Jerre said:
Question your math, Amsoil used as recommended compared to 3000 mile
dino oil changes dollar wise has to be less. Then figure time needed
Jerre,
As an accountant who worked for me in a tax office once put it, "My
logic may be faulty, but you won't find errors in my math."
I won't argue there are many ways to "cook the books" regarding cost per
mile with extended oil changes vs 3,000 mile intervals, but when the mfr
specs 3,000 miles for warranty coverage regardless of the oil mfr's
recommendations (as was the case at the time I did my unofficial tests,
and is STILL the severe service recommendation from many in the US
market) we're stuck comparing apples with apples. Like it or not,
oranges won't work. (Remember how quickly Mobil 1 dropped their 25,000
mile recommendations when the auto mfrs wouldn't buy warranty claims?)
When someone can prove to me definitively that synthetics with extended
change intervals will save me money, I'll listen. But in 25 years or so,
all I've seen and heard is "they're better" without any numbers
attached. When I looked at my own numbers, they didn't convince me. What
would I like to see? Engine life including repairs of lube related
components, fuel consumption, oil cost including changes, filters and
between change consumption would all have to be factored in to attract
my attention. In other words, TCO--total cost of operation. If TCO is
less with synthetics, great. If not, I see no need to change. No "feel
good" or "I sleep better" factor is included because they don't have a
price.
At the time I tried Amsoil, extended change intervals of up to 25,000
miles were recommended (if one used Amsoil filters and/or a bypass
system such as a Frantz or later incarnations combined with oil
analysis.) Oil analysis was recommended at 5,000 mile intervals. Cost of
oil analysis plus the extra oil and filter costs at the time ate up any
savings from the extended change interval. Perhaps that's changed, but
it wasn't the case when I worked up my numbers.
for all those oil changes and considering all that waste oil (improperly
disposed of) to the enviroment.
As for disposal, I've recycled every drop of oil I've ever changed since
1965 when I started changing oil, whether I was working in a shop or
doing it at home. As has everyone I know who does their own oil changes.
The improper disposal argument may be valid somewhere, but it holds no
water for me.
We could possibly be independent from
foriegn oil if everyone used extended drain type oils.
We could also possibly have life supporting stations on the moon. But
neither is likely to happen with current technologies, mentalities and
budgets combined. From what I understand, approximately 50% of a barrel
of oil goes into fuel (gasoline and diesel primarily) and perhaps even
more if we consider heating oil. The amount that becomes lubricating oil
is rather low. The surest way to reduce foreign oil dependence is
related to reducing our consumption of fuel. Period. Quit driving those
gas guzzlers, America. Period, end of argument. I don't see changing our
types of lubricating oils as doing anything significant. BTW, where do
synthetic oils come from? Corn fields? Soybean fields? Peanut farms?
Even if they did, there's a lot of diesel fuel burned up making the raw
materials. Sooner or later, it loops back to petroleum. It's all part of
the "no free lunch" idea.
The Europeans are way ahead of us with most auto manufactures have 15-18,000
recommend oil changes with high grade oils. They are now considering 30,000
Question: how many Europeans routinely put 30k miles a year or more on
their cars like so many American commuters do? I don't know, but if
their driving habits are anything like the Japanese, who routinely
dispose of their cars with only 30k or so miles (because of stringent
inspection requirements and the cost of complying therewith), why bother
changing oil at all? It's not cost effective, so why bother? I'm sure
more than a few people have known someone like the fellow I once ran
into who'd run 100k miles on dino oil without ever changing it--he
changed his filter every 5k miles and topped it up and off he went. I'd
have hated to see the inside of his engine, but it was still going. So
extended change intervals are moot if the cars aren't driven that many
miles before being disposed of. Again, apples to apples, not oranges.
Just some thoughts and opinions. Nobody has to agree.
Rick
