Changing oil and filter...do you go by the vehicle oil monitor or months & miles?

[corl]

Re: Changing oil and filter...do you go by the vehicle oil monitor or months & miles?

Its interesting to note that we older folks (over 45) change oil more often than recommended by the manufacturers. When I was racing most people changed their oil after every race, even Mobil 1 users. I changed mine once a season (ten 20 mile races plus practice and qualifying). My 2008 Porsche Boxster recommends an oil change every 20,000 miles or once a year. I change it about every 5-7000 miles, but not yearly. Oil quality has progressed considerably in the last 20 years. I personally have never had or been associated with an engine that failed because of oil problems. I did have a neighbor's daughter that never checked her oil level or changed her oil and ran her car out of oil over a period of 3 years and bang. When I was growing up I new a veterinarian that used his Corvair stationwagon as a practice vehicle and changed the oil for the first time at 30,000 miles ( Thats called break in oil.). He ran that car over 100k and never had problems. Pretty amazing. They don't change oil in the 24 hour races (Le Mans, Daytona) anymore but use synthetics.

I have been trying to be more up-to-date about changing intervals but its been hard.

 

[andrec999]

Re: Changing oil and filter...do you go by the vehicle oil monitor or months & miles?

First of all, it is important to change the oil according to the manufacturer's recommended intervals when the vehicule is still under warranty, and keep the bills if you do it yourself.

Secondly, when the warranty period is expired, I change the oil and filter every 6 months, in the spring and in the fall, due to the big difference in temperature (80 in summer to -30 in winter).

I always use synthetic oil in winter and the vehicules are alot easier to start , and I find they warm up faster .

Air filter changed once a year, at about 12,000. m /yr, including cabin filter.

All liquids flushed and changed at 60,000.m. Brake oil, transmission oil, prestone , fuel filter etc..

AndI keep my cars for a long time. 200,000.m even 300,000.m some of them , with never a major problem.

 

[Looking4new]

Re: Changing oil and filter...do you go by the vehicle oil monitor or months & miles?

My 2001 Freightliner gets the oil filters (2) changed every 10,000 kms/6,500 miles and the oil itself changed every 50,000 kms/31,000 miles. It has a C15 Cat motor. It gets greased with the filter changes.

 

[DarkBlack]

Re: Changing oil and filter...do you go by the vehicle oil monitor or months & miles?

Oil life monitor means nothing to me. All it knows is how many miles/ hours is on the oil. It has no knowledge of the oils condition (ie available TBN, viscosity,,etc, etc,..) I change based on UOA. Could be 10K ,15K, etc,. Could be + or - 1 year

Not true at all.
The computer knows much, much, more relevant information than just miles/hours.

 

[kenmac]

Re: Changing oil and filter...do you go by the vehicle oil monitor or months & miles?

Not true at all.
The computer knows much, much, more relevant information than just miles/hours.

My ears are open. Please tell how it monitors Low TBN, coolant in oil, silica levels, etc,etc

 

[crazyal]

Re: Changing oil and filter...do you go by the vehicle oil monitor or months & miles?

An oil monitor can keep track of things like engine load, air filter condition, cold starts, short engine runs, etc. It clearly can't do an oil analysis to determine how much life is really left.

 

[tcartwri]

Re: Changing oil and filter...do you go by the vehicle oil monitor or months & miles?

Why does the interval never change then? Every vehicle I own is mileage based.

 

[mikehaugen]

According to my manual, it is based (as stated) on driving habits, rpm, ambient temp, etc. My drive doesn't change much so at least for me I wouldn't expect an interval difference. I drive 38 miles one way to work 6 days a week. The only thing that I could think that it can't account for is dusty conditions, but hopefully a good air cleaner can help lessen the effects of that.

 

[cletus99]

Re: Changing oil and filter...do you go by the vehicle oil monitor or months & miles?

Here's a good article on oil monitors.

Oil Life Monitoring Systems - Edmunds.com

 

[JDgreen227]

Re: Changing oil and filter...do you go by the vehicle oil monitor or months & miles?

Here's a good article on oil monitors.

Oil Life Monitoring Systems - Edmunds.com

Interesting link...but the cases they presented didn't say whether the cars they gave examples of used dino or synthetic oil, nor did they say what kind of use the cars got. The 17,000 mile example...would like to know just HOW the oil life monitor calculated that figure. All highway mileage, warm climate, 400 miles per day average? As for the 8550 mile example...that is 4-5 years of driving for my truck, and there is no way I am going to run it that far without a change. Something I don't understand here is what is the big deal about changing oil too frequently? 6 quarts of Shell 5/30 dino oil and a new filter for my GMC costs me $18 and my time is free. So exactly what is the harm of a yearly oil change? Oh yes, we are told to conserve resources, yeah six quarts of oil is a pittance compared to the waste of resources created by those who drive a 6 mpg RV 500 miles a day. How many gallons of diesel fuel does a semi tractor pulling a loaded trailer burn a day going 70 mph?