Mobil 1 20,000 mile oil change.

[Gunny]

Its an "older truck" but has and oil life monitor, yet "synthetics were not around when it was made"????

Is this an aftermarket add on oil monitor that you installed? Anything that is new enough to have an oil life monitor was made when synthetic oil was around? Mobil 1 has been around since the 70s I think! And when I was working in a parts store in the early 00s every major manufacture had a synthetic oil as did our house brand of oil. At that time I don't think anything had oil life monitors , except maybe luxury cars...Mercedes or BMW??

Actually, it's a 2003 and I guess I just made an assumption that it was programmed for dino oil since nothing in the owners manual mentions synthetic oil. Also, since I usually drive right around the same number of miles every year, it seems that the oil life monitor on it keeps about the same settings through the year as it did when I first got it and was using dino oil. I've only been using Mobil 1 for the last 5-6 years.

 

[Snobdds]

Oil Life Monitors, new and old, use an algorithm to determine oil life remaining. Each manufacturer uses different loading factors, but there all pretty much the same.

It takes into account mileage, RPM, engine load, engine temperatures, engine hours and outside temperatures.

In theory, an engine could idle and not drive a mile and it still can recognize when the oil needs changed.

However, I adhere to the twice a year theory, more out of convenience, than anything else. I change in March or April and again in September or October.

 

[DEWFPO]

The oil life monitors are programmed for the oil spec'd for that particular vehicle's engine. If the engine was spec'd for Dino, then the OLM reflects that. If the engine came from the factory with Synthetic or a blend in it, then the OLM would reflect that.

DEWFPO

 

[dodge man]

I use Amsoil in all my vehicles and tractor and small engines. I generally change them once a year. That is also usually 10,000 mile or less. Anything over 10,000 miles seems to much for me. I think this Mobil oil is put out there to challenge Amsoil for extended oil changes.

 

[Snobdds]

The oil life monitors are programmed for the oil spec'd for that particular vehicle's engine. If the engine was spec'd for Dino, then the OLM reflects that. If the engine came from the factory with Synthetic or a blend in it, then the OLM would reflect that.

DEWFPO

I have never heard of them using type of oil plus an algorithm. For a manufacturer to due that, it would totally invalidate their oil life monitor because it creates multiple results for one variable, oil life.

It goes against how solid state programming works.

 

[timswi]

Oil Life Monitors, new and old, use an algorithm to determine oil life remaining. Each manufacturer uses different loading factors, but there all pretty much the same.

It takes into account mileage, RPM, engine load, engine temperatures, engine hours and outside temperatures.

In theory, an engine could idle and not drive a mile and it still can recognize when the oil needs changed.

However, I adhere to the twice a year theory, more out of convenience, than anything else. I change in March or April and again in September or October.

Never had an OLS until my 2011 but my theory is that the monitor for the new stuff deals with speed, launch, miles, tow/haul...All fly by wire now...My monitor goes off faster in the summer when I'm towing all the time with the tow/haul mode on which leads to my reverse engineering of the OLS..My trucks have not required synthentic oil, so the assumption is that the sensor is good for dino. Either way, not a bad feature to remind me.

I agree with your assumptions, all true as far as I know--Which ain't much actually.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Anyone that changes oil at 3K now a days is wasting money. I bought a new VW years ago and the owners manual said change oil every 5K but the European manual for the same car said change every 10K, same year same vehicle.

My Sprinter Diesel says every 10K and I think now went to 15K miles.

I purchased a new Ford but it was a lemon so during the court battle I vowed to not spend a dime on that vehicle and I didn't. The legal case took three years to settle and 60K miles later and I never changed the oil or filter. If it got low I would put some in. My last Kubota I didn't change the oil for 15 years and she ran just fine and when I sold it she was running great. I was a nice guy and did put in new oil and filter for the sale.
My point being everyone is **** about oil changes and there is no need. Amsoil has a 25K oil change oil that I've been using for 20 plus years and have never had an engine failure on the 10 plus regular and Commercial vehicles I own today and 10-15 vehicles that I have owned and sold. Wife's Jeep Commander had 150 miles on it only changes the oil 6 times before we traded it in. Had a Ford Arrowstar same thing traded it at 150K and even the dealer said it ran like new. this isn't stories from some guy who knows a guy, this is me see what happens with my own eyes. More stories just like mine......What Has Been The Longest (in miles) Without Changing The Oil? (brakes, tires) - Automotive -Sports cars, sedans, coupes, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, tickets, dealers, repairs, gasoline, drivers... - Page 4 - City-Data Forum

 

[Snobdds]

Anyone that changes oil at 3K now a days is wasting money. I bought a new VW years ago and the owners manual said change oil every 5K but the European manual for the same car said change every 10K, same year same vehicle.

My Sprinter Diesel says every 10K and I think now went to 15K miles.

I purchased a new Ford but it was a lemon so during the court battle I vowed to not spend a dime on that vehicle and I didn't. The legal case took three years to settle and 60K miles later and I never changed the oil or filter. If it got low I would put some in. My last Kubota I didn't change the oil for 15 years and she ran just fine and when I sold it she was running great. I was a nice guy and did put in new oil and filter for the sale.
My point being everyone is **** about oil changes and there is no need. Amsoil has a 25K oil change oil that I've been using for 20 plus years and have never had an engine failure on the 10 plus regular and Commercial vehicles I own today and 10-15 vehicles that I have owned and sold. Wife's Jeep Commander had 150 miles on it only changes the oil 6 times before we traded it in. Had a Ford Arrowstar same thing traded it at 150K and even the dealer said it ran like new. this isn't stories from some guy who knows a guy, this is me see what happens with my own eyes. More stories just like mine......What Has Been The Longest (in miles) Without Changing The Oil? (brakes, tires) - Automotive -Sports cars, sedans, coupes, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, tickets, dealers, repairs, gasoline, drivers... - Page 4 - City-Data Forum

You and you're mentality is why I never buy used.

 

[tcreeley]

I never have used synthetic oil in any of my vehicles. I go by the 3,000 mile rule. It has worked for me. My truck has a sensor telling me when to change the oil. I don't wait for it. Goes off around 6000 miles.

Re technology- I don't file points any more. The spark plugs last forever. The best one is the muffler. 140,000 miles in my 2003 2500HD Silverado. All original muffler and piping. I live in Maine and have driven on salty roads for the life of the truck. I've replaced calipers 2x - but the muffler just lasts.
Oil is cheap insurance and I drive my truck pretty hard.

 

[timswi]

You and you're mentality is why I never buy used.

Not to insult others..But I agree--I always buy new for the reasons said...Good Lord..A year later when you're using a putty knife to remove the sludge? Did that ONCE with a 75 Cutlass that the guy though it really didn't need oil changes all that often....I probably should have used a shovel to remove the crap out of the intake valley...YIKES!...Oil changes are realtively cheap even with stupid expensive Mobile1 and K&N stuff in comparison.