Oil: I'm Not Convinced It Ever Needs To Be Changed

[chopped]

If I dont change mine I have no 'paint' for my buildings..lol

 

[brain55]

Here is my recent experience. As some my know I'm an equipment mechanic with my own mobile repair business. I only use DELO 400 oil for all of my customers at nearly $5 a quart. The guys at the parts store were always trying to get me to switch to their store brand.

One of my customers had a head gasket failure on a Kubota machine with 6500 hrs that regularly gets its oil changed every 100-150 hrs. When I pulled the valve cover off I was surprised to find how clean it was, there was no black film like many diesel engines normally have, it looked like a well maintained gas engine. I was even more impressed when I pulled the cylinder head off and found no ridge at all on any of the cylinders. I'd say this engine has a very good chance of living to 12000 hrs.

I took that valve cover to the parts store with me to show them why I don't buy their store oil, they haven't tried selling me their oil since. I think I'll stick to frequent oil and filter changes with good oil and filters.

Brian

 

[94BULLITT]

I knew a guy that ran his S-10 102,000 with out changing it. Then one day it quit carrying oil pressure for some reason and was smoking really bad:laughing:

 

[94BULLITT]

I took that valve cover to the parts store with me to show them why I don't buy their store oil, they haven't tried selling me their oil since. I think I'll stick to frequent oil and filter changes with good oil and filters.

Brian

I don't know what parts store you are referring to but Napa brand oil is Ashland which is Valvoline.

 

[brain55]

I don't know what parts store you are referring to but Napa brand oil is Ashland which is Valvoline.

I have no problem running Valvoline oil in my gasoline engines but when I open up a diesel engine with 6500 hrs on it and it looks as clean as this one did, it would take a lot to convince me to change from the DELO to save a few bucks.

Brian

 

[indianaEPH]

I know a guy who has an old Land Rover, late 1960s. He decided to see how long the engine would last with just topping up the oil. He drove it over 50,000 miles, just topping off the oil. The engine never actually died. The oil leaks got worse (more than the typical British car) and it eventually began to smoke, mostly from worn valve guides.

That is the likely situation here. He just keeps topping it off. Some years ago there where systems on heavy trucks that would actual inject some of the oil into the cylinders to burn (this is before many of the strict emissions regs) and you would periodically top off the oil. You never had to change the oil!

I think this is what is going on here.

I know of a woman that bought a new car. The salesman told her that it was maintenance free. She never changed the oil or even checked it. The engine lasted 25K miles before it failed.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Here is my recent experience. As some my know I'm an equipment mechanic with my own mobile repair business. I only use DELO 400 oil for all of my customers at nearly $5 a quart. The guys at the parts store were always trying to get me to switch to their store brand.

One of my customers had a head gasket failure on a Kubota machine with 6500 hrs that regularly gets its oil changed every 100-150 hrs. When I pulled the valve cover off I was surprised to find how clean it was, there was no black film like many diesel engines normally have, it looked like a well maintained gas engine. I was even more impressed when I pulled the cylinder head off and found no ridge at all on any of the cylinders. I'd say this engine has a very good chance of living to 12000 hrs.

I took that valve cover to the parts store with me to show them why I don't buy their store oil, they haven't tried selling me their oil since. I think I'll stick to frequent oil and filter changes with good oil and filters.

Brian

This doesn't show that another brand of oil wouldn't have had the same results, It only proves that the oil used on this particular machine being used as it has been used has an engine in this condition. Unless you run several or at least one other machine side by side with this one and then break them down to show the difference your theory that your brand is better has no validity.
I use Kubota oil and change per owners manual on my Kubotas and I use Pennzoil changed every 4 to 5 thousand miles on my vehicles except my Challenger because it has FREE oil changes for life from the dealer every 4 months or 4000 miles. I don't do the 4 months but do it at 6 months. it has been changed 2 times and has less than 4000 miles on it.Even being free I'll probably stop doing that and just do it annually.
When I was young a long, long, long time ago the "Thing" was Motor Honey. Some people used it and swore it was the reason their car engines ran faster, used less gas and lasted longer. No research by any independant company ever proved it had any positive effect but they also could never prove it caused any damage and both sides were claimed. Some times these claims resulted in fights and family fueds in parking lots.:laughing:
As a Counselor I can probably tell which Camp people sit in concerning oil changes, hyd fluids changes and brand loyalty after a couple of sessions. I personally believe most of it is in the mind and people should do whichever one allows them to get the best nights sleep. Course I did tell my own policy concerning changes. I guess I fit in the middle of the 2 extremist sides. I use Kubota oil for my tractors, do I believe it's better? No, it's just easier to stop by Barlows and pick it up or get it when I'm there but some times I'll drive across town to save a dollar if I think a business is gouging me. I have my own mental problems to deal with just like all the rest of you. :cool2:

 

[Turbys_1700]

I used to change all the oil in my vehicles @ 3K miles intervals...
I now change my F350 @ 5K and utilize my Buick's GM oil maintenance monitor for the oil changes...
To me it is working very good...
Typically, my Buick will show to change the oil in the 6500 to 7500 mile interval range...
This car is typically driven 5 days a week to work that constitutes 17 miles one way in rural and some stop and go...
I bought the car with 103K miles on it and she now has 165K miles on it...
I do typically add 1 quart @ 4K miles...
My 7.3 Powerstroke gets driven typically 6K miles a year and the 5K interval change is the manufacturers recommended interval...
Personally, I think that it is hard for some people to change their habits on oil changes...
Computer controlled engines and improved tolerances and oil technology have increased the intervals needed for oil changes and typical maintenance...
Back in the 50's and 60's 100K on an engine was atypical for the most part...
Today, when I buy a used car, I look at 100K miles to be the half life of an engine if it has been properly maintained...
My last two cars went 185K and 225K with good maintenance...
My Buick should go at least 200K...

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

we get several machines a year in the shop where oils/filters have never been changed. One was a nice Kubota B2410 that was never touched from day 1. The HST blew up at 1500 hours. It was amazing it ran, the oil was like sludge.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

we get several machines a year in the shop where oils/filters have never been changed. One was a nice Kubota B2410 that was never touched from day 1. The HST blew up at 1500 hours. It was amazing it ran, the oil was like sludge.

Which cost more? Fixing the trans at 1500 hours or you servicing the tractor per Owners Manual for those 1500 hours at the proper service intervals, now don't cheat?