem. Heck, much of my older stuff had no oil filter at all!

[mcrews]

Math: 13.82 + 2.71= $16.53 x .07(tax) = $17.68
Oh yeah...."sell" the used oil....17.68 - 4.00 = common core answer $10......


Fail