Theoretically, yes, but it all depends on the soundness of Joe's assertions, which have been disputed here by others - and I'm not knowledgeable enough about such matters to understand who is right, who is wrong.
All I can say is that after changing the oil yesterday (previous time had been six months ago and I put just above 2,000 miles on my car in between the two oil changes), the car's engine sounds and performs so much better... So, with the Delo oil, I'll stick to oil changes every three months. With synthetics, who the heck knows... I'd need to try it out and yet, with my lack of experience, I'd have a hard time judging results correctly. Safer for me to stick to mainstream consensus in this case, if you know what I mean...

Rino

The mainstream consensus has been clear for about 20 years - use synthetics and extend your change intervals. The soot issue is not an issue with reasonable intervals. Synthetics are better in every way. Cost is not quite a wash, but the improved cold starting, and better lubrication offset that somewhat, longer term.

I love oil threads ...... :-)

Rino,
If you just stick to oil change intervals of 3000miles then there is no thinking involved. Just change it and drive. If you plan on extending the interval use a synthetic DIESEL RATED oil and double the interval. Chances are this is safe. The only way to be sure is to have an oil analysis performed. If the oil analysis is positive then try tripling the interval. As long as the additive package can keep up with the soot this is not a problem. The oil analysis will guide you. Once you find an acceptable interval you can continue to use it.

Amazing how off track these posts can get when oil is brought up.....

RT

It is suggested 3,000 miles OR 3 months, whichever comes first. But what if, during the 3-month period, one puts on the car only 1,000 miles or so? Does one have to adhere to the 3-month rule even at that very low mileage, or can the time frame be slightly extended in such a case? Just curious...

Rino

Can I please get all these people changing their oil at 3kmiles to start changing it even every 6k miles and send me the saved $20. This is ridiculous.

As I said in another thread....In the 1980s, a German car magazine ran a VW gas engine 62kmiles on the same oil and took the engine apart for a complete inspection by engine designers. All parts were within spec for an engine with that mileage. This was over 20 years ago, with the oil available at that time.

And this has been replicated many times. WAKE UP and smell the coffee....or put down the crack pipe.



240Joe

You mean 6k miles even with a non-synthetic such as the Delo 400? How do you then explain the fact that, not having changed the engine oil in 6 months (putting on the engine only about 2k miles during that time), the engine was sounding real bad and that, after changing the oil yesterday, it now sounds so smooth and runs so well that it is like driving a totally different car? Doesn't this tell us that an oil change was overdue? Please don't take me wrong, I am here to learn and what you are proposing sounds very appealing, I know many readers here look for that evidence that makes believing it possible... I am posing questions just because I want to understand...

Rino

Even Mercedes says to go 5kmiles with a diesel grade dino oil. With a synthetic diesel oil, you can extend easily to 10kmile intervals, and some of us do 2 to 3 times that. It's not magic that our cars are still running.

I think the part about it sounding better is the placebo effect assuming your engine is in sound mechanical condition.

240Joe

You mean, placebo effect on the car itself which is now performing better because of it? I am not BSing you... This morning I drove my gf to a tennis court (I am teaching her how to play tennis), and she wasn't aware I had changed the oil or done any work on the vehicle. The first thing she said after I started driving was, "The car sounds so much better now! Did you change something?"

Rino

Maybe she picked up on one of those little hints....like it looks like a Iraqi oilfield under your fingernails...:D

You have pathological oil changing disease.....seek qualified mental health....or you can get my book...How to stop changing oil and be Happy....all for only $9.95 + S&H.

240Joe

Believe, Joe, no way she could have picked up on any hint, apart from the sound of the engine running much smoother... I wore latex gloves during the oil change... My fingernails were as immaculate as usual (she is very particular about that, if you know what I mean ;))

Rino

Oh, she knows you have Oilchangitis and thought she could make you feel good by complimenting the smoothness of the engine.

Plus, she probably borrowed a lot of money from you and doesn't want to pay it back.:D And, secretly, she thinks you're a complete tool for driving that beast.

240Joe

The self appointed "Oil Conservation Crusader" is at it again! Now he's resorted to anecdotal evidence of one engine tear down.

Was that engine run constantly during that time or short hops? So things were within spec, but how much wear was there? There can be a certain amount of wear and STILL be within spec. Also this is an air cooled engine that generates LOTS of oil temperature, which if it does not go TOO high, actually makes the oil last longer because it keeps the moisture boiled out of the oil. What is your second case of evidence?

240Joe, we PROMISE not to spend any of YOUR money on our oil changes.

Geez, Larry....as my favorite president used to say....There you go again.

I could debate the finer points of the test, but your mind is made up, and even if it weren't, it would be a waste of my time.

I've owned 3 Mercedes diesels, and never lost an engine. You, on the other hand, have had quite different results. The readers can draw their own conclusions.

I go where the data takes me. You refuse to even look at the data....afraid of what it might reveal.

And it's not about spending your money. You can spend it on oil, or crack or hookers, or crack and hookers, I don't care. But there is something the economists call externalities.

Go look it up.

240Joe

Oil....Don't change it often, save a life and the earth.

As I said in another thread, the Bravo Sierra coefficient has about doubled in the last 24 hours.

I knew that it wouldn't take long to see plenty of those famous 240Joe digs, barbs and insults to come out in very short order.

Just curious. Have you read the Forum Rules lately?

I'm not totally sure what it is that you don't like about me besides the fact that I keep my oil changed, but there is something for sure.

Keep it coming Professor!

Have a great day,

Don't feel bad, he doesn't seem to like masturbation, crack, or hookers either.