Why you should change your oil

[ray66v]

We have oil that can go 10,000+ miles, transmissions that are designed to never change the oil, brake pads that can go over 70,000 miles, and spark plugs that can go over 100,000 miles.

And a lot of the things that didn't last, have been eliminated, plug wires, cap and rotor, points and condenser.

All this predictably adds up to people completely forgetting about doing any maintenance on their cars.

Tires seem to be the only thing that hasn't improved as far as longevity. They may have even lost some. They certainly like us coughing up $800-$1000 for a set of tires.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I decided that it was time to change the shocks on the wife's 2003 Olds Bravada with 110K on it. Got the new ones, took off the old Bilstein original and they were still pressured up fine both front and rear. Ride quality is the same with the new ones so I hope the new Gabriel shocks work as long. I checked the original brake pads while I had the wheels off and they still had lots of pad left. At 100K I had the plugs and fan belt changed but it still has all the original hoses which the mechanic said all looked good.

The only thing that I have had to repair on that car is the water pump, a couple of windshields and 1 new set of tires in the 14 years of ownership (bought it in Oct 2002) Still running on the 2 nd set of tires and hope to get about another 10-15K out of them. It came with Michelin and that is what is on it now.

 

[Copperhead]

Well, the tire OEM's really haven't moved their tire technology from their heavy duty offerings to the auto and light truck realm. I typically will get well over 400,000 miles out of a set of drive tires on my commercial trucks, and over 200,000 miles on steer tires. Will still have 8-9/32 tread left and get $150 each for the old tires when I put on new ones. Sure, the heavy truck tires cost more, after all they are bigger and more plys and better tread compounds, but with what they deliver, they are far more cost effective than auto/pickup tires.

 

[lilranch2001]

It holds 7qts and I got 6 out of it and another 1/2 qt in the filter. It had not used or lost any oil and I am fairly certain he did not check it because it took some effort to get the dipstick out. It was corroded in place.

Chris

Maybe......
It wasn't really bearing material.....
Maybe he had just stopped at the strip club and gotten an extra heavy load of glitter

 

[jack707]

Since I am now driving the ranger I will change the fluid in the back diff. And motor oil in the spring or when I have time.

 

[sld]

Sorry to stray off topic but when do you guys do your first oil change on a brand new car? I did my 2015 Taurus at 1k miles and then again at 5k with 5k intervals after that.

We have a brand new Escape in the family now and it is approaching 2k and I haven't done the initial oil change. May try and do that today. Just don't know if I am being too ****.

 

[2ndhalf]

I don't know what is about some of the younger generation and not understanding the need to change the oil in cars. I have two boys and have pounded it into them the importance and still they go too long and since they drive old oil burners often run them way too low on oil.

My youngest son has blown two engines before finally, I think he has learned. I think .. I didn't have to blow engines to get that from my dad's advice.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Sorry to stray off topic but when do you guys do your first oil change on a brand new car? I did my 2015 Taurus at 1k miles and then again at 5k with 5k intervals after that.

We have a brand new Escape in the family now and it is approaching 2k and I haven't done the initial oil change. May try and do that today. Just don't know if I am being too ****.

I do them at the normal interval. For me that's at 5000 miles.

Chris

 

[lilranch2001]

Agreed, I go with the manufactures recommendation
I guess early does not hurt the wallet terribly tho....

 

[Retiredguy2]

Sorry to stray off topic but when do you guys do your first oil change on a brand new car? I did my 2015 Taurus at 1k miles and then again at 5k with 5k intervals after that.

We have a brand new Escape in the family now and it is approaching 2k and I haven't done the initial oil change. May try and do that today. Just don't know if I am being too ****.

I always have done the first oil and filter change on a NEW vehicle I have owned after maybe 300-400 miles but the last new one I purchased was back in Y2K (!!!), BTW, I went back to the OP about the Ford originally mentioned...I could not believe the miles driven over a 13 month period...18,136??? I still have the Y2K GMC I purchased new and the attachment shows the current mileage.