Oil Change - Time vs Mileage

[po elvis 2070]

they have people brainwashed. cars can go like 15k miles between oil changes. 

[Quagmire 2147]

Your supposed to change the oil ? Holy shit...

[4th_and_18 687]

they have people brainwashed. cars can go like 15k miles between oil changes. 

Mine does. No problems.


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[52-80 19157]

12 hours ago, Hawndoh said:

The oil was in the ground for a few million years, but it's going to go bad in 3 months. 

 

I have a lawnmower that I've been using for 14 years that I've never changed or added oil to. Still starts on one pull and runs fine. 

much sarcasm right?

[phdhorn 6224]

9 hours ago, po elvis said:

they have people brainwashed. cars can go like 15k miles between oil changes. 

My bet is 80% of the population is too busy/lazy to change their oil anyway and go 20,000 miles between changes.  

[Gene Parmesan 4007]

Considering so many just trade in their cars before they even hit 100k miles, I am curious if those people really worry about oil changes and such.

[SHOOTER12 8808]

1 hour ago, phdhorn said:

My bet is 80% of the population is too busy/lazy to change their oil anyway and go 20,000 miles between changes.  

It's a discussion that will continue into eternity...

However, based on the limited sample size I have experienced here at work since taking over as fleet and maintenance director, I'd have to say stick with the recommended intervals.   Hell oil's cheap.

When I came to this department nearly 4 years ago we were spending an ungodly fortune on engine replacement/repair on pickups and equipment.  One of the things I noticed even prior to taking the job is that timely, preventative maintenance in the shop was practically non existent.   I purchased and installed a fleet management computer program that tracks all vehicles and equipment mileage and hours and sends alerts when service is due.  Of course we also log all repairs, accidents/incidents etc.   Since the implementation of a strict maintenance program our replacement/repair cost on engine and driveline components on vehicle and equipment has dropped over 70%

Granted, our people are used to beating the hell out of vehicles and equipment so we have also started cracking down very severely on vehicle/equipment misuse or abuse and that too has been a contributing factor.  A full service oil change on one of our F-250 diesel pickups runs around  $200.00 if done here in house, that's cheap compared to nearly $20,000.00+- for a replacement.  We had a major overhaul/rebuild on a 6.7 liter powerstroke that ran exactly $19,798.57.  Ridiculous?  Yes, so give me regular (even if early) oil changes all day long.

[Homercles 10205]

If that's the case, then it overrides any advice anyone would give you. Odd that they'd actually mention Mobile 1 by brand.

My 07 V has it right on the oil filler cap.

[Mother mopar 3318]

Alot of the intervals are based on what kind if driving is done and the vehicles intended use.

 

I change oil regularly but intervals are defined on what I use the cars for. BMW every 5k w/mobil 1 due to it being a turbo car. My diesel truck every 7.5 w/Rotella, not a daily driver. My muscle cars every 3k with Brad penn racing oil (has high ZDDP count) as I drive them pretty hard. Different strokes for different folks.

 

 

[Orange&White 5528]

1 hour ago, SHOOTER12 said:

Granted, our people are used to beating the hell out of vehicles and equipment so we have also started cracking down very severely on vehicle/equipment misuse or abuse and that too has been a contributing factor. 

Put a $25/month GPS/AVL on every vehicle that tracks location AND driving habits and you'll easily recover the cost of the GPS and lower wear and tear.

Keep in mind that you might end up finding out that some of your really good people, really fuck up trucks, and then you'll have to weigh that against firing them.

Edited November 6, 2018 by Orange&White

[ImissWallyPryor 9046]

Piston strokes is the only way to determine when an oil change is due. An engine can idle for hours, but the odometer won’t move.

His fast can you count?

[SHOOTER12 8808]

51 minutes ago, Orange&White said:

Put a $25/month GPS/AVL on every vehicle that tracks location AND driving habits and you'll easily recover the cost of the GPS and lower wear and tear.

