Revert to dino oil?

[LDB]

I will get the oil changed in the morning. I have been running numbers on oil expense. Using the best synthetic is about 1.5 cpm and using dino oil would be about 0.5 cpm. A penny isn't a fortune but that adds up to several thousand dollars over time, perhaps $4000 during the working life of the van. So, the question is do I keep with synthetic or revert to dino oil?

 

[chefdennis]

I believe the old saying goes something like, "penny wise and lb foolish"....beyond that, how often are you changing your oil with the full synthetic? I go 20,000 miles between oil changes with AmsOil....

 

[greg334]

But at what mileage change cycle and another thought is what does the synthetic oil extend the life of the van which I think would justify the cost.

 

[Turtle]

One of the "best practices" with oil is find an oil, and stick with it forever. Every time you change viscosities or brands, the engine will wear just a little differently.

Synthetic oil extends the interval, longer than many people realize, and synthetic will nearly always result in slightly better fuel economy (because of decreased wear). Both end up making synthetic oil cheaper, provided you don't change the oil needlessly, too soon. 1 cpm will easily be offset by the reduced MPG and the decreased interval between changes.

 

[scottm4211]

When I read about people running synthetic and still changing it at 3 or 5 k it makes me a bit mental.

 

[chefdennis]

I was changing the oil at 20,000 but changing the filter at 10,000 but now i spend a bit more and buy the AmsOil filter also and change both at 20,000.....

 

[LDB]

I do a full change at 13,000 miles with a filter and 1 quart replacement at 6500 miles. This is with the top grade Pennzoil.

 

[chefdennis]

I use AmsOil and their filter..I changed the oil in the Cargo Max the day I brought it home with less then 600 miles on it. At 1st i went 20,000 on the oil but only 10,000 on the "fram" filter...then i found the AmsOil "oil related" failure warranty where they will pay for any oil related engine failure for up to 200,000 miles if you have used their oil and filter and have the documentation....

Now I haven't used their filter from the start, so i am sure they would have an "out" on any claim i might make, but that doesn't mean much to me, I'll continue to use their oil and filter and change them both at 20,000 miles and feel fine about it...And i am not using any oil in between changes either...

I think the idea of letting the miles between changes go to what we think are extremes, (20,000 mile) is a mental issue for most...its the "old school" idea that we grew up with that "oil is cheaper then metal, so change the oil sooner" that my grandpa drilled into me....Old habits and beliefs die hard...

 

[Turtle]

You should do a Blackstone near the end of that 13,000 mile cycle. More than likely, you can easily go 15,000 to 20,000 miles between changes. Most all of the top end synthetics are designed for 20,000 or so. Manufacturers recommend 15,000, which of course is on the conservative side. An oil analysis (or three) will tell you for sure.

With me, usually, it's a filter-only change at 6000, 12,000, and then oil and filter at 18,000. It's not really necessary to change the oil filter between oil changes, except that filters weaken over time, especially cheap filters (Fram, STP, etc). It's quick and cheap insurance, and produces a benefit with all engines, but especially a diesel like the turbodiesel Sprinter (increases the quality of the oil by reducing the electrconductivity, thereby increasing the interval by 1000-1500 miles per filter change, which you can see by the ASSYST). Changing filters runs the safe interval up to 20,000 (according to oil analysis), so changing filters in between changes, and then the oil and filter at 18,000 or so gives me a comfortable window to change the oil. If I go a thousand or two past the 18,000 because of not being able to change the oil due to bad weather or an unexpected long load, it's no worries.

 

[scottm4211]

Do you see any benefit to some of the higher dollar filters? (Fram for example have I think 3 different types).

 

[Turtle]

Incidentally, for Sprinters and others who use Mobile 1 synthetic oil, Autozone has 5 quarts and a filter on sale through Feb 6, for $29.99. Stock up.

For Sprinters, the deal comes with a Bosch oil filter, but the deal is only good for a filter up to $6.99, and the Sprinter's Bosch filter (actually, it's a Mobile, as they don't carry the Bosch filter for a Sprinter, but amazingly they do carry the Mobile filter now - they didn't used to) is $19.99, so if you get that one you'll have to pay the $13.00 difference.

I buy the OEM oil filters from Europarts at $6.95 each on a 10-pack, and whatever filter Autozone wants to give me for free I'll take. That way the $29.99 5-quart oil deal is $6.00 a quart, instead of the $9.50 normal price. Plus, every one of the $29.99 deals gets you one point towards the 5 points for the $20 credit. It all adds up.

The flyer shows the other oil brands and types also on sale at the Zone (PDF file).



Mister Scott asked: "Do you see any benefit to some of the higher dollar filters? (Fram for example have I think 3 different types)."

Main benefit is the ability not to fall apart during extended oil changes. Other differences are what they can filter out, but for the most part, any filter made for a given vehicle will filter what it's supposed to, it's just for how long. (some, like the K&N oil filters for the Sprinter, are just blatantly overpriced and offer no additional benefits over the OEM filters). With the Autozome deals I've gotten Fram and STP filters, and they're good, but I'll change them out at 5000-7000 miles for sure, the OEM filters I'll often let go longer since they are specifically designed for 25,000 kilometers.

 

[scottm4211]

Thanks Turtle. I can get an OEM AC Delco filter for $2.99 at Wal Mart vs up to $9 for a Fram Xtra Guard or whatever it's called.

 

[Turtle]

Fram filters are generally regarded (by the anal types who do this research) to be the bottom of the barrel of oil filters. They're fine if you plan on changing them out rather quickly, but for extended intervals not so much. Fram, Penzoil, Quaker State, a few others, are all cheaply made by Honeywell, the vast majority are Made in China.

Purolator (Purolator Pure One which is what the Motorcraft and AC Delco filters are) are much better filters.

The STP filters are usually the Honeywell filters, but sometimes they are the Purolator filters. STP "Made in South Africa" are the good ones. It'll be printed on the side of the filter.

The Mobile 1 filters (at least for the Sprinter) are good filters, manufactured by Hengst and Meyle, which are the OEM filters (OEM Sprinter filters are manufactured by Hengst, Mann, Mahle and Meyle).

 

[scottm4211]

Thanks. I'll stick to OEM.

 

[LDB]

After more thought and ciphering I think the better course is to stick with the uber synthetic but with two filter and quart swaps between. That will drop it to just a little over the cost of dino oil.

 

[Turtle]

It also means less of a chance of your oil finding its way into a landfill, not to mention it's just that much less oil we as a country have to import from those Canadiennes.

 

[layoutshooter]

Here is a link to Valvoline's take on this subject or at least how it pertains to their product in auto engines.



Valvoline.com > FAQs > Motor Oil Car FAQs > Full-Synthetic Motor Oil

 

[skyraider]

try this site - Bob is the Oil Guy all u need to know on oil and lots of it