OCI, not when but why?

[Grumpy Bear]

I thought about asking this question as a poll, but I could run the Greek alphabet aground with the choices. 

 

Why do you change your oil?

Explain, please.

 

 

 

 

[KARNUT]

This question could mean two things. The title implies OCI. The question implies self service or changing the oil routinely or not. The first answer is implies self service. I’m going to answer why. This does bring back a memory of an uncle who rarely change his oil. Although his engine ran well past 100K miles it didn’t sound happy. Like everything in life it wears out, even humans. The length is debatable and applicable. Wearing out is the reason. 

[diyer2]

I change oil because I keep vehicles for years.

[Grumpy Bear]

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

This question could mean two things. The title implies OCI. The question implies self service or changing the oil routinely or not. The first answer is implies self service. I’m going to answer why. This does bring back a memory of an uncle who rarely change his oil. Although his engine ran well past 100K miles it didn’t sound happy. Like everything in life it wears out, even humans. The length is debatable and applicable. Wearing out is the reason. 

 

I have to say I did not see the ambiguity of the question and I thank you for pointing it out. 

 

I meant the latter not the former. Yes...OCI... 

 

I find your reply quite interesting. [the part emboldened above]. You tie three elements together quite artfully.

 

1.) Oil wears out

2.) Time to "wear out" is debated implying that this varies. 

2.) It varies by application. 

 

All three points together also imply that the criteria used by each owner/operator to condemn the oil also varies.  

Also implied is that the only point of agreement is that oil has a finite 'useable service life'. 

 

 

 

[Grumpy Bear]

2 hours ago, diyer2 said:

I change oil because I keep vehicles for years.

 

Longer service life of the driveline. Great! Implies lower driveline wear/damage. Good. Okay so mitigating damage by not running oil past its "service life".

 

We have a definition. 

 

Oil "service life" is when it can no longer effectively limit DAMAGE.

 

But as Stan pointed out, service life varies by application/service. 

 

So...   What criteria do you use to 'condemn' (change) your oil?

 

 

What indicates to you your oil is no longer capable of protecting?

 

                                                                                                   

 

[diyer2]

I will stick with more frequent oil changes because it has worked for me for years as I have stated before. This is what indicates my oils service life, me. 

 

[KARNUT]

I’ve been quite vocal on longer OCIs, no kidding. I have 4 vehicles with different OCIs. Two are time, once a year. The other 2 are quite different even using synthetic oil. The genesis the dealer insists on 3400 mile extreme duty oil changes. I laughed at them when they said Texas temperature was the reason. I said the car has a thermostat dummy. And with our warm temperatures less stress on start up. I relented. With the warranty consideration and new model. I didn’t want to take chances. The Honda CRV with their reputation and highway driving around 10K oil changes. It gets about 21/2 oil changes a year at that. My brother in law has a 13 Tahoe with my much hated and never will own cylinder deactivation engine. I advise him basically from reading this site never to go over 4K miles between changes. He’s a strict owners manual maintenance follower. 250-300K miles is his normal. Longevity for me is still to be determined. With my mother in law’s CRV arrival. I’m still at 2-3 year vehicle change. Without always selling the previous. I’m surprised how much I grown to like the CRV. Probably because the avalanche is close by and ready. I’m still under 2 years on the Honda. The maverick has my attention once the madness stops. The long short of it. I get bored it goes. That’s just the way it is. My daily generally doesn’t have a long shelf life. Unless there’s more than one to choose. 

[Grumpy Bear]

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

I have 4 vehicles with different OCIs.

 

Me too. 

 

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

I’ve been quite vocal on longer OCIs, no kidding.

 

I'm aware. 

 

1 hour ago, diyer2 said:

I will stick with more frequent oil changes because it has worked for me for years

 

So, successful experience conditioned habit. Hard to argue with success, eh?

 

May I assume from other threads that this interval is 3,000 miles? Why this particular number? Why not 2,500 or 3,500. What went into the INITIAL decision to choose 3K miles? 

[diyer2]

Old school 3K from dino oil days. Now doing 4K with Amsoil OE, Hyundai Santa FE. My truck sits on a battery maintainer most of the time now with storage insurance. Will do 3K on that, Castrol Edge or Magnatec, has gone 1 mile in 14 months.

