Interesting article about oil change interval

[getut]

So you would classify it like the below... I do realize we are talking about vastly different mileages.. but here is what it looks like. I list winner/loser, but I suspect that can only truly be calculated if the starting point for each oil is known also. PLEASE correct anything that is incorrect as there will be errors in this:

Fe- 5, 11 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower = better, Winner = Mobil1)
Cr- 0, 0 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower = better)
Ni-0. 10 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower = better, Winner = Mobil1)
Al- 2 ,3 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower = better, Winner=Mobil1)
Pb- 6, 10 (Additive for lubricity??? Wear metal???)
Cu- 2, 11 (Additive??? Wear metal???)
Sn- 1, 1 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower=better)
Ag- 0, 0 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower=better)
Ti -0, 0 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower=better)
Si -16, 17 (suspended pollutant, lower=better)
B -125, 27 (Additive, higher=better, Winner=Mobil1)
Na- 6,12 (Additive???, Suspended Pollutant???)
Mo- 44, 1 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower=better, Winner=Amsoil)
P- 668, 1161 (Additive, higher=better, Winner=Amsoil)
Zn- 757, 1175 (Additive, higher=better, Winner=Amsoil)
Ca- 2991, 2643 (Additive???, Suspended Pollutant???)
Barium- 0, 0 (Additive, higher=better)
Mg- 13, 797 (Additive, higher=better, Winner=Amsoil)
TBN- 4.5, 3.3 (Total protection reference number, higher=better, Winner=Mobil1)

 

[gsxr1100]

Fe- 5, 11 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower = better, Winner = Mobil1)
Cr- 0, 0 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower = better)
Ni-0. 10 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower = better, Winner = Mobil1)
Al- 2 ,3 (Wear metal, not an additive, lower = better, Winner=Mobil1)
Pb- 6, 10 (Wear metal, Winner=Mobil1)
Cu- 2, 11 (Wear metal, Winner=Mobil1)
Sn- 1, 1 (lower=better)
Ag- 0, 0 (Wear metal)
Ti -0, 0 (Wear metal)
Si -16, 17 (lower=better)
B -125, 27 (Winner=Mobil1)
Na- 6,12 (Sodium, oil add)
Mo- 44, 1 (Winner=Amsoil)
P- 668, 1161 (Winner=Amsoil)
Zn- 757, 1175 (Winner=Amsoil)
Ca- 2991, 2643 (Additive)
Barium- 0, 0 (Additive, higher=better)
Mg- 13, 797 (Additive, higher=better, Winner=Amsoil)
TBN- 4.5, 3.3 (Total Base number, higher=better, Winner=Mobil1)

The issue or point is that I have over 3X the miles and the results of both are fine and within limits (and close). The numbers on wear are VERY close even after I went over 12K miles.

We can say winner/loser but I would have hoped for better numbers for the price of Mobil with that little miles on the oil. I would have hate to see if the guy went the full 7,500 miles.

 

[getut]

I agree fully... winner/loser are not really relevant given the mileage differences. I was curious as to the highher/lower for each chemical though.. and maybe the percentage of change in each oil in this test would really give a lot more information.

 

[AutoUnionTypeC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I would have hate to see if the guy went the full 7,500 miles.)</font>

My maintenance costs speak for themselves 203,000+ miles and the only non-wear item repair was a rear O2 sensor. Curiously I've had to replace the rear O2 sensor on three different cars within 3000 miles of making the switch from dino to synthetic. The first was on my wife’s now retired 245, the second was on my Jetta and the third was on my wife’s "new to us" 850. All three times it was with Mobil#1 and all three cars run various versions of the Bosch Motronic engine management system. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Go figure.
Regards, J

 

[gsxr1100]

I am not saying it is a bad oil, but based on his oil test, the oil is not holding up to well compared to Amsoil in this specific application.

 

[Tom4310]

First of all, this is IMHO and just my .02 worth.

On the average, we tractor owners spend $20,000-$30,000 on our tractors and $20-$40,000+ on our vehicles and trucks. Why would anybody go to Wally World and buy oil for $.89 a quart and put it in your $30,000 tractor or $40,000 car or truck?

How much more a year would it be to get good oil? Why not get the best oil for your "best" tractor. You spent the time to do the research on the "best" tractor and spent good money on it. What is $25-$50-$100 more on an investment in the tens of thousands?

Ok, now I feel better...

 

[gsxr1100]

I agree. It is almost as bad as the pople with diesels and SUV that whine and complain about the fuel prices.

You are the ones who choose to buy the auto. That is part of owning it.

My oil is cheap in the long run. $45 per year for the Lexus and $24 for the BX.

 

[fishman]

I used to agree that the best oil was always the best to buy. Now I am not too sure. I still buy synthetic oil for my expensive high-reving engines, but I recently changed to Supertech from Wal-mart for my car and truck (Hey, Mike looked at the numbers and said it was o.k. for short drain intervals! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) Anyway, I can do an oil change, including filter, for both vehicles for under $20 total. After two changes, I have had zero troubles and really like saving the $ over other "branded" oils. At 3,500 to 4,000 miles per change, it will cost me, at most, $100 per year for oil changes. This is a similar cost to Mike's extended 15k drain interval and a viable alternative in my opinion.

Now, after rolling around in the gravel every two to three months for a year, I might just go buy some Amsoil! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[deereman63]

Im interested in the time span between oil changes. The family is not doing so many miles as it used to. So for example one car has only done 1000 miles in the last 3 months. Do you thing I could go 4 mths at this rate of would you be rigid about the 3month interval. Im a 5-30 castrol gtx man using an unmentionable but readily available filter

 

[KAB]

Being familiar with GM's Oil Life system and their recommendation I would see no problem waiting till you have the number of miles that you want to change to oil or 1 yr. The only reason that I say 1 yr is because that seems to be the recommended time for all of the none 3mo/3,000m change recommendation. (Regular and Synthetic Oils).

Just looked at Ford's current recommendation 5,000m no time frame listed.

Kurt