California v Larry Bible - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sixto · #1 01-07-2012, 03:08 PM

Driving green means not changing your oil until you need to - Yahoo! Autos

Quote:

...

And that, says California's Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery, wastes oil that could potentially have a far longer life.

According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, the department has launched an ad campaign to encourage owners to be aware of the recommended oil-change interval for their car.

The tagline "Check Your Number," is also the domain name for a website that links owners to a website that gives the the carmaker's recommended interval—these days, often 7,500 to 15,000 miles—for their specific vehicle.

...

I'm not as concerned about the oil's life as the engine's life.

I'm surprised there's no mention that dealerships and quick lube outfits that promote frequent oil changes will be the first to challenge the campaign.

I suppose next California will campaign to change oil while the engine's cold.

Sixto
87 300D

LandYaghtLover · #2 01-07-2012, 03:11 PM

Its true for modern power plants. Modern being production engines with fuel injection. Only idiots chance oil every 3k.

HuskyMan · #3 01-07-2012, 03:21 PM

I'm about to get into some serious bypass oil filter action, both for the engine and the transmission. Less particles = less wear = less mechanical issues.

cmac2012 · #4 01-07-2012, 03:22 PM

I've been going about 7500 to 8000 with Castrol Syntec on the Bimmer gasser. I'm thinking this is a good compromise - anybody know?

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuskyMan

I'm about to get into some serious bypass oil filter action, both for the engine and the transmission. Less particles = less wear = less mechanical issues.

How does that work? Any small problem and you'd be dumping quarts of oil onto the street.

Pavka007 · #5 01-07-2012, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LandYaghtLover

Its true for modern power plants. Modern being production engines with fuel injection. Only idiots chance oil every 3k.

VAG (VW group of companies) recomend oil change for their diesel engines at 30000 miles, yes this is not a typo. They've changed their recomendation for the US market to 10000 miles oil change because the American drivers don't believe the factory recomendation.

Here this "culture" of 3000 miles is damaging engines instead of helping them.
All of the new MB, BMW etc actually have a sensor monitoring oil in the engine and following and learning your driving habbits, so some drivers will change oil at 10000 miles other at 15000 miles.
3000 miles oil change is thing of the past.

LandYaghtLover · #6 01-07-2012, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pavka007

VAG (VW group of companies) recomend oil change for their diesel engines at 30000 miles, yes this is not a typo. They've changed their recomendation for the US market to 10000 miles oil change because the American drivers don't believe the factory recomendation.

Here this "culture" of 3000 miles is damaging engines instead of helping them.
All of the new MB, BMW etc actually have a sensor monitoring oil in the engine and following and learning your driving habbits, so some drivers will change oil at 10000 miles other at 15000 miles.
3000 miles oil change is thing of the past.

And oil monitoring is nothing new. Heck, the 93 Mark VIII had that. It based changes on number of starts, driving distances, operating temp, rev numbers, etc.

I will never, ever understand why anyone would throw away money based on a 3k interval. If I was towing, driving hard, sure. But under normal driving in a healthy engine I have put 10k on synthetic.

compu_85 · #7 01-07-2012, 03:57 PM

Because people think crappy oil every 3k is better than good oil every 10k

-J

toomany MBZ · #8 01-07-2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pavka007

Here this "culture" of 3000 miles is damaging engines instead of helping them.

How is changing oil prematurely damaging engines?

layback40 · #9 01-07-2012, 06:39 PM

An oil thread in OD !!
Now thats different.

The Clk Man · #10 01-07-2012, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by layback40

An oil thread in OD !!
Now thats different.

So when was you promoted to the Thread Police?

engatwork · #11 01-07-2012, 06:55 PM

As long as the correct synthetic oil is used there is no problem running them till the service indicator comes on. The key thing is the correct oil spec.

Ya'll ought to see what a lifetime tranny fluid drain at 100k+ miles looks like

.

aklim · #12 01-07-2012, 07:05 PM

Here is a crazy stupid idea that might just work. Change at the interval you think works and send a sample to Blackstone Labs and let them tell you what the analysis says.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/free-test-kits.php

cmac2012 · #13 01-07-2012, 10:22 PM

$25 is a reasonable price for insurance.

aklim · #14 01-07-2012, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

$25 is a reasonable price for insurance.

Perhaps but it is a cheap price for KNOWLEDGE. Knowledge of whether you can go further or you have a problem that can become a disaster.

compu_85 · #15 01-07-2012, 11:39 PM

Changing oil too often increases wear slightly. The additive package takes a bit of time to start working its best, so if you are always in the "ramp up" time wear will be a tad more than waiting until the oil is actually used up.

-J