Like I said oil needs to be changed because it gets contaminated. Not because it breaks down. If you really feel that the oil can go 15K like they say I'd take Mobils word.
Yeah it will be accurate to according to your driving conditions. If you drive like a granny around town the test results will be inaccurate for dragstrip conditions
Mike
Contaminants will show in the oil analysis as well as viscosity breakdown.
I drive the way I drive, everyday. The random romp on the throttle isn't going to completely corrupt this data.
Still, I have to ask...
How do you know what the effects of hard driving will be, if you aren't doing the oil analysis?
You have to start taking data to learn anything.
Engines will last more than 200,000 miles with cheap dino oil being changed every 5000 miles. There is no reason to use the expensive crap and have it tested all the time.
5k miles on dino oil would be great, but maybe the change interval could be 10k, or maybe even 15k, on dino oil?
The point is no one seems to be taking the time to do the oil analysis test, so all change interval recommendations are just regurgitations of what was speculated by some one else.
The analysis is the only way to judge the 'aging' of oil.
Keep in mind that I won't have to test the oil every 1k miles.
I will be cautious on the first attempt at a 15k mile oil change, and test every 2,500 miles. This will be pricey, but if I keep testing until I start to see oil degredation/contamination then I will have a better idea of when to start testing on the next oil change. I may feel safe running 10k or 12k miles before the first test.
With more data samples I will be able to narrow down an oil change/test schedule.
The bottom line is...
There isn't any reliable data out there showing what kind of change intervals are reliable, so I have to develop my own data.
At $20 a test, I don't see much reason not to!
I greatly appreciate the responses... However,
You guys aren't going to talk me out of running Mobil 1, and you aren't going to talk me out of performing these tests.
This is something I have to know.
JT-
I was getting ready to email you about this and DC Controllers. Glad to have you stop by.
Thanks for the leads, I will try to contact those guys tomorrow...
I'm just not really sure how to select a company for oil testing. They all seem the same, and pricing is nearly identical.
Wasn't there an Oil/Lubrication/Filter forum?
I can't remember the name and can't seem to find it.
Does anyone know what I am talking about?
Thanks for all the great responses,
jason