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Oil change: before road trip, or after?…

75.146.43.38

Wellfed

I'm about 100 miles UNDER my mark now. Expect to be 600-800 OVER upon returning.

Follow Ups:

Change the oil before you go is a good safe policy … - three_sox 17:57:57 07/01/09 (0)
...A good dose of castor for yourself might also be recommended as long as you do it 2 or 3 days before your trip :o)

Smile

Sox
Fresh oil means better fuel economy,... - mpathus 14:12:03 07/01/09 (3)
...lower engine temperatures (friction), and less engine wear - like driving your engine clean.

Change it early; cheap insurance.
- I came to the realization... - Wellfed 07:31:55 07/02/09 (2)
  What the hell am I thinking. Change the oil.
  - Safe and happy trip! ~t - mpathus 17:15:19 07/02/09 (1)
    .
    - Dylan was great, as was the trip overall. [nt] - Wellfed 20:50:51 07/03/09 (0)
      nt
At your current interval it probably doesn't matter much - AbeCollins 10:07:25 07/01/09 (1)
My wife had an oil / filter change and tire rotation done on her 2007 Honda CR-V SUV right before our two week long Denver to S.Calif road trip. She was just over her recommended service interval so it made sense to get it done.... especially since we were about to put another 3000 miles on the SUV through some rough road conditions going over the rocky mountains and then through the desert like conditions through AZ and NV as well as some pretty hot stretches of S.CA.

We just returned a few days ago and put about 2700 miles on the vehicle. She'll get another oil / filter change in the next couple weeks.

BTW, fully loaded with luggage, two golf club sets, cooler full of goodies, and my electronic gadgets and laptop, we averaged about 26mpg. Not bad for a loaded SUV. The fully loaded iPod came in handy too played through the AUX input on the car stereo. ;-)

P.S. Check your tire pressure too (while totally cool) before your trip. Have fun!
- RE: At your current interval it probably doesn't matter much - Michael Samra 11:32:48 07/01/09 (0)
  Abe
  You can go over by 2000 miles today and still be in good shape as long as the oil hasn't been in the car over a year where it had gone thru major climatic changes..Thats what breaks down oil more than extra miles does.
  The oil is much better today then it was in the 1970s and before.This is one of the major reasons why engines are lasting much longer along with the overdrive automatic transmissions that let the car run lower rpms and higher speeds.The detergents are much better today and viscosity is much more consistent..You always here about people changing oil every 1500 or 2000 miles..This can be a bad thing because you want the older oil to coat the cylinder walls and the valve stems and bores and all main and rod bearings..This can only happen with older oil because thats when it gums up a bit that gives it that ability to stick..I always treat my engines with the teflon treatment or slick 50..They definitely work well because we have done testing such as the engine temperature dropped almost 17 degrees and the fuel mileage had gone up almost 2 mpg..Anytime you reduce friction,these things happen.Also over the course of 218k miles,we tore down the engine in the 1988 Ford tempo,and it looked brand spanking new.It was treated every 30k miles with slick 50 since new.I do that to all my cars and its worth every penny..I use the real teflon treatment but it does coat the cylinder walls and all the mains and rods and even oil passages.
  Bottom line,you will be fine going over..Just dont go over by 4k miles lol.
  
  If the power supply waveform isn't pretty,neither is the sound in most cases.
They want you to change every 3K, you can easily go 4 or more miles between... - mkuller 09:51:47 07/01/09 (7)
...however, my car always seems to run better after an oil change...and after a carwash.
- 3K ???????????? - JDK 13:18:41 07/01/09 (5)
  Most cars here are on a 12 months oil change or every 15K km (10K miles) which ever comes first.
  
  How can they justify changing 3 times more often? What is the purpose apart from making 3 times more money?
  
  Is it a car company conspiracy to use up Americas oil?
  
  Cheers,
  John K
  - Yes the manufacturers recommend you change the oil in modern cars every 15K Km ... - three_sox 17:52:02 07/01/09 (0)
    ...However I still have the oil and filter changed every 5K Km on our cars. I specify premium synthetic oil and have a small one-man show do the oil/filter change twice in a row and every third service I send the cars into a service centre for a full once-over.
    
    With decent cars having them serviced regularly is cheap-as-chips insurance.
    
    Also I only run 98RON premium fuel in them as well.
    
    Smile
    
    Sox
  - Crazy, isn't it ... - reelsmith. 13:41:06 07/01/09 (1)
    We discussed this once on NAM (North American Motoring ...a MINI Cooper Forum) and the Europeans could not believe how wasteful the Americans were when it came to changing oil so often.
    With MINIs, which uses synthetic oil and the recommended oil change interval is 15K miles, most Americans on the board were changing their oil at half that interval while the Europeans were adhering to it.
    Here in the US, when you get your oil changed, they put a sticker on your windshield telling you when you will "require" your next one ...and they usually suggest 3K miles later.
    I believe, as you suggest, the purpose of the 3K oil change is to make more money. Most manufactures are recommending 7.5K miles between changes with dino-oil. My mechanic has torn down MINI engines with over 150K miles on them and found the insides clean and sludge free ...these were cars that abided by the 15K miles oil change regiment and used synthetic oil.
    
    reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
    
    Edits: 07/01/09 07/01/09
    - Yes, the only car that needed its oil changed at 3k miles was a air cooled VW - Craiger56 10:28:07 07/03/09 (0)
      They only held 3 quarts and didn't have an oil filter.
      
