If a person got an oil change once a month on an older vechicle (2004 or older) is it bad? (engine, sensor)
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Other than being a colossal waste of money, frequent oil changes can damage the engine. After an oil change, there's a short period of time while the oil system is filling/pressurizing the system that internal parts are unprotected. It's no big deal if its only a couple of times a year, but its possible that very frequent draining of the system could eventually lead to damage.
This is less true if, like me, you fill the oil filter with oil before you install it. After an oil change, my rigs build pressure about as fast as any other cold start.
Changing oil on a 2004 vehicle every month IMHO would be borderline OCD type behavior, but that's about the owner/driver, not the car.
What I would be worried about, if these monthly oil changes were at a typical "Stupid Lube" joint, would be damage to the oil drain plug, from cross-threading. That and they were probably using the cheapest oil they could find.
Do you drive 5000 miles per month? Otherwise, just send me the money. I'll send you a little sticker to put in your windshield that "confirms" that the oil was changed. Everybody goes home happy!
Send the oil into Blackstone labs for a small fee to put your mind at ease. When I did my change at 5k and sent the sample in they told me to wait until 6k and send another sample which I just did on Monday https://www.blackstone-labs.com/
All the evidence you need on when to change your oil for 10 bucks or so per sample. Will also test for coolant in the oil among other things.
Send the oil into Blackstone labs for a small fee to put your mind at ease. When I did my change at 5k and sent the sample in they told me to wait until 6k and send another sample which I just did on Monday https://www.blackstone-labs.com/
All the evidence you need on when to change your oil for 10 bucks or so per sample. Will also test for coolant in the oil among other things.
Sounds like they branched out from chiropractic.
Job #1 is to get you used to coming back for more.
Did they offer to do the 2nd test for free? Or for another fee? Did they tell you why they wanted to test your oil 1k after your oil change, like did they detect coolant leaking into the oil?
The people you see being critical, and I'm one of them, of some who do frequent changes are criticizing those who are still operating under 1950s oil change recommendations. You know, back when you had to do 10000 mile tuneups and tires had tubes.
Like this guy?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Im Lost
Doesn't hurt anything, but not necessary..... once every 3000-5000 miles is sufficient, but check your oil level for engine oil consumption every 500 miles or so. Older cars will tend to use a little oil past the valve seals or rings and may need a quart added on occasion.
I cringe every time I see someone say 3,000 miles. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but have me made NO technological progress since, as North Beach, said, 1950?
There is zero reason to change any oil at 3,000 miles. Well, maybe if you drive your car less then 3 miles every day so it never warms up. Otherwise, 5,000 is the new 3,000.
Send the oil into Blackstone labs for a small fee to put your mind at ease. When I did my change at 5k and sent the sample in they told me to wait until 6k and send another sample which I just did on Monday https://www.blackstone-labs.com/
All the evidence you need on when to change your oil for 10 bucks or so per sample. Will also test for coolant in the oil among other things.
I did send a sample of mine from a 2002 VW to Blackstone for the standard analysis plus TBN(total base number). Before I was changing every 3.5k and one year, but according to their recommendation I can still wait until 5k to change it. Apparently it is the mileage and not the time interval that is more important.
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