Chevy isn’t losing $49,000 on every Volt it sells, for God’s sake

[Teddy B 17,252]

Changed the oil in my Nissan every 7-10K miles and never had an issue with the engine. Ever. That car was just fine with close to 200K miles on it 10 years after I bought it. That was until some old guy decided to crash into it. Otherwise, that thing would probably still transport me reliably today.

That's great, but it's certainly not the norm.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Of course you shouldn't have had any oil related issue. But you're throwing money down the drain and increasing polution waste. All the reasosn that you state suggests that you send your oil to a lab. For $20 you'll have concrete and scientific analysis.

What do you mean ofcourse I shouldn't have any oil related issues? I'm not throwing money down the drain at all, prove it. As for pollution and waste, oil is recycled these days and synthetic oils weren't around back in 60's, 70's and most of the 80's, so conventional oil was all we had, after 3k miles it starts to break down. $20 to take my oil to a lab for what? Exactly what am I having tested?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

That's great, but it's certainly not the norm.

I usually change oil around 5K. Most manufacturers say 6-7K. I use synthetic (Castrol), and despite the claims that they get extended mileage, because they are low viscosity and multiviscosity, they tend to break down a bit faster and don't suspend particles as well. Plus, for me, it's rough service and a lot of time spent off the pavement. I can usually tell by the weight the filter gains (I prefill the filter before I install it).

Edited September 12, 2012 by The Patriot

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That's great, but it's certainly not the norm.

Well, then I must just be incredibly lucky that I have always found exceptional vehicles that deal well with my abuse.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Well, then I must just be incredibly lucky that I have always found exceptional vehicles that deal well with my abuse.

Don't know about any of your other vehicles, you only mentioned one. And yes, for you to go 7k-10k between oil changes and not have any engine problems, you would be extremely lucky.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

When I was maintenance officer for a while, I became familiar with the Army Oil Analysis Program. Rarely did the sample ever come back saying, "Change the oil." Usually the only time it would come back otherwise is if the oil was contaminated by fuel or water. The oil in those engines was nasty, thick and gritty, but that was the program. Just keep topping off until the lab says otherwise.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Don't know about any of your other vehicles, you only mentioned one. And yes, for you to go 7k-10k between oil changes and not have any engine problems, you would be extremely lucky.

That was the car I owned and drove the longest. But I've had others and put significant mileage on those w/o doing oil changes any more frequently. Some of them already had significant mileage when I bought them. But none of them ever had any engine problems.

[Teddy B 17,252]

That was the car I owned and drove the longest. But I've had others and put significant mileage on those w/o doing oil changes any more frequently. Some of them already had significant mileage when I bought them. But none of them ever had any engine problems.

You mentioned the first one was a Nissan, I can understand you not having any engine problems with that vehicle, Nissans are very reliable and usually tough as nails. But I still would say you had some luck thrown in there and I definitely wouldn't recommend what you did to anyone else as a reliable maintenance schedule. I spent 15 years as a Ford and Jaguar mechanic, I've had plenty of experience with engines and their problems.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

settle down tuffy. i said you'd lose a bet. not that we did bet.

lemme ask you this. if you turn the handle on a water faucet, do you only increase the pressure or are you increasing the flow too?

and i didn't call you a dumbass. i said what kind of dumbass takes their oil to a lab? apparently you have in the past.

you're an enviromentalist/hot rodder. ok.

Can't be bothered about kitchen stuff since I am not a housewife. Come back when you want to talk engines okay Sweetcheeks?

Whenever I add a car to my fleet, I always send the 2nd oil chagne to a lab.

Yes you can have your cake and eat it too. You can be an eviromentally conscious hot rodder. I get I pollute less than folks that commute to work in their diesel duallies.

What do you mean ofcourse I shouldn't have any oil related issues? I'm not throwing money down the drain at all, prove it. As for pollution and waste, oil is recycled these days and synthetic oils weren't around back in 60's, 70's and most of the 80's, so conventional oil was all we had, after 3k miles it starts to break down. $20 to take my oil to a lab for what? Exactly what am I having tested?

I don't have to prove anything to you. You're too close minded to be bothered with and it's not my job to educate you.

When I was maintenance officer for a while, I became familiar with the Army Oil Analysis Program. Rarely did the sample ever come back saying, "Change the oil." Usually the only time it would come back otherwise is if the oil was contaminated by fuel or water. The oil in those engines was nasty, thick and gritty, but that was the program. Just keep topping off until the lab says otherwise.

I guess the Army has a different protocol. My tests shows percentage of breakdown in the oil and the useful life left. Of course it also says it there is traces of coolant in there or petrol.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You mentioned the first one was a Nissan, I can understand you not having any engine problems with that vehicle, Nissans are very reliable and usually tough as nails. But I still would say you had some luck thrown in there and I definitely wouldn't recommend what you did to anyone else as a reliable maintenance schedule. I spent 15 years as a Ford and Jaguar mechanic, I've had plenty of experience with engines and their problems.

Ford and Jaguar? That explains it. Never had one of those. I had a couple VWs, couple of Audis and currently have a Huyndai Sonata for myself and a Santa Fe for my better half. The highest maintenance vehicle out of those was the last Audi I had. That one sucked. Not the engine but it gave me all other kinds of grief. So I ditched it and got me that Nissan instead. Great vehicle.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I don't have to prove anything to you. You're too close minded to be bothered with and it's not my job to educate you.

Ok Skippy.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I guess the Army has a different protocol. My tests shows percentage of breakdown in the oil and the useful life left. Of course it also says it there is traces of coolant in there or petrol.

It came back with a lot of information, including a driver profile, whether or not the transmission was being shifted at the proper speeds, or the engine was idled excessively. But, the bottom line was whether or not the oil needed to be changed.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Ford and Jaguar? That explains it. Never had one of those. I had a couple VWs, couple of Audis and currently have a Huyndai Sonata for myself and a Santa Fe for my better half. The highest maintenance vehicle out of those was the last Audi I had. That one sucked. Not the engine but it gave me all other kinds of grief. So I ditched it and got me that Nissan instead. Great vehicle.

I enjoyed being a mechanic when I was younger, but it quickly takes it toll on your body. I got out of the business in the early 90's. I tinker around every once in a while, but it would be no skin off my back if I never touch another wrench again.

Hyundais have become a very reliable vehicle, I've been looking at the Santa Fe as a possible for my next vehicle purchase/lease.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Can't be bothered about kitchen stuff since I am not a housewife. Come back when you want to talk engines okay Sweetcheeks?

Whenever I add a car to my fleet, I always send the 2nd oil chagne to a lab.

Yes you can have your cake and eat it too. You can be an eviromentally conscious hot rodder. I get I pollute less than folks that commute to work in their diesel duallies.

you know noone is buying your BS right?

eat all the cake you want. power pollutes-end of story.

ok hot rodder...can you tell me what SSBB means when talking about an engine?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Super Smash Bros Brawl?