Determining oil change intervals via analysis

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by dbltap, Aug 3, 2006.

  1. And when you run your car like a taxi, 24/7 with the engine on, those
    tests will be relevant to you.

    If you drive your car like a stay at home mom, a couple miles here and
    there with the engine never getting warm, that would create different
    results.

    Did CR test those kinds of conditions?

    You can't extrapolate the CR taxi test into the normal world where cars
    aren't run like taxis.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Aug 5, 2006
  2. I think your cut and paste keys are stuck. This is meaningless and you
    can't even figure that out.[/QUOTE]

    You asked someone to show you something that could break inside the
    engine due to insufficient oil changes. From that page: "If the owner
    had left it long enough, the pickup would eventually have choked on the
    sludge, causing oil starvation and engine seizure."
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Aug 5, 2006
  3. dbltap

    Mike Marlow Guest

    What!? You mean your wife does not do this for you now Matt? Man, we gotta
    talk...
     
    Mike Marlow, Aug 5, 2006
  4. dbltap

    Mike Marlow Guest

    Well, between the sludge link posts and this reply, you've pretty much
    proven yourself to be completely in the dark. Here - just for the sake of
    accuracy, I've pasted in that part of Matt's original response to me which
    states exactly what you babble about above. You know the part - it's the
    part you snipped to make your post.

    Matt said...

    "Now, there were several shortcomings in their test, in my opinion, such
    as taxis don't really represent how most people drive as they rarely get
    thermally cycled and there is reason to believe that cold starts are
    one of the highest wear activities an engine sees. And, again if memory
    serves, they ran the engines for only 60,000 miles. This is hardly a
    stress test for a modern engine.

    However, imperfect as it was, this is about the only test I've seen that
    was even close to scientifically conducted."

    It pays to read what is posted and to give yourself that extra minute to
    think about it before snipping relevant parts and running off on tangents
    with misrepresentations of what was said.
     
    Mike Marlow, Aug 5, 2006
  5. dbltap

    Guest Guest

    No, Bob. It isnt easly to learn what it means. It is easy to learn the
    basics
    of what it MIGHT mean. I am quite aware of what the chemical analyses
    MIGHT mean.

    It isnt even easy sometimes to get the same numbers from several different
    oil analysis labs. $20-30 is measly when it comes to doing competent
    chemical
    analysis, even with modern equipment. Some of the labs give more
    reproducible
    data than others.

    But for me, you are right...it isn't worth the time and cost.
     
    Guest, Aug 5, 2006
  6. dbltap

    Guest Guest

    That all by itself does not
    This is the way I feel about oil analyses.
    There is a real shortage of hard data about how well synthetics and refined
    petroleum
    lubricants actually perform.

    Flash points, and viscosity, and all the other bits of physical and chemical
    data
    mean little or nothing. I want statistical data, which -below the bottom
    line - will
    tell what it costs to deliver certain levels of protection and performance.

    And you wont get this with cheapass chemical analyses, or even oil company
    product
    hype.
     
    Guest, Aug 5, 2006
  7. dbltap

    Matt Whiting Guest

    That's right. And with good oil, the difference isn't measurable until
    way beyond 3,000 miles. And with synthetic oil, it is probably way
    beyond 5,000 miles. So, show us the curve. Show us the data.


    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Aug 5, 2006
  8. dbltap

    Matt Whiting Guest

    In the real world. You compared oil changes to homeowner's insurance.
    Now tell us how they compare.

    Actually, your analogy argues against your position. Homeowner's
    insrurance doesn't protect my home from damage. That suggests that,
    based on your own analogy, oil changes don't protect your engeing from
    damage.

    Got any other arguments or analogies?

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Aug 5, 2006
  9. I agree - the question is "what will you do with the information?" My #2 son
    had a worn-out Toyota that was giving him intermittent oil pressure
    warnings. We considered the situation and decided there was nothing we would
    do differently if the oil pressure was failing or if the sensor was failing;
    the car wasn't worth the effort to repair any oil problem. It threw a rod a
    couple months later, but he had no regrets. A little extreme, but the
    principle applies. Don't ask a question if the answer doesn't help you.

    Mike
     
    Michael Pardee, Aug 5, 2006
  10. dbltap

    Matt Whiting Guest

    Which is exactly what I said. Did you read past the first two
    sentences? I said this test was flawed, but it is the best test I've
    seen and at least had some semblance of scientific rigor. You've posted
    nothing even close.

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Aug 5, 2006
  11. dbltap

    Matt Whiting Guest


    You asked someone to show you something that could break inside the
    engine due to insufficient oil changes. From that page: "If the owner
    had left it long enough, the pickup would eventually have choked on the
    sludge, causing oil starvation and engine seizure."[/QUOTE]

    That is complete conjecture. And that post has enough questionable
    things about it to make it meaningless.

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Aug 5, 2006
  12. dbltap

    Matt Whiting Guest

    Yes, the hardship is great. :)

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Aug 5, 2006
  13. dbltap

    Matt Whiting Guest

    Only if you have integrity. If you don't have integrity, you do what he
    did. Clip the part you like and omit the rest.

    I'd really love to see some real data on oil and engine wear and life.
    I certainly have my opinions, and I've seen testing that shows
    differences in oils, and I believe those differences have an affect on
    service life, but I've never found any data to support my opinions or
    anyone elses.


    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Aug 5, 2006
  14. dbltap

    Matt Whiting Guest

    You can skew the results heavily just through the sampling procedure.
    Take your sample of the first oil to leave the drain and then sample
    again when it is barely dripping at the end. That can change the
    results dramatically. Most analysis labs have pretty specific sample
    taking instructions, but few people are able to follow them precisely
    and they can make a big difference.

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Aug 5, 2006
  15. dbltap

    gerry Guest

    gerry, Aug 5, 2006
  16. dbltap

    gerry Guest

    [original post is likely clipped to save bandwidth]

    Heck, at this rate, redirect the oil flow so it is never re circulated
    ;) Add a 100 gallon fresh oil tank and 100 gal holding tank. Ship the
    "used oil" off to be fully reclaimed to original purity.

    That seems the direction the ultra frequent changers really recommend ;)

    gerry
     
    gerry, Aug 5, 2006
  17. And if it cost, oh, $20 for every 3000 miles to do that, why wouldn't
    you?

    Oh--I see. In your world, there's no room for cost/benefit analysis.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Aug 5, 2006

  18. Any engine that bad in 8700 miles has something seriously wrong other
    than oil change intervals.[/QUOTE]

    You have absolutely no proof of that, therefore you cannot claim that.

    Until you have proof, you must shut up. That's the new rule around here.
     
    Elmo P. Shagnasty, Aug 5, 2006
  19. dbltap

    Matt Whiting Guest

    Yes, Gerry, that was my reaction as well. There is a lot more to this
    story than is conveyed at that web site.

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Aug 5, 2006
  20. dbltap

    Matt Whiting Guest

    I just sent in my patent application, Gerry, sorry, but you just weren't
    quick enough! :)

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Aug 5, 2006
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