Engine Life - how much do you gain

[stephen wilson]

IMO that's why oils are such a hotly debated subject, it's virtually impossible for the average user to quantify the gain in service life. Though I think the benefits of synthetic oils are well proven. I've run 2 cars on Mobil 1, one with oil changes @ <5K miles, and a beater @ 10K miles, both are running fine with 190K miles and the valve-trains look great. No internal engine problems. Extreme usage, or problematic engines may show different results.

[jcb986]

7,500K on oil change. Change the filter at 3500 then change oil and filter at 7,500.

[Jim Miller]

The ironic thing is rarely keep a car to the engine dies. I see people rebuilding engines with less than 100K is it the lack of oil change, defect or being run too hard?

[blue2000s]

I would love to see anyone, with any engine, show a correlation between oil change intervals and engine longevity. I have never seen such a study anywhere.

I believe any answers that you get to this question will be anecdotal at best.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

I would love to see anyone, with any engine, show a correlation between oil change intervals and engine longevity. I have never seen such a study anywhere.

I believe any answers that you get to this question will be anecdotal at best.

I think Consumer Reports did a study several years ago. If I recall correctly they used New York City taxi cabs. They tested a range of oils and then tore down the engines after 50,000 miles and measured the wear. I'll see if I can find the article. Memory tells me that they didn't find any extraordinary differences between oils. Fuel economy was slightly better with synthetic oil, but not enough to justify the higher price.

Having read reports of engine failures on this and other Porsche boards, I don't recall any in which the owner says they neglected oil changes. Most seem to say that they changed the oil frequently.

[Brucelee]

Used oil analysis can serve as a proxy for this. Clealry, there is an interval that is "too long." However, that is also tied to the quaility of the oil, the engine, and the kind of driving that one does.

[Jake Raby]

I'll be recording a Podcast with Lake Speed Jr. who is the director of Joe Gibbs Racing Oil, and a Certified Lubrication Specialist in about 10 days.

Lake has helped us develop "Flat 6 Oil" and we've been working closely to solve lubrication related issues with the M96 engine. These efforts include development of an oil that has a higher shear at elevated temperatures that are seen with the M96 engine "starvation" incorrectly..

One of the hotter topics Lake and I will cover is the debate over oil service intervals as he has done several studies on this topic and has shared the results with me. These results speak very clearly as to what should be done and when.

I should have the show edited and posted around Christmas... It'll be shared on Itunes and my site for direct download.

[Brucelee]

If shear is the issue, I would stick with Red Line. As a class 5 synthetic (Poly ester based) this should take care of that concern, no?

[Jim Miller]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

I'll be recording a Podcast with Lake Speed Jr. who is the director of Joe Gibbs Racing Oil, and a Certified Lubrication Specialist in about 10 days.

Lake has helped us develop "Flat 6 Oil" and we've been working closely to solve lubrication related issues with the M96 engine. These efforts include development of an oil that has a higher shear at elevated temperatures that are seen with the M96 engine "starvation" incorrectly..

One of the hotter topics Lake and I will cover is the debate over oil service intervals as he has done several studies on this topic and has shared the results with me. These results speak very clearly as to what should be done and when.

I should have the show edited and posted around Christmas... It'll be shared on Itunes and my site for direct download.

Jake, I was hoping you would weigh in. As you advised I put in Syntec 5W40 oil after my IMS replacement. You recommend changing every 5000 miles but how much will this buy me realistically for engine life verses 7500 or 15000. Any feeling. Will I get to 200K?

[Brucelee]

Nobody knows, but most have an opinion.

[tuanle16]

Originally Posted by jcb986

7,500K on oil change. Change the filter at 3500 then change oil and filter at 7,500.

i was actually told by my mechanic the opposite. he said that you can change your oil every ___ but change your filter every other oil change.