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From: hedden@atux01.UUCP (D. Hedden)
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.auto.tech
Subject: Re: Oil filters - Summary
Message-ID: <189@atux01.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Mar-86 11:02:29 EST
Article-I.D.: atux01.189
Posted: Fri Mar 14 11:02:29 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Mar-86 21:31:12 EST
References: <29@ur-tut.UUCP> <3031@ut-ngp.UUCP> <2925@sunybcs.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: CSEd, AT&T Communications, Piscataway, N.J.
Lines: 47
Xref: watmath net.auto:9798 net.auto.tech:906
Summary: Low maintenance & similar results

In article <2925@sunybcs.UUCP>, ugzannin@sunybcs.UUCP (Adrian Zannin) writes:
> >   ... *changing the
> > oil frequently* (or at least as per mfrs.' recommendations)
>   I always cringe when I hear people say that you should follow the 
> manufacturer's guidlines for when to change the oil and filter.  First,
> whenever you change the oil, you *must* change the filter too, even if it
> isn't plugged solid.  The oil filter will hold about a quart of dirty oil,
> which will defeat the whole purpose of changing the oil.  It will only
> contaminate the old [sic] oil. ...
>   ...  Many car
> manufacturers suggest changing the oil around 10,000 miles.  To anyone
> that knows about engine wear, this is rediculous!  You should *never*
> leave the same oil in the car for more that 3,000 *maximum*.  For many
> smaller engines, it is wise to change it every 2500 miles.  I know it
> sounds like a pain in the neck to chage the oil that often, but when 
> your car gets up around 70,000 miles, you'll see how it pays off.  My car
> (a Toyota Corolla SR-5) has 94,000 miles on it and still has yet to
> use (ie burn, leak) a drop of oil...
Adrian, I have to agree with you about the futility of changing oil and
leaving a quart of dirty oil in the filter.  However, I have to ask "How
do you know your car wouldn't have done just as well with much less
frequent oil changes?"  Your posting implies that you have changed the
oil and filter every 2500-3000 miles, and that you have had satisfaction
from the car's not developing excessive (any) oil consumption.  But 
you don't say that you tried it the other way and had bad results :-).
I know most of us don't have money to do that sort of experimenting,
but I have had some experience in that area.  The last four cars I have
had got oil changes most of the time between 5000 and 10000 miles.
This wasn't by choice, it was just that my wife was the only one that
drove them and she didn't pay attention to milage for maintenance 
purposes, so things got done only when I happened to notice that it
had been a long time since the last time.  Each of these cars was sold
with more than 150,000 miles on them, and no oil problems.

This doesn't mean that I advocate this sort of abuse of engines, or
believe that this indicates all cars would do this well with care
coming this infrequently.  It is just saying that for these four part-
icular cars, the results were ok.

Incidentally, I change the oil and filter in my motorcycle, which is
my primary mode of transportation, about every 1500 miles.  My current
one is 12 years old with 143,000 miles, and has yet to need any repair
to the drive train.

   "The moving hand writes ..."

    Don