The mazda 6 has on oil life monitor on it. It is showing 90% at 4k miles. I am not sure if I should trust it or not.

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

My knee jerk reaction when I started reading this was "what a rip off," but given the uniqueness of the Ducati valve train and the work involved, sounds like a bargain.

What is that supposed to be monitoring/measuring anyway? Viscosity, time, moisture?

Is that why we didn't see you out last weekend? Or, of course, perhaps you just don't share the same interest in mediocre food served in the middle of nowhere that we do...

We're good year round, though prefer temps above freezing, as icy roads are way down on our list of things to do. Our bikes are a bit different than yours though...

MV

Hey, there is actually such a place Quicky Discount Oil Change Brick, NJ 08723

But be careful with a go ogle of quicky.

My girlfriend has an 03 Element, AWD like yours. I have to lay on top of the engine and reach back behind the engine, it's not too bad.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

Oops! this has turned into another oil change thread!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Feeling pangs of conscience, I took my car to the local friendly Ford dealer for an oil change. Resisting their pathetic attempt to sell me full-synthetic ("better lubrication for the turbos in very cold weather") I went for the semi-synthetic fill. From my vantage point just outside the garage door, I was able to watch the oil change in process. The oil that came out of the oil pan was a light honey color - I should have held on until the oil life meter read zero...

Yeah I did my truck at 6k when it had 12% left on the OLM, the oil that came out was a nice amber color and looked great! I'll run down to 0% on the OLM this time.


It seems like on a modern vehicle anything less than 10k miles is a waste.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I use full synth and do oil changes about every 5K miles. Highest mileage car (year 2000; owned since new) has about 180 thousand miles on the odo and uses no measurable oil between changes.

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Toyota is a leader only because their drivers block everyone behind them. Oh what a feeling.

http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/oil-life-monitoring-systems.html

Good reading on oil life monitor systems. Oil and engines have come a long way since the 3k rule of thumb!


Sent from an abacus

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Unless you see chunks, visual inspection of oil isn't a reliable indicator of oil condition. At best it's a very rough estimation of contaminants. You could have clean oil that's been sheered to death and has the viscosity of water, while still LOOKING fine.

If your vehicle is under warranty, just do whatever is recommended to maintain warranty. If not, do a used oil analysis and you'll know for sure how much oil life you have left.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap

There are just too many games a quick oil change place can play if they desire. If I were a young fellow opening one up and keeping it honest and competent would provide a good living in my opinion.

Gas and diesel powered vehicles are here to stay at least for the for seeable future.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/open-discussion/365249-anyone-seen-used-have-opinion-oil-check-device.html

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

x2

oil change on a CNG fired engine is like that, oil looks clean as the one in the new gallon jug.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)