I get my oil tested. According to Blackstone Labs, 7,500 mile intervals with Amsoil Signature Series works the best for my engine and how I drive. They said that based on the TBN, the oil could go longer, but by how far is anyone's guess. I'll keep the interval at 7,500 for now.

 

The only thing I could see is if the mechanic screws it up somehow. Every time you do it is an opportunity for that happens. FWIW, tho, I'm with you.

Oooo, now you've got me curious .

Right on!

 

fwiw, in some research I did back in Feb. 2011, I ran across three different studies regarding the increased effectiveness of oil as it is used. In general, it seemed that a 3k mile OCI was not a good idea and would cause increased wear on an engine compared to a longer OCI.

I use a 12k mile OCI based on the recommendation of Royal Purple (not an LL-01 rated oil).

Links to the information I found are in this post --> https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...96-post16.html

 

The key to it has to be filter change,.. at least thats what seems to make sense to me. I read in that that they were drain intervals, I didnt see anything about filter changes. Fresh oil and filter increases wear?? that just doesnt sound right. Not saying your wrong, Just saying tho.

RP/ RP filters are all I used in my modded Z, I just hit the 80K mark with 50Kmiles of intake/exhaust/reflash upgraded miles. it hasnt been the engine I have probs with, only clutch and sensors. I change it according to the color because then I know the filter is going, but fresh lube never hurt(knock on wood). And thats a daily driven, rain or shine.

 

I have definitely heard that there are certain diesel oils that work better at higher intervals. something to do with the additives? (heard from VW TDI guys)

And for me, color has always been a very close representation of oil condition. I also realize that different manufacturers and weights have a different starting color.
3 colors of beer, oil change guide: (based on typical 5w30 std oil)
-New clean oil (Bass Ale, you can still see through)
-Normal operating color (dark lager, but still clean)
-Change time (Porter/stout, dark enough to not see though)

Usually the "Change time" is indication that the oil filter is full and cannot continue filtering the smaller particles. as such they bypass and become part of the oil... making it darker. And yes, i have played the testing game. This is far less expensive and simple with less turn-around time as every engine is different and conditions change.

I found these nice pics on the web... might help explain the basic idea.

 

let me clarify further...

I fully agree that a 3000 mile oil change "may" be unnecessary and premature. Hence my oil color theory.
However, if i am on the track in Arizona for a 3 day weekend... maybe 1500 isn't soon enough.

 

To keep things in perspective, heavy duty trucks go 50,000 miles on conventional oil, no testing, 300,000+ with oil testing, and sometimes 600,000+ with senethic...
sure, they do use lots more (think gallons), and some of the higher mile totals are done with a secondary filter....
The point here is unless you test the oil, the mile is just a guess...trucks run 12hrs or so a day...so age is not a factor...
Cars though sit...and often do short trips, and oil volumes are less...but the sitting is what hurts the oil and the motor....the moisture builds up, makes the oil acidic, and uses up the addatives...
So imo, a mostly highway driver can go very far on good oil, a local grocery getter might be barely good for 3000 miles on minimum spec oil....
judgement is king, unless you spend a few $$ to test the oil....and a $20 oilchange for a grocery getter at walmart costs the same as the oil test....and the used oil is not wasted, but burt as heating oil, or rerefined into other products, so enviormentaly, that argument is dead....

 

OK, posting it for the last time because I want others that may not be in the know to understand this. YOU ARE WRONG!!!!

Color does not indicate the health of motor oil. Heat alone can change the color so please stop spreading fud. Do a little research and you will find what I am saying to be true. Also, the color has nothing to do with bypassing the filter. Detergents suspend soot and that soot may be small enough to simply pass through the filter. Many oils will tun black with a few weeks of putting it it. By your assessment they should be changed within a few hundred miles.


http://www.oilsandlube.com/oil-color.htm
http://www.texlube.com/oilmyths.htm
http://www.motor-oil-engineers.com/oilcolor.htm
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...Frequency.aspx

 

You wrote:
" Detergents suspend soot and that soot may be small enough to simply pass through the filter"

I wrote:
"cannot continue filtering the smaller particles. as such they bypass and become part of the oil... making it darker."

WOW, looks pretty close to the same statement!

 

No, you stated they bypass the filter and this is not the case. In fact they pass through the filter. Very different... Why? If a particle passes though a filter then it is not deemed large enough to be of concern. Lastly, you have to read the entire sentence and not pull something out of context to defend your stance.

Pretty close != the same.

I'm not going to argue further with you as I have made my point and backed it. Please just stop with the color remarks and some people may get nervous over something silly.

 

I read every line and thanks so much for passing that information on.

 

Nothing like another oil thread for entertainment.

Seriously, when was the last time you had a modern car's engine die because of an oil related problem? Better engines, better oils. Do what you need to do to sleep at night. In my diesel cars, running synthetic, I went 15-20,000 between changes. Everything else in the car (water pump, suspension, injectors) went but the engine always ran strong.

I will say that it's funny/suspicious that the manufacturer intervals only starting increasing after auto makers began offering free scheduled maintenance. When they're on the hook for the change, they're like "yeah, 10K is fine."

 

will say that it's funny/suspicious that the manufacturer intervals only starting increasing after auto makers began offering free scheduled maintenance.

or

free scheduled maintenance only emerged after engineers recommended extended intervals . . .

I did 15,000 mile changes on my 02 for 100,000 miles and the car ran better when I sold it then the day I bought it (more mpg and crisp throttle response). No engine mods other than a K&N filter (another bashed action!)

 

That may be part of it but the cost of oil overseas is most likely what caused them to extend the use of oil. A simply oil change in Germany is 200+ euro, not cheap at all and they don't get free oil changes with their purchases.

