The surprising truth about motor oils

[Z71]

The 2 in the photos are still under warranty.

In all my years of using synthetic oil and extended OCI, I have not had one engine related problem.

 

[5030]

Bird:

I just know what goes where and how much. Machine tools take very specialized oils and way oil looks like soy sauce and stinks. It comes in a clear one gallon jug that says Bridgeport/Harig on it and costs $45.00 a gallon. Flood coolant comes in grey colored 5's and is concentrated same with mist coolant and the mist coolant is a different color and comes in a transparent container. Light spindle oil is almost clear and is a yellow 5 gallon plastic pail and Rarus Compressor oil is clear in a 5 gallon black plastic pail. My 85-140 Spirax is in a 5 with a pump on it (yellow pail), the Mystic JT8 is in 2.5 gallon black plastic jugs from TSC. My grease is under the air greaser in a 15 gallon/150 pound drum and the good old Marvel is in a red one gallon jug right next to the PB Blaster, WD 40 and a couple cans of either starter.

Oops, I forgot the Tap-Ease tapping fluid in squeeze pints and the Starrett instrument oil in a squeeze tin can, the Amsoil Synthetic (I admit I use it too!!!) in various grades in the silver quart bottles and a gallon of Amsoil 2 stroke 50-1 oil in a clear jug.

I tinkk that about covers it. All on respective shelves ready for use.

See, inventory by color coding. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'll never divulge anything about my 2 Gerstner Machinist boxes filled with precision tools, that would take at least 2 pages along with all the fixtures, cutting tools and acessories for all my machines. Lets just say I have a pile of money in my garage. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[KAB]

FYI,

GM now uses it's Oil Life Monitor in Most of its vehicles. It is calibrated on the oil used from the factory. Dino or Syn.
The following quote is from the 06 Buick Lucerne Owners Manual.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Scheduled Maintenance
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message in
the Driver Information Center (DIC) comes on, it means
that service is required for your vehicle. Have your
vehicle serviced as soon as possible within the next
600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if you are
driving under the best conditions, the engine oil life
system may not indicate that vehicle service is
necessary for over a year. However, your engine oil and
filter must be changed at least once a year and at
this time the system must be reset. Your GM
Goodwrench® dealer has GM-trained service technicians
who will perform this work using genuine GM parts
and reset the system.
If the engine oil life system is ever reset accidentally,
you must service your vehicle within 3,000 miles
(5 000 km) since your last service. Remember to reset
the oil life system whenever the oil is changed. See
Engine Oil Life System on page 5-18 for information on
the Engine Oil Life System and resetting the system. )</font>

GM also estimates that the light will come on for the average user between 5-6,000 miles. When the most recent update to oil spec (API SM or ILSAC GF-4) came out I found a document from GM that stated "under the correct operation environment the Inline Vortec engines will be able to run up to 15,000mi on a (single) oil change" - this was for Dino Oil.

The Maintainence schedule is 1 page Schedule I and II and list what is done during the first then second then alternate between I and II. I have talked to quite a few people with the 3800 engine reporting Oil Change intervals in excess of 12,000mi (dino oil). My wife's Envoy indicates oil changes around 9,000 miles - combined driving. My Ion goes around 7,500 - mostly highway.

GM's Oil Life Monitor is a computer based program that looks at the driving habit: how long, what temperature, RPM, engine type (4,6,8) and other minor factors.

I have done google searches in the past for Oil Life Monitor (OLM) and found hits in the RV BB's where people have tested their oil and found that the OLM has recommended a change before it was really necessary but longer than what the old theory (3mo/3000mi) would have dictated.

Also, the OLM has been in use since 1988 and is standard on most GM vehicles sold today. Vehicles (including light duty trucks) that do not have the OLM - Pontiac Vibe, Chevy Aveo, Pontiac Soltice (w/o DIC).

Kurt

 

[Sully2]

????...I dont see a small squirt can of "3 in 1" listed anywhere???.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[CT_Tree_Guy]

<font color="blue"> ????...I dont see a small squirt can of "3 in 1" listed anywhere???.... </font>

LOL - I'm sure he does, he's got everything else!

Boy, I dunno - is it just me, or does Daryl sound like a pretty "slippery" character? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[3RRL]

Geez Daryl,
With all that stuff you've got it too easy! Sounds like there's no need for "elbow grease". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[HGM]

If I used that much different stuff, Id need to build a different shop /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.. But then again, I dont have as much equipment either... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[5030]

Rob:

You know every machine takes a different oil. Me, I like cod liver oil. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bates]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( "under the correct operation environment the Inline Vortec engines will be able to run up to 15,000mi on a (single) oil change" - this was for Dino Oil.

)</font>


My vote would be to NEVER change the oil if I was in the habit of trading cars every few years or leasing cars like most Americans. Simply topping off oil would add traces of additive packages. Changing the filter once in a blue moon might be a good idea, though.

GM doesn't really care when you change your oil or if you change it at all. Even with no oil changes, it's unlikely you'd wear out the engine before the warranty was up with SM rated oils maintained at the "Full" mark on the dipstick.

Americans have short attention spans. They'll drive a new car home and swear that they're going to "keep it forever".
2 or 3 years later, they're down at the dealer trading it in.
**** retentive maintenance just doesn't make sense for most people. They'll never see the reward.

 

[HGM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( "under the correct operation environment the Inline Vortec engines will be able to run up to 15,000mi on a (single) oil change" - this was for Dino Oil.

)</font>

My vote would be to NEVER change the oil if I was in the habit of trading cars every few years or leasing cars like most Americans. Simply topping off oil would add traces of additive packages. Changing the filter once in a blue moon might be a good idea, though.

GM doesn't really care when you change your oil or if you change it at all. Even with no oil changes, it's unlikely you'd wear out the engine before the warranty was up with SM rated oils maintained at the "Full" mark on the dipstick.

Americans have short attention spans. They'll drive a new car home and swear that they're going to "keep it forever".
2 or 3 years later, they're down at the dealer trading it in.
**** retentive maintenance just doesn't make sense for most people. They'll never see the reward. )</font>

Gee, what good advise that is...... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Makes one wonder why it is always recomended to avoid buying rental cars.... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Guess we should add leases from Wyoming to that list too...