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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 682
Veteran CEG\'er
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 682 |
The traditional recommended intervals for changing oil (3000 miles, etc) are obsolete and are basically leftovers from the days of leaded gasoline, which the companies keep repeating in order to sell stuff.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 398
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 398 |
Originally posted by Paul Kienitz:
The traditional recommended intervals for changing oil (3000 miles, etc) are obsolete and are basically leftovers from the days of leaded gasoline, which the companies keep repeating in order to sell stuff.
i think you are all forgetting about altitude as well, at higher altitude oil changes MUST be dont more frequently regardless of synth or non, ive no clue what altitude you are at... above that its better to change the oil more often and in no way is it expensive
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 245
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 245 |
As a person with a Commercial Pilots license since 1964 and worked on my A&P (airframe and powerplant) license I have never heard of altitude effecting oil. But I am curious. What is your source of information?
Col. Bill Evans CAF (ret)
98 Contour GL Zetec ATX (totally stock)
Color-Willow Mist
104,XXX Miles
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 398
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 398 |
Originally posted by Blevans:
As a person with a Commercial Pilots license since 1964 and worked on my A&P (airframe and powerplant) license I have never heard of altitude effecting oil. But I am curious. What is your source of information?
now is when i bring myself to sounding the fool... i heard it from my auto teacher back in high school when i was getting my valvoline certification... which in all honesty is worthless in the world but hey its a cute peice of paper... please correct me if im wrong though
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,335
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,335 |
The temperature and operateing cycle you use will effect the oil, but the altitude itself is not going to effect the therodynamics or chemistry of the oil enough to change OCI. 
· Jon Miconi
· Coming Soon!
· 01 Cougar
· 98 V70R
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 398
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 398 |
thats probably what he ment, and i am made the fool  thanks for the info though, you learn somthing new everyday and on this site you learn way to much, ive got a headache
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 126
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 126 |
As far as color of the oil after a given period of time in use, everyone has mentioned the various factors; engine condition, drive cycles, sludge in a neglected engine being removed, etc. What I haven't heard is that the discoloration is indictive of the contaminents being held in suspension. An oils ability to not loose it's viscosity, as well as it's ability to hold contaminents (chemical, mineral and particulate material) in suspension are the primary factors in determining change intervals. Once the oil is unable to hold contaminents in suspension, as well as maintain it's given viscosity (base and wear additives), the oil ceases to perform it's function as desired. Engine wear then goes through the proverbial roof.
Bill
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,335
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 3,335 |
Originally posted by contour_r_us:
As far as color of the oil after a given period of time in use, everyone has mentioned the various factors; engine condition, drive cycles, sludge in a neglected engine being removed, etc. What I haven't heard is that the discoloration is indictive of the contaminents being held in suspension.
Also take into consideration the coloring that the manufacturer adds to the oil so the consumer will have golden brown oil. The oil that is in my car right now is very dark right out of the bottle and has a ever so slight green tint. German Castrol Syntec 0w-30
· Jon Miconi
· Coming Soon!
· 01 Cougar
· 98 V70R
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 126
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 126 |
Originally posted by ExDelayed:
Originally posted by contour_r_us:
As far as color of the oil after a given period of time in use, everyone has mentioned the various factors; engine condition, drive cycles, sludge in a neglected engine being removed, etc. What I haven't heard is that the discoloration is indictive of the contaminents being held in suspension.
Also take into consideration the coloring that the manufacturer adds to the oil so the consumer will have golden brown oil. The oil that is in my car right now is very dark right out of the bottle and has a ever so slight green tint. German Castrol Syntec 0w-30
Excellent point. I recall that when I was first introduced to Mobil 1, back around 1977 (yea, I'm OLD), that it was so dark right out of the bottle. Looked dirty going into the engine. I was running SCCA Showroom Stock (German Opel)at the time, and was told to "get over it" (what ever term was in use back then).
Bill
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 19
New CEG\'er
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New CEG\'er
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 19 |
I just switched to synthetic oil (Red Line) recently as well and notice no difference in color change at the first oil change. Well, no real difference taking into account the original oil color. As others have said, it started out darker, so I'd expect it to end up darker.
Good point about contaminants in the oil. Dirt, carbon, etc. that the oil & detergents pick up while circulating through the engine. To really judge if the color change is thermal or dirt related, put some of the used oil on your finger and thumb and rub them together. If it feels like of rough or gritty, there's a lot of dirt in there. If it still feels really slick and smooth, it's just the thermal end. Also, do the sniff test. Put you now dirty fingers up to your nose. Smell like really bad burning oil? Then it's time to change.
No matter what, I check my oil twice a month in this fashion. Look, smell and feel. If there's any question in my mind as to whether or not it's bad, I'll go ahead and change it. The only time I really deviated from the 3000 mile rule was the first summer I had my car and had done some extensive bolt on mods, resulting in my driving fast and hard for several weeks.
Just some food for though from the new guy...
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