The
debate continues.
A lady
client of mine came in this week to discuss
the fact that the "change oil" light
on her Acura RDX 2.4 litre turbo was
coming
on every 4000 Km and the specified synthetic
oil change was costing her in excess
of $100.
The dealer,
when questioned, fell behind the defence
that the truck was turbo charged and
therefore needed frequent oil changes.
Now I
know from experience that even turbo charged
engines can go at least 15,000 Km before
a synthetic oil change is necessary
and I
knew that this was overkill of the worst
and most dishonest kind.
I checked
the oil and it was so clean that it
was difficult to find the level on the
dipstick.
So I pointed
out to her that her owners manual contained
a section telling her how to reset
the oil light. She went on her way
and I
suspect we won't see her again for about
15,000 Km or so.
We service
some BMWs and the 7-series oil change
light on the ones that run on the highway
all the time, don't come on for
32,000
Km in some instances. Which is frankly
what I would expect to see using Mobil1
or Castrol Syntec.
Using
a PAO polymer synthetic such as AGIP or
ELF, I personally don't change my oil
for 40,000 Km, which in my Porsche is
4 years,
since I don't drive it in the winter
time. Sure, I check it regularly and
frankly, even at the 40,000 Km interval, the
ELF
oil is
still clean. But ELF oil of this quality
costs $13 a litre, so you really can't
expect everyone to go that far between oil
changes.
Now, lo
and behold, the California Integrated Waste Management
Board
says the following:
"Needing
to change your car's oil at 3,000 miles
(5000 km is a myth. Many cars today can
go longer without affecting engine wear.
Automakers
are regularly recommending oil changes
at 5,000, 7,000 or even 10,000 miles based
on driving conditions.
Yet research
conducted by the California Integrated
Waste Management Board shows that
nearly three-quarters of Californian
drivers
change their motor oil more often than
automaker recommendations. Following
the 3,000 mile myth generates millions
of gallons
of waste oil every year which can pollute
California's natural resources"
And courtesy of Autoblog,
someone came up with the following list of
oil change intervals, based
on latest manufacturers regulations:
Acura: Software senses
when oil change is needed
- (but as noted, be cautious of this.)
Aston
Martin: 15,000 km or every year
Audi:
8000 km in first year; 15,000 km in later years
BMW: Software
senses when oil change is needed
Buick:
Software senses when oil change is needed
Cadillac:
Software senses when oil change is needed
Chevrolet:
Software senses when oil change is needed
Chrysler:
10,000 km or 6 months
Dodge: 10,000 km or 6 months
Ford:
12,000 km.
GMC: Software
senses when oil change is needed
Honda:
Software senses when oil change is needed
Hummer:
Software senses when oil change is needed
Hyundai: 12,000 km.
Infiniti: 12,000 km.
Isuzu:
Software senses when oil change is needed
Jaguar:
16000 km.
Jeep:
10,000 km or 6 months
Kia: 12,000 km. depending on model
Land Rover: 12,000 km.
Lexus:
8000 km.
Mazda:
12,000 km.
Lincoln:
12,000 km.
Mercedes:
22000 km or every year
Mercury: 12,000 km.
Mini:
Software senses when oil change is needed
Mitsubishi: 12,000 km.
Nissan: 12,000 km.
Pontiac:
Software senses when oil change is needed
Porsche:
20000 km or every year
Saab:
Software senses when oil change is needed
Saturn:
Software senses when oil change is needed
Scion:
8000 km or 6 months
Subaru: 12,000 km.
Suzuki: 12,000 km.
Toyota:
8000 km miles or 6 months
Volkswagen:
8000 km.
Volvo:
12,000 km.
I guess
that Toyota and VW are a bit chicken
with all the the sludging problems they've
had, but this isn't and never was,
a function
or a fault of the oil, this was always
a function of bad engine, or engine ventilation,
design.
So now you have
it. Engine lubricating oil is getting better and
better and if you want to know what's best for you,
the
price
is always a good guide.
Something
sell for $1.25 at Walmart isn't going
to be too good for your engine. Of course,
if you're blowing blue smoke and
using
a litre every 500 kliks, who cares?
The fact
is that 70% of all engine oil sold "disappears"
and is never recycled. Some of it
ends up on the asphalt as can be
seen in
the parking places at any shopping mall
and some of it (shudder) gets poured down
the drains.
A great
deal of waste oil ends up in landfill
and one litre of waste oil can easily contaminate
100,000 litres of ground water.
So I agree
with the California Board completely,
even though I'm in the business of changing
oil.
For heavens
sake, leave that oil in the engine and
don't slavishly believe your on board
computer, as in the case of the Acura,
it obviously
can be wrong!!