Question on Oil changes

[BoxsterCy]

That would take a little getting used to. So just go strictly off the oil life indicator?

All electronic. I can check it via the screen menu. It's not like I pay much attention to it these days. I haven't added oil to a car in years and years. Seriously, I cannot even remember the last time I added any oil to a car. I just change the oil each spring these days on the new machines.

 

[besserheimerphat]

A PCV valve that's supposed to regulate the flow of these gases is the heart of mostPCV systems (some newer vehicles don't have a PCV valve). The PCV valve routes air and fuel from the crankcase back through the intake manifold to the cylinders rather than allowing them to escape into the atmosphere.

Yes. But I don't believe it eliminates all contamination.

Right. With enough blow by, you can pressurize the crankcase which poses other problems. If the oil pan is a composite, it can actually burst. But due to emissions regs you can't just vent that to atmosphere. So they rig up some way to ensure that stuff goes back through the engine. On our trucks we use a crankcase vent which actually pulls a slight vacuum on it to push it back to the intake.

 

[yowza]

My Audi doesn't have an oil dipstick.

Too advanced for me.

 

[Sparkplug]

My Audi doesn't have an oil dipstick.

Neither does the Mini Cooper

 

[NorthCyd]

I bought a new vehicle last year and have been following the oil life gauge. Actually changed it around 30% oil life first time and went to 1% last time which was about 10,000 miles between oil changes. I have heard this is pretty standard for new synthetics. This last oil change I took it to the dealership and they put a service sticker that recommended the next oil change in almost 20,000 miles. I was really surprised at that. Is this the new standard? That seems like a really long time between oil changes. I wonder if they made a mistake.

 

[kingcy]

I bought a new vehicle last year and have been following the oil life gauge. Actually changed it around 30% oil life first time and went to 1% last time which was about 10,000 miles between oil changes. I have heard this is pretty standard for new synthetics. This last oil change I took it to the dealership and they put a service sticker that recommended the next oil change in almost 20,000 miles. I was really surprised at that. Is this the new standard? That seems like a really long time between oil changes. I wonder if they made a mistake.

With the new oils and better engines you can drive more miles than in the past. It is also best of you use the oil weight recommend by the manufacturer. The car my wife drives to work has 240,000 miles on it and (knock on wood) it still runs good with out issues. She goes by the computer telling her to get it changed and then some.

 

[1100011CS]

We have a 2013 Ford Explorer with the oil change indicator. I have always waited for that to go off before getting the oil changed and wasn't using full synthetic. But, the last time my wife got the oil changed (at Jiffy Lube I think) they told her you can only go off that light if you use full synthetic. Is that true?

 

[jdcyclone19]

We have a 2013 Ford Explorer with the oil change indicator. I have always waited for that to go off before getting the oil changed and wasn't using full synthetic. But, the last time my wife got the oil changed (at Jiffy Lube I think) they told her you can only go off that light if you use full synthetic. Is that true?

No not true.

Ford bases that off of their motorcraft oil which the standard motorcraft is a synthetic blend. Most "conventional" oils today are actually a synthetic blend due to the SN+ specs.

Any dexos rated oil or SN+ name brand oil can usually make it to 10K oci without any issue unless its extreme operating conditions.