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> nearly all consumer cars sold in the past 3 decades only require about 1 service trip a year, and that includes changing oil. Simply not true, and the linke

by DKnoll 7y ago

> nearly all consumer cars sold in the past 3 decades only require about 1 service trip a year, and that includes changing oil. Simply not true, and the linked article doesn't support that statement either. Try looking at a maintenance schedule for a Corolla or a Camry here: https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/my-toyota/maintenance-schedule https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/my-toyota/maintenance-schedu....

gamblor956 7y ago
My link supports the claim that oil changes are too frequent and should be roughly every 7500+ miles, or 15k+ for newer cars, which is about 1x/year for most drivers. The Recommended is a very different thing from required. The recommended maintenance schedules calls for servicing before any meaningful wear and tear on maintained parts/systems. Essentially, you're always getting them cleaned or replaced so their close to new. This is great for optimum performance but it's also incredibly wasteful and unnecessary. It's the equivalent of replacing your RAM and video card every year. Sure, you're always getting top-of-the-line performance, but if you're just playing the sims and using MS Word, why are you wasting the money?
- DKnoll 7y ago
  Because your RAM or video card failing (hard to stretch this metaphor lol) won't take your motherboard with it. Sludge buildup in an engine is easily prevented with frequent oil changes and will help you keep your car on the road without expensive repairs. Beyond driving cautiously, changing your oil on time is probably the best thing you can do to extend the lifetime of your vehicle. As for waste, oil can be recycled but burnt off fuel can't be. You consume less fuel if your engine is properly lubricated.
  - gamblor956 7y ago
    If you want to waste money changing your oil more frequently than you actually need to, I'm not going to stop you. My point is that you don't need to change your oil that frequently. Also, engine sludge is generally the result of contamination from water seepage or more commonly your oil not getting hot enough to burn off moisture (usually the result of too many short trips in the winter), so if you're changing oil to prevent sludge buildup you're just addressing the symptom and not the underlying problem or misuse.
    - DKnoll 7y ago
      I don't need to do any maintenance, but I do it to protect my investment. Not sure why you think that failing to change oil will not cause sludge build up, google 'engine sludge' and every result will say the most common cause is failing to change oil. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_sludge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_sludge > Oil sludge that causes an engine to run poorly or even seize is a rare occurrence and typically happens only when oil changes have been neglected or if the car has been driven extensively with an extremely low oil level. > Ways to minimize sludge production and accumulation include performing frequent oil changes, performing mechanized engine flushing or de-sludging, using synthetic oil,[1] and following the manufacturer's engine maintenance routine. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/car-parts-and-accessories/engine-sludge/index.htm https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/car-parts-and-acces... > While sludge often results from poor upkeep, notably not changing the oil at prescribed intervals, some engines appear more prone to sludge buildup than others.

by DKnoll 7y ago

gamblor956 7y ago

My link supports the claim that oil changes are too frequent and should be roughly every 7500+ miles, or 15k+ for newer cars, which is about 1x/year for most drivers. The Recommended is a very different thing from required. The recommended maintenance schedules calls for servicing before any meaningful wear and tear on maintained parts/systems. Essentially, you're always getting them cleaned or replaced so their close to new. This is great for optimum performance but it's also incredibly wasteful and unnecessary. It's the equivalent of replacing your RAM and video card every year. Sure, you're always getting top-of-the-line performance, but if you're just playing the sims and using MS Word, why are you wasting the money?

DKnoll 7y ago
Because your RAM or video card failing (hard to stretch this metaphor lol) won't take your motherboard with it. Sludge buildup in an engine is easily prevented with frequent oil changes and will help you keep your car on the road without expensive repairs. Beyond driving cautiously, changing your oil on time is probably the best thing you can do to extend the lifetime of your vehicle. As for waste, oil can be recycled but burnt off fuel can't be. You consume less fuel if your engine is properly lubricated.
- gamblor956 7y ago
  If you want to waste money changing your oil more frequently than you actually need to, I'm not going to stop you. My point is that you don't need to change your oil that frequently. Also, engine sludge is generally the result of contamination from water seepage or more commonly your oil not getting hot enough to burn off moisture (usually the result of too many short trips in the winter), so if you're changing oil to prevent sludge buildup you're just addressing the symptom and not the underlying problem or misuse.
  - DKnoll 7y ago
    I don't need to do any maintenance, but I do it to protect my investment. Not sure why you think that failing to change oil will not cause sludge build up, google 'engine sludge' and every result will say the most common cause is failing to change oil. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_sludge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_sludge > Oil sludge that causes an engine to run poorly or even seize is a rare occurrence and typically happens only when oil changes have been neglected or if the car has been driven extensively with an extremely low oil level. > Ways to minimize sludge production and accumulation include performing frequent oil changes, performing mechanized engine flushing or de-sludging, using synthetic oil,[1] and following the manufacturer's engine maintenance routine. https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/car-parts-and-accessories/engine-sludge/index.htm https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/car-parts-and-acces... > While sludge often results from poor upkeep, notably not changing the oil at prescribed intervals, some engines appear more prone to sludge buildup than others.