High Mileage Oil

[kenmac]

Originally Posted by Z-Michigan

That is great info, but you missed the question. The question was "do oils marketed as being specifically for high mileage vehicles have any benefit for RichZ based on his usage?" You apparently are responding to a hypothetical question about extended change intervals.

On the other hand, I have a 2006 Ram/Cummins which has been getting synthetic (but not Amsoil) oil changes every 7500 miles, so I may have to consider trying the Amsoil and UOA path. We got tired of $100 oil changes with dino 15W-40, so are doing them at home with Rotella-T 5W-40. Apparently your dealer is a bit cheaper on service! I actually have Amsoil ATF and gear oil (diffs) currently inbound for it.

Yep. My thoughts exactly. Not talking about extended drain oils ,but the ones that are advertised as high mileage oils as in vehicles with over 100,000 miles etc,

[anthonyk]

Ah, I misunderstood.
I thought he was asking about "high mileage" as in "high mileage between changes".
Was it something else?
Is there some sort of special oil you use when you get up into the hundreds of thousands of miles?
I thought he was asking about "benefits".
If he was, I still suggest that saving a couple of grand over 3 years was a good "bene"

anthony

[DmansPadge]

Originally Posted by anthonyk

Ah, I misunderstood.
I thought he was asking about "high mileage" as in "high mileage between changes".
Was it something else?
Is there some sort of special oil you use when you get up into the hundreds of thousands of miles?
I thought he was asking about "benefits".
If he was, I still suggest that saving a couple of grand over 3 years was a good "bene"

anthony

Yeah it might have been a little off topic.. but that is really impressive and I for one appreciated that post to read. I think the original poster was wondering about "high mileage" oils. You've probably seen the commercials.... "when you hit 75,000 miles... switch to "(insert brand here) high mileage."

[anthonyk]

I see. I never knew that there were special oils for cars with lots of mileage.
I don't see any reason to switch, unless you're moving to an area with different environmental conditions, such as colder/hotter weather, as viscocity can be affected.
You know, to tell the truth, I never, ever expected to see that kind of drain interval, but the engineers I spoke with at the oil testing place said that if you use high quality filters, and keep the oil clean, synthetics can go even longer than that.
Very impressive, and very money saving.

anthony

[On-Site Oil Analysis]

The true scoop on high mileage oils......... No it is not just advertising first it is a semi-synthetic oil so it is a better grade of oil. Second they add seal softeners in it to keep your seals from hardening which is what typically happens in older vehicles. That way you don't have the leaks you typically get in the older vehicles and have to replace them. Which as you know to replace a leaking rear main seal is expensive.

So Better oil, with better cleaning capabilities, better lubrication, and heat capabilities, and seal softeners. If compared over just your every day conventional motor oil. Now if you were already using semi synthetic then just the seal softener additive is all you are gaining.


I hope this helps get you past all the hype and confusion ...........

[RalphVa]

Synthetics give better fuel economy and more hp. The higher hp is why the race car drivers use it. The fuel economy increase advertised by ExxonMobil for Mobil 1 is 4%. I think I'm getting about 3%, about 1 mpg at the 30 mpg average on my 3 vehicles. On monster vehicles only getting about 15 mpg, the difference will be hard to measure. Biggest advantage is only having to change oil once/year for me.

Ralph

[mrutkaus]

i've always been suspicious.

oh, yes i mean about chemicals that "soften" seals, i've heard they "expand" them, not soften them, and there's obviously a limit to that.

mike

[SPYDERLK]

Originally Posted by mrutkaus

i've always been suspicious.

oh, yes i mean about chemicals that "soften" seals, i've heard they "expand" them, not soften them, and there's obviously a limit to that.

mike

Yes! It is a mild chemical attack of the seal compound. Works but you cant go back. You should wait until there is some real leakage, not justbarely seeping, before starting to use it.
larry

[Kaliburz]

Originally Posted by SPYDERLK

Yes! It is a mild chemical attack of the seal compound. Works but you cant go back. You should wait until there is some real leakage, not justbarely seeping, before starting to use it.
larry

Yup. Don't use an 'seal' product until needed.

I've always wondered what this oil for "high mileage" engines were about.....