MOTORHEADS: your opinions please

[THRUSH]

Hi, I was just messing around online tonight and started reading this article:

http://www.carjunky.com/news/motor_oil_myths.shtml

I certainly wouldn't say I know a lot about cars, but enough to maintain them and fix common problems. I've noticed there are a lot of knowledgable car junkies around here though, so I'd like your opinion on the article's points. I haven't heard of anyone letting their car go for 25,000 miles between oil changes, I can't bring myself to let it hover over 3000 miles.
Just curious what you have to say.

Well, personally, I've never prescribed to that rule, though it is good practice. Most newer cars you will see in the manuals, 'Change oil ever 5,000 miles' or 7,500 miles even, depending. Little four cylinders don't gunk up oil and filters quite as fast as big eight bangers do. My car is supposed to be every 5,000. I change my Toyota truck's oil about every 7,000.

It really depends on how hard you drive your car. The harder or more city driving you do, the more you should change it. If you live in a city, 3000 is a good number. If you a do a lot of highway driving, that's a lot less wear and tear on the engine and you could easily get by with 5000 most likely.

-Whir

[Kuasimodem]

The most that I would push an oil change is 6000 miles, and that's only if you're running synthetic oil.

If you are running petroleum based oil, change it every 3000-3500, your engine will thank you for it by giving you much more service.

I have an 89 Olds Cutlass Supreme with a 3.1L V6, have taken it cross country a few times, and it currently has 214,600 miles on it. The only work that has been done internally is a water pump and a timing chain.

[Sweeper]

1985 Monte Carlo. 162,000 mile. Gets it's oil changed every so often. 10w-30 (car sits alot)
1991 Firebird 132,000 V6 3.1 , every 3000.5w-30 Sold ran excellent.
2000 Mustang V6 24,000 every 3000.5w-30 Still own.

My brothers 1991 Chevy Lumina V6: 180,000 , oil was changed when ever they got around to it. Sold the car and engine was running great.....GO FIGURE?

1992 Chevy Camaro V8- 160,000 , oil was changed every 3000 miles. 5w-30 . Engine in excellent condition. Body of car...eh...so so.... Friend.

Just some comparisons from working on cars for 10 years. Those were/are all customers...(even my own)
IMO, get it changed every 3000. My experience...I have seen 5000 to 10,000 miles between and there still running. Anything over 3000 ,again IMO, you start running into the filter not functioning efficiantly, dirt particles building up, hot points on engine parts..(Bearings Mainly). Keep it changed 3000K. Just my .02 worth. ASE CERTIFIED TECH>(ENGINE PERFORMANCE)

Sweeper

[big_buick]

i found the article to be true, and can't really say more than kuasimodem or whir. except always try to stick with the same brand of oil. and the time to use synthetic is from brand new or very low mileage on. then you may achieve the higher mileage. switching to synthetic on a high mileage vehicle may do more harm than good, as well as motor flushes.. be very mindfull of the condition of the engine before doing a flush. lastly no matter how it looks change it after 6 months.

[bigblue77]

I change the oil in the 77 Blazer every 1000 miles because I am always trying to drown it, or just get it as covered in mud as I can. I run 20w50 in it because its almost always running really hard. I know 20w50 sounds thick for a new engine, but I have found the oil pressure/temp is the most stable with it. I think the easiest run it had was when I took the top off and filled it with people 4th of July weekend for cruising the beach . But with my other cars I run them to about 4000 miles tops. Its not really how fast they gum up the filter, its the gumming up inside the engine that causes problems. I have seen both extremes with both results. It depends on the oil you run mostly. The synthetics seem to stay pretty clean, even when you go over. But once it breaks down, they leave a mess too. Problem is that once get much over 4000 miles, you begin to get a bunch of combustion particles in the oil, no matter how good your rings are, you still get some blow-by.

So here is a schedule I like to stick to.

Big Heavy, hard running engines(V8): 1000 miles
Normal use V8, V6 4banger: 3000 - 4000 miles
Cat 3406E: 10,000 miles (but of course it takes 10 gallons of oil, or 40qts.)

Jer

[Sweeper]

You run 20x50w in Michigan? That's gotta be hard on the ole' engine on them cold winter days. That's like pooring frozen Honey. I'd go with 10w-30 in the winter at the most. 5w-30 reccomended...... 20-50w isn't bad for those HOT summer days in the 90's, if your out pushing your engine. But for winter or fall...I wouldn't try it. Your pretty brave....

[Brainchild]

well for twenty bucks and dirty hands, I would say 3000 miles is a good number to change on. I mean thats pretty cheap insurance for your engine, IMO. Town driving, is the worst on an engine, and not warming up to operating temperature is even worse than that.

I bought a car off a lady one time, and she would drive a couple blocks to town or the store whatever, and the car wouldn't reach operating temp for months on end. I pulled the valve covers to relace the gaskets, and the buildup in there was embarrasing. So I always warm my cars to OT. If I just go to the store, which i 5 blocks awaY, I let it run while I'm there. The inside is as clean as a new one @ 144k

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

I usually get the oil changed in my works truck about every 15-18,000 Km (10,000 - 12,000 miles) with no ill effects but I drive mostly on the highway, about 2000-2500 km/week.

[bigblue77]

I should have stated that I don't drive it during the winter. I only start it on warm days, like today, to get the oil flowing again. And as long as the oil pressure dosen't exceed 60 psi, there is no damage to the engine running it. Anything above 60 psi and you start eating up your bearings. But your right, running it during cold days is a good way to snap the pump drive tangs off.

Jer