 

It seems weird to **** way $100 or $200 on an oil change you don't even know if you really need but not spend $25 for oil analysis so that you can stop guessing and really know. Even spending $50 or $60 on a DIY oil change that you didn't need is rather silly if you think about it, when you could have done something that would have told you with confidence whether your oil is holding up well or not.

If you're not worried, follow the manufacturer's advice and motor on. If you're worried, then have your oil analyzed whenever you can't sleep because you think your oil is too old (3,000, 7,500, 10,000 whatever miles) and proceed accordingly.

 

I like this approach... I think I'll try out an oil analysis at the half way point and go from there. Even a first time DYI with purchase of ramps/oil jug/etc. AND the oil analysis is still going to be the same or maybe less that a dealership job in my area. Looks like http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ will send a sampling kit to Canada for free and only charge $25 for the test.

 

Maybe people are changing the oil at greater intervals because oil is running out and we ought to conserve it as much as possible and whenever possible, not because they aim to "cheap out". Interesting thread.

 

That is who I use for oil testing.

I think, since I'm buying this Mini new, I'm going to do the oil test at 7500 intervals to see how the oil holds up. Once free maintenace is over, I'll keep testing the oil to see how different filters hold up at 7500 miles (OEM vs aftermarket.) The testing should be soon enough to recognize any problems in the oil, but not too soon where I'm just pissing money away on oil testing kits. lol. I need this car to hit 200,000k since I drive 27k miles a year...and that's only for work!

 

Zippy, I mean nor disrespect here but I have owned 3 diesel motorhomes and all have had 400+hp Cummins engines. Everyone of them required oil changes every 15K miles, a far cry from 50K, 100K or 300K miles as you suggest for over the road trucks oil changes. Are you sure you're not taking about coolant change as 100K is the mileage for a antifreeze change in my motorhome?

 

This goes back a while and all from memory...

At the company I worked for oil changes were performed on the city and short haul tractors at 40,000 mile intervals.
The line tractors, for long haul, were usually changed at at 60,000 mile intervals.
They were all using 250 or 300 hp Cummings in-line 6 cylinders.

I don't remember the size of the filter, the housing size was close to a 5 gallon can, and it took a full 12 gallons for an oil change.

 

http://www.oilsandlube.com/oil-color.htm
http://www.texlube.com/oilmyths.htm
http://www.motor-oil-engineers.com/oilcolor.htm
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...requency.aspsx

^^^^ all seem like marketing tools selling something else. And I've never seen my oil turn black after a few hundred miles as stated.

but......You convinced me,... I'm gonna from NOW ON.... change the the oil from my Modded Z and MCS ONLY.... ONLY,... every 15k miles. I'm probably wrong for even checking the oil. Wow,.... Ive been doing wrong this WHOLE TIME.

 

Nope...(only been trucking for a year, actually a uneployed corporate pilot)
My last truck, a 2005 freightliner with a mercedes benz motor did have a 20,000 mile oilchange interval, no testing, regular oil...
My new 2012 freightliner cascadia with a dd13 motor has a 50,000 mile change interval, no tests, regular mobil delvac1300, no tests...
The longer intervals have become VERY common...the 100k+ intervals, with testing can be done very frequently, and sometimes inclues draing 1 gallon of oil and addind fresh based upon the tbn levels....
Many folks have started using "bypass filteration", a second filter that filters only appx 15% of the flow per pass to revove contamnats to the sub micron level, a HEPA filter if you will for oil...
Oil life with good filteration has become indefinite, and is often changed due to contamination of fuel or coolant after an engine issue, as opposed to miles...
owner operators are the ones pushing the limits here, but the dd13 motor (detroit disel) comes from the factory with a 50,000 interval, not secondary filter, no testing on conventional oil....
previous generation motors were 20,000 like i stated.

 

well, since people who change their oil too frequently are idiots and are DAMAGING their engines as this thread to trying to sell,... I still gotta ask??

Why is my gas milage $hitty when I let my oil get nasty and "black", as opposed to fresh RP/RP filter (and not Black)???

same conditions, same trip, different times??

 

Do as you please, we live in a country that oil is cheap and if you want to change it every 2 miles then by all means go for it. You stated that the links I provided were marketing which makes no sense. Why would an oil company tell you that it is ok to go longer? Surely they would want you to buy more oil?

My point that you so clearly missed is that you should have it analyzed rather than use a method that will tell you nothing and will be different from car to car. You can't tell squat from looking at oil.

Lastly, nobody called anyone an idiot. What we are doing is providing facts so that you can make an informed decision. I had read a report that stated that early (under 3K) on synthetic oils do actually cause wear on the engine due to the polymers not being worn to an optimal level. In other words, the lubrication capacity of the oil increases before it begins to decrease with wear. It makes sense....

If you have an oil that can go 25K and you change it every 3K then I really think you are wasting money, especially if the car is designed to handle the long intervals. That doesn't make you an idiot, it just means you are wasting your money and making more waste. That is what California is trying to get across and I actually agree with them.

I'd prefer to use a little science rather than simply guessing or using my calibrated eye.

 

I think the only folks hurting their motors by changing their oil are the ones who mess up...
I hate to say any info from CA is suspect due to the politics involved....but...
If you do your own oil changes, dispose of the oil properly, all is fine...heck i don't thonk anybody says to change mini oil at 3000 miles, and many folks agree that the mini recomended oil change is too long, especially fow lower mileage cars or for ANY tracked car (both of which clasifies as SEVERE DUTY)....
severe duty...short trips, infrequent use, or racing, all require more frequent changing....heck an oil test will show poor tbn in these cases, but there are always special cases....no rules are written in stone in cars...much of the cost benifit calculations are fuzzy math, educated guesses at best..