Some Tips about Changing Your oil?

fred7777

NWOIHTS wrote: »

look at the dipstick and if it's more black than gold then it's due a change - that's it!

Really, then I'd be changine oil every day on a diesel

NWOIHTS wrote: »

Remove the oil filter after you've drained the oil. Use an oil filter chain to release it.

Or a 27mm socket on a 1.6Hdi, using a chain would destroy the filter housing!:rotfl:

Steve059

I've just bought a month's supply of 120L of 5W/30 oil, 120L of flushing oil, 30 oil filter elements and 30 oil filter housings.

No, I haven't.

londonTiger

if you're doing a biannual oil change do you change the filter as well or do you change the filter on original schedule?

Motor oil isn't exactly cheap, especially not the synthetic ones made for VAG cars which are different (longlife, higher temps)

Steve059

londonTiger wrote: »

if you're doing a biannual oil change do you change the filter as well or do you change the filter on original schedule?

Motor oil isn't exactly cheap, especially not the synthetic ones made for VAG cars which are different (longlife, higher temps)

You do both. For a start, the filter contains quite a bit of oil.

mad_despot

Some posters here have suggested changing engine oil when it is black or at less than the manufacturer's specified interval. As has been pointed out, the oil's colour is not a good indication of the oil's condition (especially for diesels). But, it's also the case that there is almost certainly no advantage to changing engine oil before the service interval.

Check out the article here:

bobistheoilguy.com/used-oil-analysis-how-to-decide-what-is-normal/

At the bottom under "What is applicable to most of us..." are the article's conclusions, points 7-9 are interesting - there's no advantage to changing engine oil before the service interval for most of us.

bigjl

There is some really good information on Bitog.

But some things need to be remembered when reading that site.

Most of the posters are American or Canadian.

This means 3k miles and 3 months is considered normal.

Anything my h longer is considered extended drain.

They also have a severe fetish for the older mineral oils rather than using semi synth or full synth oils as is the norm in Europe.

Still an informative site but just keep the above in mind.

Another thing to remember when it comes to oil change intervals is that severe service intervals are still alive and well.

Sometimes the manufacturer puts this information in the handbook or service book, like the wife's 2006 Clio Dci.

Sometimes they don't, my '08 Nissan Pathfinder, but it is detailed in the workshop manual that the public are not really encouraged to get hold of, I have one for the Pathfinder though.


Volvo specify using a specific high quality oil, A5/B5 0w30, instead of a reduced oil change interval.

I use a good oil and change it out early instead, but that is just me, as I am unable to find much in the way of 0w30 at sensible prices near me, but 5w30 A5/B5 is plentiful.

Most people who live in a large town or city are actually operating in severe service conditions but don't know it and their vehicle suffers as a result.