      I've changed the Mobil 1 10/30, oil and air filter every 15k miles in our Mazda 626 turbo 13 times so far, and it's still running like new and losing only 1 quart between changes at 200,000 miles.
  - The purpose is to make more money - racerguy 13:28:58 07/01/09 (0)
    Auto makers recommend 7500mi (or longer) intervals between oil changes, but the auto maintenance industry has the public believing their cars will self-destruct unless the oil is changed every 3000 miles. Oil-changing salons are a large, profitable business.
  - 15k miles is with synthetic oils, like Mobile One, not fossil-based...(nt) - mkuller 13:28:04 07/01/09 (0)
    (nt)
- RE: They want you to change every 3K, you can easily go 4 or more miles between... - Michael Samra 11:33:39 07/01/09 (0)
  They want you to change every 3K, you can easily go 4 or more miles between...
  You are very correct.
  If the power supply waveform isn't pretty,neither is the sound in most cases.
Put some aquarium rocks in your glove box and the oil will last forever. - Enophile 09:46:23 07/1/09 (3)
You could also consider changing your car dash clock for a more clever device and improve your mileage - but this will not actually be a measurable improvement, you'll just know it's better. Heck, the new clocks can be so clever, you can just put the car in cruise control and climb in back for a nap!

Lastly, fax yourself some beeps while you have your cell phone in the car and you won't need to ever check your brake fluid, transmission fluid, or coolant again, ever.

Gotta expand those horizons, man!

Safe trip to you. Headed down to the "Osteen Festival" in Lakewood?
- It was a layup.... - powermatic 20:17:55 07/01/09 (0)
  but still worth two points.
  
  Good job-had me laughing.
  
  "dammit"
- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Great! -t - Bruce Kendall 11:17:04 07/01/09 (0)
- Or better yet... - mkuller 11:00:16 07/01/09 (0)
  ...he can pray.
try the Oil change forum-nt - Green Lantern 09:30:51 07/1/09 (1)
.
- RE: try the Oil change forum-nt - Todd Krieger 09:47:41 07/1/09 (0)
  Here's the link........
  - http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/oilchange/bbs.html (Open in New Window)
Forget the oil and just be sure you bring a large - tinear 09:03:21 07/1/09 (2)
pack of Depends.
- Mama don't let your cowboys grow up to be babies… - Wellfed 05:50:34 07/03/09 (0)
  Willie sang this the other night. I thought of you as he did.
- "...be sure you bring a large..." one of these in case you break down - dave c 18:16:59 07/01/09 (0)
During... - The Real Dick Hertz 09:00:56 07/1/09 (2)
Try changing one quart every 500 miles or so. Be sure and contact Machina Dynamica for some audiophile approved oil and filter. Also, you'll get better mileage with the Clever Clock stuck to the dash and magic rocks in the rear window. Bon voyage...

Oh and I almost forgot. Have Geoff use the teleportation tweak to tune your engine for you.
- I realize something you don't... - Wellfed 07:22:26 07/02/09 (0)
- My car has its own cell phone and is in constant contact with Machina Dynamica - Chris O 18:19:36 07/01/09 (0)
  Insanity is only insanity if you are not insane.
  
  ___
  Long Live Dr.Gizmo
It doesn't matter. nt - Norm 08:52:23 07/1/09 (0)
a
RE: Oil change: before road trip, or after?… - Door Nail 08:38:08 07/1/09 (0)
Either way your splitting hairs. The manufactures recomendation is just that, a recomendation. There are many variables that effect the demands made on and service life of motor oil. In fact mileage is a poor way to determine oil change interval. Do you spend a lot of time idling, stuck in traffic? Do you make a lot of short trips with a lot of warm up cycles or do you get on the highway and drive 75 miles or more between stops? It would be better to use operating hours as a guide but cars aren't with an operating hours meter. Anyway go the extra mile and change the oil before. You can't change oil too often and a car with new oil which doesn't have the hydrocarbon contamination of old oil will run better and may even get a bit better gas mileage. Changing oil will also give you the opportunity to check over the car before your trip. Happy Motoring
Do it before. - Don Till 08:34:49 07/1/09 (0)
Unless it's a very low mileage car it probably doesn't matter but why take the risk - do it before for peace of minds sake.
RE: Oil change: before road trip, or after?… - herb's go karts 08:06:05 07/1/09 (1)
Change it before, and if you are using conventional oil do not change per the manufacturer's recommended interval if it is more than 5,000 miles - instead change it somewhere between every 3,500-5,000 miles. Use a top quality oil and a new top quality OEM spec filter

If you have an older car that originally ran on a conventional heavy weight oil, e.g. 20/50, do not switch to synthetic and do not switch to lighter oil, e.g. 5/30.

