Date: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 09:25:13 -0400
Reply-To: phishman068@GMAIL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Craig Cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: oil change interval for non-wbx setups
In-Reply-To: <526A6ACA.60909@ip-solutions.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I change the oil in my bostig with synthetic oil rated for 7500 miles every year, which is generally 7500-10,000 miles. During that time I also never check my oil.
At the end of the year I have an oil analysis done and it generally indicates I'd be good for another several thousand. I may just stop changing it every year even.
Changing your oil without doing an oil analysis is like replacing all the food in your house every time you go grocery shopping, regardless of how fresh it may still be.
With the massive capacity of the bostig high clearance oil pan, service life is adequately extended.
Doubling the oil capacity doesn't directly double the service life, but increases it significantly.
If I'm about to go on a big trip, I may change the oil filter. I did that once, idk....
Being proactive about maintenance is wise, and these advised service intervals are there to protect the ignorant, increase profits, and insure/protect the companies producing the engine. That does not mean they are necessary.
I often receive tons of passionate arguments against my oil style but the fact is I have lab results infront of me, your only data was haphazardly poured into a bucket and disposed of. Furthermore you get so much more information about engine health out of an oil analysis that it helps offset the cost (though as I said I often go more than twice the "service Interval" so my style saves money even after the analysis).
Please note, I do this on a modern engine.
On my wbxer engines I replace my oil every year regardless of mileage or every 4000-5000 miles, whichever comes first. (And with proper oil filters and proper weight oil). These beasts are tricky and like to be pampered.
My bostig likes to be beaten.
-craig
On Oct 25, 2013, at 8:57 AM, Harry Hoffman <hhoffman@IP-SOLUTIONS.NET> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> So, Dennis and I were having a interesting chat at Blue Rocks about
> different power plants and when to change oil.
>
> He suggested, and please correct me if I'm wrong Dennis, that oil change
> should be based on a few different criteria: miles driven, gas consumed,
> time since last change, and effort needed for the engine to move the
> vehicle.
>
> The last had me thinking about it since our conversation. My oil is
> always super dirty at the 3k point. I'm running a bostig setup and
> hadn't really thought about the reasons why until we talked. Since the
> engine needs to operate at a higher rpm range there's a greater level of
> heat generate and more "effort" required then say if that zetec was
> still in a focus.
>
> Are other people changing their oil at a earlier interval? Has anyone
> done a comparison to the amount of money spent on oil (the bostig folks
> recommend full synthetic) if you are changing it more frequently vs the
> cost of letting it go longer and replacing the engine?
>
> Also, blue rocks was our inaugural campout. The wife, myself, and our
> two little girls (ages 3 and 1). The rain was a bummer but overall it
> was very successful.
>
> Looking forward to many years of it until they no longer want to hang
> out with dad, lol.
>
> Cheers,
> Harry
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