Never needs an Oil change!

Executive wrote:
$25 won't pay for enough oil...my engine with filter changes uses 41 quarts....:E....Dennis

Think he was talking about the cost of a oil analysis, which you can use to determine how much life the oil has left in it.

Daveinet wrote:

wny_pat wrote:
It has been ingrained into us that we have to change our engine oil every 3000 miles. The engine manufacturers have changed their requirements several years ago. The local Ford dealer is still telling me 3000 miles even though the book says 7500 oil change interval. No wonder we're running out of oil!!!

I assume you are joking, as most of the actual engine oil is recycled. The interval cycle is really around 6K miles, and is based on a high capacity pan, and the rate at which ZDDP and other additives are used up. ZDDP is the governing factor, as the concentration of ZDDP is a rather narrow spec. Too much ruins the catalytic converter, too little results in excessive scoring. So the high capacity pan keeps the concentration level more consistent throughout the change interval. ZDDP is the determining factor, with other additives added based on the ZDDP change interval.

Was talking in general when I made that statement, and not necessarily any particular engine. And my 2009 Ford Focus does call for a 7500 mile oil change interval. And the current oci for the Ford 3.5L, 3.7L and 5.0L Engines is 7500 to 10,000 miles for normal service and 5000 to 7499 miles the severe service. And if you want to consider extreme service, well then it is down in the 3000 to 4000 mile range. The newer models tell you when to change on the dash board when to change oil, and when comparing with oil analysis, do pretty well.

But you can go right ahead with your 3000 mile oil changes if you want. I have been doing 18,000 mile oil change intervals on my 2002 VW Jetta TDI since I got it about 150,000 miles ago and it is running just fine and has 250,000 miles on the clock. VW says I should change it with synthetic at 10,000 miles. The current European VW diesel cars are using a optic oil change sensor and are going up to 2 Years/30,000KM/18,000MILES oil change intervals maximums, determined by the sensor.

And yes, I do extend the oil change intervals on my Cummins. And I also run synthetic oil in it.

As for my cas, I'm of the beleif that oil doesn't wear out.

As for my DP, the spec is 15k.
First time, it got done by the dealer before I bought it (according to the paperwork they supplied)
second time, it got done by me.
Third time... well just is still out, but we're only at 7500 this year, on a 15k oil change spec.
I am not gonna change it until spring.

gbopp wrote:

WyoTraveler wrote:
My old 72 Ford Pinto consumed over a qt of oil every thousand miles when it was new. I never changed oil. I just added. The engine quit at about 125,000 and I had it towed and rebuilt. Mechanic called and said he never saw anything like it. There was almost 3" of sludge in the bottom of my oil pan. When they drained the oil they only got out a couple of qts although dip stick said full.

Since then I change oil and filter often. Probably more than required. Oil is cheap compared to break downs and where the happen.

I think this should answer the OP's question. :S

My son's dodge neon went 40,000 miles without an oil change until it broke. The sticker was still in the window.

Bad idea too I think.

Executive wrote:
$25 won't pay for enough oil...my engine with filter changes uses 41 quarts....:E....Dennis

True in your case it might make some sense, but for most of us DIYers, oil is less than $15.00 for 5 quarts. I think I will keep changing the oil according to the owner's manual. It really is that simple, no need for internet advice.

rocmoc wrote:
Heard this interesting theory from a local guy the other day. He never changes the oil in his Diesel Pusher BECAUSE he has to add a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. His theory is the oil is already changed every 20,000 miles from adding a new quart every 1,000 miles. He does change to filter every year or 10,000 miles which ever comes first. Since oil does not wear out and it is the additives that does and the filter is cleaning the oil, he does not change it. Thus far he has over 150,000 miles on his rig without problems. I did go on a couple of trucker forums to see when they changed their oil and the norm was 50,000 miles or more but they did change the filter more ofter. What ya think? I have an oil change coming up, LOL!

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

WELL, a lot of interest. An updated is in order. My oil & filter was changed today in my Cat powered Holiday Rambler.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

wny_pat wrote:
It has been ingrained into us that we have to change our engine oil every 3000 miles. The engine manufacturers have changed their requirements several years ago. The local Ford dealer is still telling me 3000 miles even though the book says 7500 oil change interval. No wonder we're running out of oil!!!

I assume you are joking, as most of the actual engine oil is recycled. The interval cycle is really around 6K miles, and is based on a high capacity pan, and the rate at which ZDDP and other additives are used up. ZDDP is the governing factor, as the concentration of ZDDP is a rather narrow spec. Too much ruins the catalytic converter, too little results in excessive scoring. So the high capacity pan keeps the concentration level more consistent throughout the change interval. ZDDP is the determining factor, with other additives added based on the ZDDP change interval.

JTHarley wrote:
REALLY!! This has to be a joke or a very very uninformed individual on how internal combustion engines work. Wow, I've heard some silly theories before but this one is right up there.

I knew a Subrau service manager who never change the oil in his
Subie. When someone came in for their first initial oil change, he kept the "break in" oil. He only changed the filter in his car and used that used "break in" oil as top off oil. Last I knew, he had several hundred thousand miles on his Subrau without a oil change.

It has been ingrained into us that we have to change our engine oil every 3000 miles. The engine manufacturers have changed their requirements several years ago. The local Ford dealer is still telling me 3000 miles even though the book says 7500 oil change interval. No wonder we're running out of oil!!!

rocmoc wrote:
Heard this interesting theory from a local guy the other day. He never changes the oil in his Diesel Pusher BECAUSE he has to add a quart of oil every 1,000 miles. His theory is the oil is already changed every 20,000 miles from adding a new quart every 1,000 miles. He does change to filter every year or 10,000 miles which ever comes first. Since oil does not wear out and it is the additives that does and the filter is cleaning the oil, he does not change it. Thus far he has over 150,000 miles on his rig without problems. I did go on a couple of trucker forums to see when they changed their oil and the norm was 50,000 miles or more but they did change the filter more ofter. What ya think? I have an oil change coming up, LOL!

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

Must have a Detroit 60. On our family boat we had a lube tank, so we never did a complete oil change, just added to the tank. We always changed oil and water separators in a timely fashion.

NMace wrote:

Lobstah wrote:

JetAonly wrote:
FWIW Cummins says specifically not to use UOA to extend oil change interval. Mine uses about 2 qt in 10k miles. To extend drain interval safely you need regular oil sample to develop trends. $40 for an UOA that has acid numbers and base numbers. Pretty quick you've paid for an oil change.

I think the reason he uses a qt every 1k is because he doesn't change the oil.

IMO

Blackstone charges $25.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/diesel-engine.php

Jim

Let's see, I can change my oil or have it tested to see if I need to change it for about the same cost. I think I will just change it.

While you may be able to change your oil for $25, many others with DP cannot. And if you're fulltiming and putting on 20k-40k miles per year, flushing 35-50qts of oil every 3K miles adds up. If you use 40qts, at even $1/qt, that's $120 every 12k miles.

To each their own :)

I change mine once a year, but only run about 7k miles on average.

Jim