Keep in mind that you might end up finding out that some of your really good people, really fuck up trucks, and then you'll have to weigh that against firing them.

100% of your post is absolutely correct.  I've been arguing with ownership for 2 years about this, but you know how it is when someone already knows everything, or is afraid of angering their "best" employees.

They could just make an example out of 1 or 2 of them and it would make a difference.

[SHOOTER12 8808]

53 minutes ago, ImissWallyPryor said:

Piston strokes is the only way to determine when an oil change is due. An engine can idle for hours, but the odometer won’t move.

His fast can you count?

It's not a matter of how fast I can count, but how fast I can stroke😁

[Orange&White 5528]

1 minute ago, SHOOTER12 said:

They could just make an example out of 1 or 2 of them and it would make a difference.

Another thing to consider is that they will (likely) immediately change their behaviors when they know the device has been installed.

[SHOOTER12 8808]

3 minutes ago, Orange&White said:

Another thing to consider is that they will (likely) immediately change their behaviors when they know the device has been installed.

That's true, but I didn't want anyone to know about the devices until the first couple got busted.

[HRSchenker 2268]

No bullshit. My old vehicle used to have a small oil leak so I would add a few quarts of oil every 4,000 miles. Never "changed" it. Just upgraded this year but I believe the sticker in my car says 2/12/2012 for next oil change lol 

[Rimbo 25933]

15 hours ago, po elvis said:

they have people brainwashed. cars can go like 15k miles between oil changes. 

If the Owner's Manual says so, then yes. Maybe even longer. Maybe not. tl;dr: 100% go by what the owner's manual recommends.

 

...

In other news, I dove back down the internet rabbit hole to see if I could find a real source for the belief that Mobil 1 5w-30 is crap in certain engines, and the short version is, it's all a bunch of hooey. Some guy even ran tests and had it running completely fine. So, in short, if it's the spec for your car, it's probably great.

 

[TXSooner518 2438]

1 hour ago, SHOOTER12 said:

That's true, but I didn't want anyone to know about the devices until the first couple got busted.

Why?  Shouldn't your goal be to change the behavior, not to bust the drivers? 

If you have a school zone where people are speeding, do you want to hide the cop, or put him out in the open, if your goal is to stop the speeding in the school zone?

[po elvis 2070]

5 hours ago, phdhorn said:

My bet is 80% of the population is too busy/lazy to change their oil anyway and go 20,000 miles between changes.  

I looked at my window sticker today. The date I was supposed to change the oil was 6/22/18 but I am only 1000 miles past the recommended mileage.

[SHOOTER12 8808]

20 minutes ago, TXSooner518 said:

Why?  Shouldn't your goal be to change the behavior, not to bust the drivers? 

If you have a school zone where people are speeding, do you want to hide the cop, or put him out in the open, if your goal is to stop the speeding in the school zone?

Reason 1, I know our people and "someone" meaning everyone would find a way to damage/disable/remove them and then come up with an excuse for what happened. 

Reason 2, When a couple are busted and terminated, that should change behaviors.  To me, warning them would be like warning people about a random drug test coming.

[NeverMarryAStripper 21907]

Sounds like you have shitty employees

[Rimbo 25933]

4 hours ago, SHOOTER12 said:

It's a discussion that will continue into eternity...

However, based on the limited sample size I have experienced here at work since taking over as fleet and maintenance director, I'd have to say stick with the recommended intervals.   Hell oil's cheap.