 

[Grumpy Bear]

1 hour ago, diyer2 said:

Old school 3K from dino oil days. Now doing 4K with Amsoil OE, Hyundai Santa FE.

 

I appreciate the honesty. Thank you. Okay so once upon a time a long-long time ago in a land far-far away there was a young fellow without five plus decades of life experience that chose a 'marketing' number that seemed as good a place as any to start and using it, you had success.

 

Totally understand. How I started as well except the 'family' number was 2,000 (or so I thought until some recent conversation with my father). His real high mile motor daily drivers were actually changed ever 1,000 miles. Ah...oil was cheap. 10 cents a quart. 

 

So, what changed your mind with the Hyundai? I mean why 4,000?

 

 

 

[customboss]

I change oil when its spent. If it still can work well I use it and base that on observation, oil analysis, and experience doing R&D level engine and lubricants/fuels testing.   There is NO reason to change oil that can still work well. Well I suppose bias confirmation is one reason since it makes us FEEL so good.  Engines don't care about feelings.  LOL  

Edited November 10, 2022 by customboss

[swathdiver]

I know a little about oil.  After thirty plus years of driving one observation is that after about 5,000 miles the oil is dead.  There's little lubricity in it as you rub it between your fingers compared with new oil.  You can literally feel the renewed pep in the engine right after an oil change.  I've noticed this with conventional oils and synthetic oils in mostly the 10W30 and 5W30 range in my lifetime.

 

My Gen IV 5.3 and 6.2 LS engines likes their oil changed at around 4,000 miles.

 

Anyone ever see the movie, "The Super" with Joe Pesci?  His slumlord father had a motto that when they bought a real estate property they did nothing with it.  My father applies this to his cars for some reason.  Back in the early '90s he didn't change the oil in his '80 Delta 88 and the motor quick working after 34K miles since the last oil change.  My brother and I saved that engine by pouring lots of gasoline into the crankcase.  Then the other day my folks called me from the side of the road, Dad ran the little Kia out of oil again.  He could not even remember the last time he changed the oil, said the little sticker fell off the windshield a year or so ago!  Lucky for them, he added two quarts and the car started back up and got them home.

 

I guess Dad's treatment of his cars makes me pay more mind to my own.  Well, I'm a "car guy" and he's not, I guess that plays a part in the thinking too.  

[Grumpy Bear]

7 hours ago, customboss said:

I change oil when its spent. If it still can work well I use it and base that on observation, oil analysis, and experience doing R&D level engine and lubricants/fuels testing.   There is NO reason to change oil that can still work well. Well I suppose bias confirmation is one reason since it makes us FEEL so good.  Engines don't care about feelings.  LOL  

 

Then you have some parameters you use to 'condemn' an oil? Things you look at and say, enough is enough? 

 

I'm all ears! 

[CamGTP]

Twice a year, before winter and after winter. Plus I run E85 all summer with short trips, fuel dilution is likely for me. Never bothered to send in tests on my oil yet.

[customboss]

1 hour ago, swathdiver said:

I know a little about oil.  After thirty plus years of driving one observation is that after about 5,000 miles the oil is dead.  There's little lubricity in it as you rub it between your fingers compared with new oil.  You can literally feel the renewed pep in the engine right after an oil change.  I've noticed this with conventional oils and synthetic oils in mostly the 10W30 and 5W30 range in my lifetime.

 

My Gen IV 5.3 and 6.2 LS engines likes their oil changed at around 4,000 miles.

 

Anyone ever see the movie, "The Super" with Joe Pesci?  His slumlord father had a motto that when they bought a real estate property they did nothing with it.  My father applies this to his cars for some reason.  Back in the early '90s he didn't change the oil in his '80 Delta 88 and the motor quick working after 34K miles since the last oil change.  My brother and I saved that engine by pouring lots of gasoline into the crankcase.  Then the other day my folks called me from the side of the road, Dad ran the little Kia out of oil again.  He could not even remember the last time he changed the oil, said the little sticker fell off the windshield a year or so ago!  Lucky for them, he added two quarts and the car started back up and got them home.

 

I guess Dad's treatment of his cars makes me pay more mind to my own.  Well, I'm a "car guy" and he's not, I guess that plays a part in the thinking too.  

Sounds like my Dad the farmer that never fixed anything that wasn’t dead in the field. He lived by the if it ain’t broke don’t meddle with it rule. Stuff broke just when he needed it.