Oil never changed in 122k miles

[zkay]

Blackstone sent me a newsletter today with this linked inside. It's an oil analysis done by someone who had never changed their oil in a 97 nissan truck, had the factory fill in it all that time.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/98575879/5db700c7f7e9418b1064e05c01920cd9-June-2012-Gas-Diesel-REPORT

Interesting stuff.

[CTScott]

Very interesting.

When my wife and I first started dating I offered to change the oil in her Tercel. The oil filter was completed caked (to the point where it was hard to find) and the two quarts of "oil" that came out of the drain plug was so thick and black that, even hot, it barely ran out of the drain hole. I looked at the sticker on her windshield, looked at the odometer, did a little math, and realized she had gone over 30,000 miles without changing it.

I can just imagine what the 122K oil looked like.

[fnkngrv]

did they use a spatula?

[mazilla]

I have a driver with a good 2-3 million miles on 22re's over the course of his 20 year career, he doesn't change his oil...just adds to it. His 90's toyota truck had 500K+ when we last talked about it. He only drives 22re Tacomas.

[nookandcrannycar]

I remember around the time I first had my license, the step dad of one of my best friends had a big, old Chrysler with over 200k miles on it. He had purchased it new and he also had never changed the oil.

[TPA5]

People that don't change their oil simply boggle my mind. It's so cheap and easy to do, there is absolutely zero excuse for not changing it.

[why?]

because you simply don't want to. I have an uncle that drives cars into the ground, does absolutely no maintenance at all. It's a dumb choice, but it is a choice.

[nookandcrannycar]

because you simply don't want to. I have an uncle that drives cars into the ground, does absolutely no maintenance at all. It's a dumb choice, but it is a choice.

You're right. He (your uncle) has CHOSEN not to care if he gets the maximum value (cost per mile) out of his cars. If he has always done this, then it is likely not an issue of affordability. It boils down to what is in a person's nature. I COULD do what your uncle does, but I WOULDN'T. I feel compelled to get the maximum value out of a car, and I know people of greater means who take this attitude to a much greater extreme than I do. Your uncle likely feels as though he is getting maximum utility because he is doing what he WANTS to do.

[Lux]

This is not a good idea for engines with variable valve timing! Clean oil is absolutely necessary for proper functioning of the cam phaser. Gumming up either the oil passes or phaser can carry expensive consequences... in addition to the fact that the oil will no longer effectively lubricate or dissipate heat.

[why?]

You're right. He (your uncle) has CHOSEN not to care if he gets the maximum value (cost per mile) out of his cars. If he has always done this, then it is likely not an issue of affordability. It boils down to what is in a person's nature. I COULD do what your uncle does, but I WOULDN'T. I feel compelled to get the maximum value out of a car, and I know people of greater means who take this attitude to a much greater extreme than I do. Your uncle likely feels as though he is getting maximum utility because he is doing what he WANTS to do.

my uncle is just strange.

Most people with money stay that way by not spending it. a new car is a lot more expensive than taking care of the one you have.

[nookandcrannycar]

my uncle is just strange.

Most people with money stay that way by not spending it. a new car is a lot more expensive than taking care of the one you have.

LOL. Yeah, I know a fair number of wealthy people who take their frugality to an extreme that is far away from any norm.

[anomoly40]

I know some people who lease cars who do that. They know they're getting a new one in 2 years and don't want the added expense. It blows my mind as well.

[malibuguy]

Im running amsoil at 15k intervals in my yaris my gfs protege and my moms current caravan.

Back in the day we had a 94 3.3 caravan...it saw 20-25k oil change intervals on the cheap stuff...ran 203k on that bastard with no motor issues other then we poppes a head gasket at 201...still had a nice crosshatch on the cylinder bores too

[oliveskate]

I don't get some people, but that's a crazy story! I change my oil at 4000km's with synthetic on all the vehicle's i've owned.