Calling car experts

Terminal23 · 08-31-2003, 08:30 AM

What should be the proper time to change your oil if it's synthetic? I know regular oil is every 3k and some say the same for synthetic.But,I also hear with syn,you can wait every 5k.What do you guys or gals do?I mean,if it's ok to wait every 5k with syn then why overkill at 3k.

Sweeper · 08-31-2003, 08:39 AM

3k regardless if it's standard or synthetic for me.

08-31-2003, 08:41 AM

I don't use syn. My baby's oil gets changed every 3K miles

pickel · 08-31-2003, 08:53 AM

Every 2 months or 2000 miles. I use Kendall GT 1 in my Big Block and Casrtol GTX in the others. They all get a bottle of Risolone ( by Shaler ) in place of one quart of oil. The Chevies get a bottle of Ring Seal also by Shaler.

Big Block....290,000
Small Block over 300,000
Stealth ..200,000+
Maxima...165,000

Also,and this says sound strange, before I change the oil, with the motor hot and idling , I pour in a quart of quality mineral spirits and idle the motor for five or so minutes. Jack the car in the best angle for draining . When finished , I take my air hose and blow out the remaining liquid . Seems like a lot of trouble, but it cleans out the crankcase and any little contaminents that cause wear.

Ed_S · 08-31-2003, 08:57 AM

First off, I've never used synthetic personally. Can't see a point to it for my usage.

Which brings us to this - YOUR usage should determine the oil chance interval, regardless what oil's used. Most manufacturers recommend 3K for "average usage", but also say to vary it for "rough service". You have to define your usage, though.
Many engines get rough service w/o their owners realizing it. Lots of short trips, idleing, little hiway usage - this is rough.
Lots of hiway, little stop & go - easy miles.

For example, I drive 1.7 miles to work at 30 mph, seldom run it hard. Oil gets changed between 2k & 2.5K - or every four months, whichever's first. Any oil will be contaminated by then, if only with condensation.

Take a good look at your real-world usage & adjust the interval accordingly, also decide if synthetic oil is worth doing. If you do a LOT of hiway, it might be the way to go.

On the other hand, I swear by PTFE (Teflon) oil treatment for any usage...

08-31-2003, 09:23 AM

Got to go with Ed_S on this - he's DA MAN with car stuff

"On the other hand, I swear by PTFE (Teflon) oil treatment for any usage..."

I'm ignorant on that PTFE, Ed - is that an additive I'd buy and pour into my oil tank? Why do you swear by it?

hmm..

http://www.greasedlightning.com.au/products/engine.htm

forum boards...

Ed_S · 08-31-2003, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Socalgal
Got to go with Ed_S on this - he's DA MAN with car stuff

Thanks, Socal, but Pickel's an old hot-rodder & puts me to shame on some of this stuff! I notice we're pretty close on this one though...

Quote:

I'm ignorant on that PTFE, Ed - is that an additive I'd buy and pour into my oil tank? Why do you swear by it?

Long story, a bit ashamed of part of it... oh well, WTH..

An old friend talked me into trying it a long time ago. Within a short time after treatment, I noticed a jump in fuel mileage of a couple MPG - quite significant in a vehicle getting about SEVEN.
Remember, this is a once every 50K treatment, OK? Now, later in the truck's life it developed a major oil leak. Badly blown rear main seal. Didn't have time to fix it, just fed it oil for a year or so - unless I forgot...
Twice it got low enough, long enough, that I noticed it wasn't leaking. But that was the ONLY indicator I ever got!! With a virtually dry pan, it never made a noise, guage never dropped. No engine damage, it's still never been apart years later - I know the current owner. (Yes, I did finally replace the blown seal)
That was a carbureted 351 Windsor - it should have blown to pieces. Had about 100K miles when treated, and 150 when I sold it.

There's several Teflon products on the market. Greased Lightning is an excellent one, IMO, & it's the one I've used most recently. If you go to a store, read the % of Teflon in each brand & go with the highest concentration.

Terminal23 · 08-31-2003, 10:17 AM

Big Block....290,000
Small Block over 300,000
Stealth ..200,000+
Maxima...165,000

I'll go with Pickel's advice.If you have that much mileage on that many vehicles you must know something.Are these all gasoline engines or are they diesel?About the mineral spirits trick.I don't have an air hose to blow out remainder.Will it matter if some residue is left over?

bigblue77 · 08-31-2003, 10:53 AM

I would say stick to the 3k oil change mark. Regardless of the oil type. But thats just my opinion.

Jer

Theophylact · 08-31-2003, 04:01 PM

Even the Car Guys, who always said to change the oil every 3000 miles, now say 5000. (The car manufacturers say 7500, but they want you to replace the car, don't they?) Lubricants are much better than they used to be.