|
|
Quick Change
So how often should you change the oil in your car? This guy did some actual research and found that most Americans are probably doing it too often.
I think I've been tinkering with cars longer than this guy, otherwise he would've mentioned something most shade-tree wrenchers like me learned long ago... when factories first began touting longer oil change intervals, they also included a "heavy use" interval that really was only 3000 miles. A cursory reading of the owner's manual would reveal that, in order to qualify for the "normal use" category, a car essentially had to be driven warm all the time on highways at 50+ mph. Everything else was "heavy use."
Now, even the newest car we own today is nearly 10 years old, which (as I recall) was before all these new high-mileage oils started coming out. It may very well be one of the last vehicles to include this "heavy use" out. At any rate, we've run synthetic in everything except the Spider*. The Milano's on its very first oil change on our watch, but I'm pretty convinced of the new Mobil 1's protection and do not plan on changing it for at least 7500 miles. The Cruiser's always been treated as an "any time after 3000 miles" car, which usually translates to 5000-7500, and it's doing fine after 150k+ miles.
The point being? Well, as long as you let the car get fully warmed up on your regular drives, and are at least mindful of oil changes, nowadays you'll probably be fine. If you drive some goofy one-off Italian sports car that was never designed to last more than five years anyway, well, you're on your own!
----
* Whose engine is just about 40 years old. The oil leaked out like a mistreated opera star's mascara the one time I tried synthetic in it. Maybe after a rebuild...
That's what you get for buying a Chrysler product. They're crap.
Now, my own anecdotal evidence here. I bought a 2000 Geo Tracker brand new. It had 5 miles on it when I purchased it. Based on the service manual, I changed the original oil out at 3K miles and used Mobil1. After that, every 5K miles. I also flogged the hell out of that engine. All 80bhp was employed at all times. A good chunk of all accelaration was done near WOT. So, how long did the engine last? Almost 200K miles. Even goofier is what actually failed - a connecting rod snapped and sent the piston through the sidewall.
In our current vehicles, I'm probably going to switch from Mobil1 to Amsoil, cost-dependent. I still change the oil ~ every 5K miles, give or take. Since they aren't Mopar, I expect them to last longer than the exterior.
Posted by: ronaprhys on February 25, 2009 09:28 AMExcuse me? My PT is not junk.
That's what you get for a Geo Tracker. :P
Posted by: ellen on February 25, 2009 11:04 AMHe didn't buy it he inherited it.
Then he never checked/changed the oil in it.
I will however give it props. Even with a whole in the side of the block that you could stick your fist thru it still ran.
Dropped the oil pan on the thing and you had a double handfull of large piston parts and another of small shards of metal.
Posted by: Jeff on February 25, 2009 12:32 PM