When I came to this department nearly 4 years ago we were spending an ungodly fortune on engine replacement/repair on pickups and equipment.  One of the things I noticed even prior to taking the job is that timely, preventative maintenance in the shop was practically non existent.   I purchased and installed a fleet management computer program that tracks all vehicles and equipment mileage and hours and sends alerts when service is due.  Of course we also log all repairs, accidents/incidents etc.   Since the implementation of a strict maintenance program our replacement/repair cost on engine and driveline components on vehicle and equipment has dropped over 70%

Granted, our people are used to beating the hell out of vehicles and equipment so we have also started cracking down very severely on vehicle/equipment misuse or abuse and that too has been a contributing factor.  A full service oil change on one of our F-250 diesel pickups runs around  $200.00 if done here in house, that's cheap compared to nearly $20,000.00+- for a replacement.  We had a major overhaul/rebuild on a 6.7 liter powerstroke that ran exactly $19,798.57.  Ridiculous?  Yes, so give me regular (even if early) oil changes all day long.

jesus h christ on a pogo stick... what are y'all doin' that an oil change costs $200?

[SHOOTER12 8808]

Well, when I say oil change, it includes fuel filters (2) sometimes transmission filters, cabin air filter, and of course engine air filter.  The oil itself is the singular highest priced item, and considering diesel pickups depending on make and model can take up to 18-20 quarts of oil each.

[SHOOTER12 8808]

To further itemize, and this doesn't include labor, this was the expenditure on my last "oil change" in my company truck

1. Air Filter-$53.75
2. Fuel Filter-$39.54
3. Oil Filter-$17.84
4. Oil-(4.25 Gals), $10.79/Gal

TOTAL:$158.69 Not including labor, disposal fees etc.

Edited November 6, 2018 by SHOOTER12

[Bat Guano 359]

I had an old Dodge Dart in the 80s that I drove for 8 years. I don't know how many miles because the speedometer/odometer didn't work. Never changed the oil. It was running like a champ when I sold it. My excuse was that I only paid $100 for the car, so what was the point of changing the oil. That old slant 6 was indestructible. /CSB.

[SHOOTER12 8808]

10 minutes ago, Bat Guano said:

I had an old Dodge Dart in the 80s that I drove for 8 years. I don't know how many miles because the speedometer/odometer didn't work. Never changed the oil. It was running like a champ when I sold it. My excuse was that I only paid $100 for the car, so what was the point of changing the oil. That old slant 6 was indestructible. /CSB.

Hard to argue with that.  Older cars in general imo were a lot more "bulletproof" than new models.  I had a '76 Grand Prix that I abused the hell out of and one Thanksgiving my BIL was over while I was messing with and pulled the dipstick and asked how long it had been since I changed the oil?   I honestly didn't know.  One thing of note:  he nearly had to scrape the oil off with a knife.   Changed it two days later and sold the car 5 years later (1993) for $1000.00 after it had set for 2 years.  Hooked up a battery and it started on the first crank.

[Nightfly 61]

40 minutes ago, SHOOTER12 said:

Hard to argue with that.  Older cars in general imo were a lot more "bulletproof" than new models.  I had a '76 Grand Prix that I abused the hell out of and one Thanksgiving my BIL was over while I was messing with and pulled the dipstick and asked how long it had been since I changed the oil?   I honestly didn't know.  One thing of note:  he nearly had to scrape the oil off with a knife.   Changed it two days later and sold the car 5 years later (1993) for $1000.00 after it had set for 2 years.  Hooked up a battery and it started on the first crank.

Certainly, have heard of straight sixes that don't seem to break. But with many modern cars making it to 200k miles without needing anything more than maintenance, I'd take today's engines. It just sucks to fix them when they do fail. 

[RPM 26320]

My car requires Mobil 1 and has an oil life monitor. I usually change it after it drops below 20%.

[AUinHsv 579]

23 hours ago, Upgrayedd said:

What does your Owner's Manual say?  Do that.

Part of my problem with that is my opinion that some companies have extended the oil change life because they offer free maintenance for x number of miles or because they want to show customers a low cost of maintenance in the sell process. In addition several companies have had issues with engines and immediatly blame the customer. After a lot of court action they suddenly offer to fix the "problem". I do mine every 5K with synthetic and know it's early but it's my vehicles.