There is no co-incidence that engine sludging as a problem on low mileage modern cars has co-incided with manufacturer recommended service intervals for oil changes getting longer and longer. So the basic advice is the same for cars that are OEM spec'd to run with synthetic: change it ahead of the manufacturer's recommendation, say somewhere between every 5,000-7,500 miles.

Sludging will kill your motor. An oil change costs virtually nothing, and frequent oil changes (with top quality oil and OEM-spec filter) are the BEST maintenance possible for your engine. (example: Google Toyota engine sludging)

I have an old sportscar that sees extreme (i.e. track) engine use. Despite this, and the fact that the engine is 22 years old has more than 150,000 miles on it and has never been rebuilt, it is well within tolerance and is completely clean internally. There is barely any wear on my cam teeth for example. This is all due to strict discipline with oil and filter changes.
- Not only Toyota... BMW too - AbeCollins 10:18:54 07/01/09 (0)
  BMW owners have had some issues with engine sludging.
  
  I find it funny that BMW advertises all recommended service for 4yrs/50,000 miles is free of charge. What they don't tell you is that since they started this program a few years back, they also greatly extended their recommended service intervals! This saves them money as they don't service the car as frequently as they used to. And why would they? It's on their dime for 4 years/50,000 miles. ;-)
  
  I get my oil/filter changed, coolant flushed, and other maintenance items done more inline with the old recommend service interval even if it means paying for it myself.
Before - Richard BassNut Greene 07:51:29 07/1/09 (0)
Why wait longer than recommended?

I assume you change the oil and filter every 5000 miles which is a typical manufacturer recommendation.

If you change the oil and filter more often than the manufacturer's recommendation, then I would wonder why.
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RE: Oil change: before road trip, or after?… - Pro Sound Guy 07:21:12 07/1/09 (1)
If you used pure synthetic oil you could do 7000 to 15,000 mile interval
changes

Synthetics are FAR better in all aspects
- That addresses only one of two problems - E-Stat 08:44:35 07/1/09 (0)
  While synthetic doesn't break down as quickly, it accumulates particulates no differently. You really don't want to drag dirt and grunge around the motor even if the oil hasn't broken down.
  
  rw
RE: Oil change: before road trip, or after?… - ludwigvan968 07:14:39 07/1/09 (0)
Just do it afterwards, no harm, as long as your fluid is level.
RE: Oil change: before road trip, or after?… - Dman 07:06:28 07/1/09 (5)
I did a Niagara Falls to Orlando round trip last Christmas to see the In-laws and came back about a 1000 miles OVER without issue! Now mind you my car only had about 70,000 miles at the time. I would think that the more miles on the car and the make, the greater the chance for issues to arise if you didn't change oil before travel!

BTW, where you heading?
- Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson concert this evening in Milwaukee… - Wellfed 07:11:03 07/1/09 (4)
  - RE: Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson concert this evening in Milwaukee… - tomservo 07:29:26 07/1/09 (3)
    Were going to S.F. tomorrow, what a great place, nice and well behaved if intoxicated people, many kinds of good food and beer and oh yeah, there are a bunch of stages / bands haha..
    - You from Milwaukee area? We're looking for an activity for tomorrow... - Wellfed 16:44:45 07/01/09 (2)
      Ages 14-52
      - RE: You from Milwaukee area? We're looking for an activity for tomorrow... - tomservo 17:20:55 07/01/09 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: You from Milwaukee area? We're looking for an activity for tomorrow... posted by Wellfed on July 01, 2009 at 16:44:45
        
        Well not so much from Milwaukee but within driving distance.
        I do know Milwaukee has an excellent zoo and indoor gardens under huge domes. North and west i think in North Freedom is a good railroad museum.
        Some where south of there you have the 7 mile fair, an enormous flee market held every week.
        If you were inclined to go a bit further south to Gurnee Il, you have Six flags Great America, an empty coke can gets you in for less.
        The have lots of roller coasters and white knuckle rides as well lesser rides as a full water park which you probably won't need without cool snap this week so far.
        Also nearby the park there is Gurnee mills, a very large mall which has a Rain forest cafe and other restaurants.
        If you hopped on the train in Milwaukee and went to Chicago, there is the Taste of Chicago going on now (daughter 2 is there now with friends)as well as Navy pier the museums and planetarium, much more.
        Hope that helps
        Tom
        
        How was your time at Summerfest? [nt] - Wellfed 20:52:44 07/03/09 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: You from Milwaukee area? We're looking for an activity for tomorrow... posted by tomservo on July 01, 2009 at 17:20:55
        
        nt

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