Oil Change Basics ?
Oil Change Basics ?
Updated:2007-02-08 13:50:24[/align]Oil Change Basics[/align]Things to consider before you do it yourself[/align]By DON FULLER & Professor Empty `Space [:-][/align]
With various oil change franchises from coast-to-coast offering oil-and-filter jobs for cut-rate prices, it's getting tougher to rationalize changing your vehicle's oil yourself as a way to save money. So, if you get dirty and grimy, you don't necessarily save any money, and when you're through you have to find someplace to get rid of the old oil, why bother?
To maintain the vehicle's warranty, you need to maintain the manufacturer's recommended oil change interval. Maybe you want some quiet therapy . Maybe you enjoy working on the car. Maybe you just want the certainty of knowing exactly what kind of oil and filter were used. Whatever the reason, here are some tips that might help you with your next oil change.
Slick Info
The first consideration is the oil change interval. The owner's manual for one late-model vehicle lists an oil change interval of 7,500 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. It also indicates to change the filter every 15,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.
However, many people think the oil should be changed more often. To maintain the vehicle's warranty, you need to maintain the manufacturer's recommended oil change interval. But different kinds of driving may require more frequent changes. For example, for that very same car, the owner's manual instructs an oil-and-filter change interval of 3,750 miles or six months if it's being operated under severe conditions, which are defined as:
Severe Driving
> Driving less than five miles per trip, or less than 10 miles per trip in freezing weather
> Driving in temperatures more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit
> Extensive idling or long periods of stop-and-go driving
> Towing a trailer, using a car-top carrier or driving in the mountains
> Driving on muddy, dusty or de-iced roads
Notice what's first: Short trips, particularly in cold weather. Engineers will tell you that that's just about the harshest duty cycle for engine lubrication. Consider this: In the morning, start it up and go five miles to work, then shut if off. Four hours later, for lunch, start it up, go two miles to a restaurant, then shut if off. About one hour later, start it up, go two miles back to work, then shut if off. Another four or five hours later, start it up, go five miles to home, then shut it off. It's been driven 14 miles, never once given a chance to get fully warmed up, and had four cold starts. The oil has never been able to get rid of the moisture that forms from condensation or the residues of combustion processes that would be burnt off with heat, everything turns to a thick sludge, and if you don't give it more frequent oil changes you're in for expensive trouble. That sludge can eventually clog the oil pump screen, lubrication gets shut off, and a connecting rod ends up going through the side of the engine block. Buying a new engine gets kind of expensive.
Warmed Over
On the other hand, a guy who starts up the car, hits the freeway and doesn't stop for 200 miles has done a lot less harm. His engine has had only one cold start and plenty of time to get everything fully warmed up and working properly.
What about those expensive oils that are claimed by their manufacturers to deliver much longer change intervals, such as 25,000 miles? Maybe they'll deliver, but remember this: If you don't change oil at the manufacturer's recommended interval, and you have a problem, you may have a lot of trouble getting satisfaction on the warranty. If you drive in normal conditions, there is little to recommend paying extra for that high-priced oil, since you have to change it at the regular interval anyway.
However, if you live where it's really cold in the winter, we're talking Alaska or such, there is some evidence that
With various oil change franchises from coast-to-coast offering oil-and-filter jobs for cut-rate prices, it's getting tougher to rationalize changing your vehicle's oil yourself as a way to save money. So, if you get dirty and grimy, you don't necessarily save any money, and when you're through you have to find someplace to get rid of the old oil, why bother?
To maintain the vehicle's warranty, you need to maintain the manufacturer's recommended oil change interval. Maybe you want some quiet therapy . Maybe you enjoy working on the car. Maybe you just want the certainty of knowing exactly what kind of oil and filter were used. Whatever the reason, here are some tips that might help you with your next oil change.
Slick Info
The first consideration is the oil change interval. The owner's manual for one late-model vehicle lists an oil change interval of 7,500 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. It also indicates to change the filter every 15,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.
However, many people think the oil should be changed more often. To maintain the vehicle's warranty, you need to maintain the manufacturer's recommended oil change interval. But different kinds of driving may require more frequent changes. For example, for that very same car, the owner's manual instructs an oil-and-filter change interval of 3,750 miles or six months if it's being operated under severe conditions, which are defined as:
Severe Driving
> Driving less than five miles per trip, or less than 10 miles per trip in freezing weather
> Driving in temperatures more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit
> Extensive idling or long periods of stop-and-go driving
> Towing a trailer, using a car-top carrier or driving in the mountains
> Driving on muddy, dusty or de-iced roads
Notice what's first: Short trips, particularly in cold weather. Engineers will tell you that that's just about the harshest duty cycle for engine lubrication. Consider this: In the morning, start it up and go five miles to work, then shut if off. Four hours later, for lunch, start it up, go two miles to a restaurant, then shut if off. About one hour later, start it up, go two miles back to work, then shut if off. Another four or five hours later, start it up, go five miles to home, then shut it off. It's been driven 14 miles, never once given a chance to get fully warmed up, and had four cold starts. The oil has never been able to get rid of the moisture that forms from condensation or the residues of combustion processes that would be burnt off with heat, everything turns to a thick sludge, and if you don't give it more frequent oil changes you're in for expensive trouble. That sludge can eventually clog the oil pump screen, lubrication gets shut off, and a connecting rod ends up going through the side of the engine block. Buying a new engine gets kind of expensive.
Warmed Over
On the other hand, a guy who starts up the car, hits the freeway and doesn't stop for 200 miles has done a lot less harm. His engine has had only one cold start and plenty of time to get everything fully warmed up and working properly.
What about those expensive oils that are claimed by their manufacturers to deliver much longer change intervals, such as 25,000 miles? Maybe they'll deliver, but remember this: If you don't change oil at the manufacturer's recommended interval, and you have a problem, you may have a lot of trouble getting satisfaction on the warranty. If you drive in normal conditions, there is little to recommend paying extra for that high-priced oil, since you have to change it at the regular interval anyway.
However, if you live where it's really cold in the winter, we're talking Alaska or such, there is some evidence that
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,482
From: Southwestern OH
RE: Oil Change Basics ?
So far my '06 Monte isn't near an oil change. I did get a letter from the dealer telling me I could get an oil/filter change for however much money they quoted? But my info center says my car is at 85% oil life.
I got an email from a couple car buds last week. The email is about how oil is damaging the engines in our cars. Some additive they used to put in oil, is not being used now. This is due to "Cleaner burning" engines car manufacturers are suppose to be working towards thanks in no part to Uncle Sam.
If the information in the email is true is could spell trouble for guys with older engines that need this additive. One way around it is to pour in Marvel Mystery Oil or the Lucas additive you can buy at a lot of places. I have noticed Wal-Mart no longer sells Marvel Mystery Oil.
I got an email from a couple car buds last week. The email is about how oil is damaging the engines in our cars. Some additive they used to put in oil, is not being used now. This is due to "Cleaner burning" engines car manufacturers are suppose to be working towards thanks in no part to Uncle Sam.
If the information in the email is true is could spell trouble for guys with older engines that need this additive. One way around it is to pour in Marvel Mystery Oil or the Lucas additive you can buy at a lot of places. I have noticed Wal-Mart no longer sells Marvel Mystery Oil.
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