5k mile oil changes in spite of oil life indicator still showing plenty left

[Stan H]

But are you typical? LOL

I would say absolutely % Not

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[Lost1wing]

There is this old man in my hunt club who has never had his oil changed. He trades his truck in every 2 years. Just think about that, for those who buy used trucks from a dealer.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

There is this old man in my hunt club who has never had his oil changed. He trades his truck in every 2 years. Just think about that, for those who buy used trucks from a dealer.

People have asked why I always buy new instead of used.
My answer comes from me being a mechanic for many years - I guess I've witnessed too many things.

I'm sure I've passed this along here before - but for newer people, or those who are forgetful like me:
Back in the 1990s I was a manager at On With Life, Inc. Part of my responsibilities were safety - for staff and clients.
So I'd invite people like firefighters, law officers and others to come in and talk about safety of all sorts.
One time it was a trooper from the IHP. He told of coming across a guy sitting in a car long the shoulder of I80 here in Iowa. Hood was up on the car. Trooper pulls up behind the car, gets out and walks over and talks to the driver, asking what's going on.
Driver says - I don't know, I was driving along, it made this noise lost power and died and it won't restart.
Trooper does what he knows - checks things under the hood, belts and hoses all look fine, he pulls the dipstick out of the engine, wipes it off, puts it back in and pulls it out again to check the oil. Nothing. He does it again - nothing.
He goes back to the driver, notices the odometer is at 35,000 miles. Askes the driver when was the last time he had it serviced - oil change and so on.
"This is a leased car, you don't have to do that on these".

So, Jeep people, lease your Jeeps and you can skip all of the fluid checks and changes!

 

[Rusty PW]

But are you typical? LOL

Don't argue with a guy named Stanley. That's my first name too.

 

[Rusty PW]

People have asked why I always buy new instead of used.
My answer comes from me being a mechanic for many years - I guess I've witnessed too many things.

I'm sure I've passed this along here before - but for newer people, or those who are forgetful like me:
Back in the 1990s I was a manager at On With Life, Inc. Part of my responsibilities were safety - for staff and clients.
So I'd invite people like firefighters, law officers and others to come in and talk about safety of all sorts.
One time it was a trooper from the IHP. He told of coming across a guy sitting in a car long the shoulder of I80 here in Iowa. Hood was up on the car. Trooper pulls up behind the car, gets out and walks over and talks to the driver, asking what's going on.
Driver says - I don't know, I was driving along, it made this noise lost power and died and it won't restart.
Trooper does what he knows - checks things under the hood, belts and hoses all look fine, he pulls the dipstick out of the engine, wipes it off, puts it back in and pulls it out again to check the oil. Nothing. He does it again - nothing.
He goes back to the driver, notices the odometer is at 35,000 miles. Askes the driver when was the last time he had it serviced - oil change and so on.
"This is a leased car, you don't have to do that on these".

So, Jeep people, lease your Jeeps and you can skip all of the fluid checks and changes!

I said this before on here. Bell Telephone Company before it was broken up. The oil change on their vehicle was to change the filter and top off the oil every 7,500 miles. They would take their vehicles to auction at 120,000 miles.

 

[Hootbro]

Don't argue with a guy named Stanley. That's my first name too.

Any relation to Stanley Tools? Always thought of you as a tool.

 

[Rusty PW]

Any relation to Stanley Tools? Always thought of you as a "fuckin' tool".

Fixed it.

 

[bgott]

Had to laugh a bit - for years this has been talked about, and the non-believers are going to hate no matter what.
I've even shown how mine followed very very close with the lab results.

Short drives take away from the life, longer drives, always driving it to FULL oil temperature means you get 1 for 1. It truly is a science - but gee, no one on the internet likes science.

I wish I had photos of a Ford I worked on years ago where the lady drove only to the store and back - 8 or 9 miles. The engine was SO plugged up that oil couldn't drain back out of the tops of the heads, filling the valve covers! The gunk was HARD as heck and had to be chiseled out.

I've seen quite a few like that. When you have to drop the pan to change the oil, then the owner swears they had the oil changed every 3000 miles. The thing is, some of them might have actually been paying someone for 3000 mile changes and it wasn't being done.

 

[Charles 236]

I had to pull the pan and intake manifold on a Cadillac 4100 V8 one time to change the oil. The owner bought it used and tried to change the oil. He said it took 30 minutes to pour one quart into the valve cover without overflow. When I pulled the valve covers and intake, I found that the original equipment oil had turned into a stiff Jello mold model of the inside of the valley. I literally lifted it out and sat it on a tray to show him. Had to pull the pan and clean out the bottom end as well.

 

[bgott]

I had to pull the pan and intake manifold on a Cadillac 4100 V8 one time to change the oil. The owner bought it used and tried to change the oil. He said it took 30 minutes to pour one quart into the valve cover without overflow. When I pulled the valve covers and intake, I found that the original equipment oil had turned into a stiff Jello mold model of the inside of the valley. I literally lifted it out and sat it on a tray to show him. Had to pull the pan and clean out the bottom end as well.


How about when they come in for leaking valve cover gaskets and, when you pull the covers, you dump a quart or two of oil down the side of the engine onto the shop floor. I’ve got dozens of stories about severe sludge puppies.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Yeah - it would likely tell most people they've wasted a bunch of time and money - but, whatever.

Just like the oil life monitor, people would ignore it lol. I feel better changing my oil every hour!

Which is fine, it's your Jeep, do as you wish.

But it's when they start like, fear mongering and terrorizing some poor bastard who's on the fence looking for some guidance, that I feel compelled to interject.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

There is this old man in my hunt club who has never had his oil changed. He trades his truck in every 2 years. Just think about that, for those who buy used trucks from a dealer.

Typical… My neighour is the same.

 

[Stan H]

Don't argue with a guy named Stanley. That's my first name too.

I am the only Stanley I even know , my Dad passed the name to me . It's an old name and I have worked around 1000's of people for 35 yrs. Never met another Stanley .

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I am the only Stanley I even know , my Dad passed the name to me . It's an old name and I have worked around 1000's of people for 35 yrs. Never met another Stanley .

When i worked at Compressor Controls years ago - if you had stood up and said "Hey, Boris", 10 people would have stood up, and in Russian, asked what you needed.

 

[Rusty PW]

I am the only Stanley I even know , my Dad passed the name to me . It's an old name and I have worked around 1000's of people for 35 yrs. Never met another Stanley .

My dad's name was Stanley too. His brothers and friends call him Stush, or Stushu. They sometimes called me Little Stush.

In school, or business. Everyone calls me Stanley. My friends call me Russ. Every female I know have always called me Rusty.

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