My Oil Change Interval Debate Rant

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by zx3matt

Analyze all you want. Just extra money wasted when you could just change your oil more often and know you are safe.

I am not trying to start a fight, I just do not see what the fuss is all about.

I rebuild and BUILD engines and transmissions regularly. It is a hobby, but I do it a lot for myself and others. I have seen wear that could have been prevented with obsessive, or heck even regular, maintenance. I've seen blocks, cranks, etc become expensive anchors because someone was cheap or lazy.

Ive see the oil analysis people do, and I get it, but why do that just to see how long you can go? The analysis was originally meant to tell you if you had a good oil as well as how well your engine is wearing or breaking in. It was like getting a code scan, or heck even a dyno. To answer how are things? Now people have turned it into this contest to see if their oil will last longer. Blackstone should be ashamed. They are capitalizing on this fad when really the analysis is a tool...

How many modern engines have you built and rebuilt?

[dyn085]

I don't disagree with your schedule at all as one can never be too safe. I will post my schedule just for fun and to include my opinion.

I have an initial oil change done between 500-1000 miles. Typically, though, with a hard break-in you are supposed to do it within the first 50. I just have difficulty believing that anything is getting past the filter within that time period.

I use OEM oil/filter for the first 10k miles, getting my second oil change done at 5k (just yesterday!).

At 10k I switch to Mobil One full synthetic with OEM filter and switch to 10k oil changes. That being said, I do replace the filter halfway through and top off with fresh oil.

At 15k intervals (and that's over-doing it imho), I run one bottle of Chevron w/Textron fuel system cleaner and at 30k I have my coolant flushed. Air filter is changed ASAP to K&N drop-in and plugs usually go to a split-tip (though this time I'm going to do some testing with iridium). Filter cleanings occur at 30k while plugs get checked at 15k for gap and color.

If this vehicle had a wet sump auto and/or were a rear-wheel drive, I would replace the trans and diff fluids with Royal Purple at 15k and run them for 30k.

I have never had a problem running this set-up, though I have to also be honest and say that I usually don't keep vehicles very long either. My Ranger, which was traded in on this Focus, ran like a top (though they usually do and are semi-indestructible) and was the longest I've kept a vehicle (7 yrs, almost 60k).

This is what works for me, as it gives me a longer service life on my fluids yet maintains a simple math formula that is easy to remember.

[TORQUERULES]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

How many modern engines have you built and rebuilt?

Zetec 2.0, 4.6 and 5.4 Modular V8s, 5.4 Lightning build, 4.0 SOHC V6, various small and big block Ford and GM V8s and a couple of turbo charged 2.3 Ford Lima 4cyls, (I know... not modern), GM LS1 V8....

Not an idiot. Maybe set in my ways, but not an idiot.

I can list transmissions too and fuel management systems from the SDS system, to others. And of course carburetors.

[TORQUERULES]

I wasn't trying to start a fight. Just ranting and making an observation. I wasn't trying to piss people off.

[TboneZX3]

Originally Posted by zx3matt

The analysis was originally meant to tell you if you had a good oil as well as how well your engine is wearing or breaking in.

That's exactly why I said I do it... That and to estimate how well an oil/additive package holds up. I'm not trying to win any contests, and I only run an analysis every 3-4 changes, so I'm not spending nearly as much money as you are changing at 3K. I change every 5k-8k miles usually. I've never seen a single example of an oil analysis that said an oil or additive package was ready to be changed at 3k (syn or dino), so I believe changing it at 3K is a waste.

[TORQUERULES]

Originally Posted by TboneZX3

That's exactly why I said I do it...

Sorry, I didn't read it right then. Just used to seeing oil analysis threads geared towards oil change intervals.

[Bimmer-Bob]

Originally Posted by zx3matt

Zetec 2.0, 4.6 and 5.4 Modular V8s, 5.4 Lightning build, 4.0 SOHC V6, various small and big block Ford and GM V8s and a couple of turbo charged 2.3 Ford Lima 4cyls, (I know... not modern), GM LS1 V8....

Not an idiot. Maybe set in my ways, but not an idiot.

I can list transmissions too and fuel management systems from the SDS system, to others. And of course carburetors.

I neither said nor meant to infer that you were an idiot. Change your oil all you want. It's your car and your money, and you're certainly not doing your engine any harm.

But I happen to disagree with you, that's all. Why do you think Ford recommends an OCI of 10,000 miles when the customer is the one footing the bill for oil changes? Their dealers could be making 3x more $ if they just recommended a 3,000 mile OCI.

[TboneZX3]

Originally Posted by zx3matt

Sorry, I didn't read it right then. Just used to seeing oil analysis threads geared towards oil change intervals.

I added more to post #25 while you were quoting me. Sorry, bad habit of mine...

[flyboyike]

I agree that 5,000 miles seems reasonable, if nothing else, because it's a good interval for the car to go in and get looked at.

[TORQUERULES]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

I neither said nor meant to infer that you were an idiot. Change your oil all you want. It's your car and your money, and you're certainly not doing your engine any harm.

But I happen to disagree with you, that's all. Why do you think Ford recommends an OCI of 10,000 miles when the customer is the one footing the bill for oil changes? Their dealers could be making 3x more $ if they just recommended a 3,000 mile OCI.

I didn't take it that way, just like to give myself hell.

I believe the 10000 mile intervals are to make the Al Gores in the world happy.

I am just glad you guys do not call people like me stupid and believe all the press instead. It is a to each his own debate, but I was on some other forums where this was getting crazy (i was trolling), and figured I would rant with a good crowd.