Grey01 said:
Snkypete,
You are right that most people don't NEED to change their oil (assuming they are using a good oil like Amsoil or Mobil1 synthetic) near as often as they do. A lot of them just WANT to because it makes them feel better.
And that is fine - again no one was telling anyone they couldn't do anything - merely correcting inaccurate information. Why would anyone want to throw away money for no reason? I will again bring up brakes - why not change your brake pads for no reason then?
Grey01 said:
You are right when you state that people seem inclined to mouth off on subjects they have little knowledge of. But what else is new?
Doesn't make it right, and is what brings down the quality of a board IMO.
Grey01 said:
It's also possible that some people like to bait and tongue-in-check people who are anal retentive. Think some of that might be going on?
Perhaps you might be, however there are clearly those who had posted in this thread who don't have a clue, but demand that oil has to be changed at 3000 miles - brednova is a perfect example of this.
Grey01 said:
Just noticed your cool car in your signature. I think I would want an oil analysis too if I was driving a mean machine like that. How many miles have you put on the configuration that is in your signature? Do you have any track times? Do you really NEED a car like this? Or did you just WANT it because it makes you feel good? Get my point? It's possible that you are relating the care and concern you are putting on your show car with what the average pretty much stock Mustang daily driver puts on his. Two different worlds. It's a lot easier to just change oil fairly often when you're racking up a lot of miles and not get caught up in the details. Most people don't get too excited about changing their oil.
Mileage : A bit over 10,000. I am fortunate enough to not have to use the car as a daily driver - my previous mustang was an only driver for its first two years, a daily driver there after during nice weather. It had roughly 100k on the odometer IIRC.
I will ASSume you mean drag race : No this car hasn't been to the track. There is nothing exciting for me about a mid 400rwhp car - been there years ago. So why risk tossing a rod on a motor that has inherently weak internals when a new motor is being assembled and this one can then be sold to offset the cost? To go low 12's? No thanks. I've been racing for almost 18 years, have gone low 12's naturally aspirated in a road race car, and 10's with a 200hp shot of nitrous.
Do I need a car like this? Yes, because again, I don't do things half assed. Why the car has received the attention it has, and the compliments I get. Keeping the car stock was never an option - there was a detailed plan in place on its transformation before the car was even purchased....which - while being a year behind schedule unfortunately - is only approximately $6000 over budget. Being that small of a percentage off is due to experience, investigating and knowledge....this isn't my first car, or my first project car for that matter.
Show vs Daily Driver : Well, a show car is just one aspect of my car, but since you bring up the point - this regiment is even more important in a daily driver - and more cost effective. The stress placed on a daily driver is much more than a show only car. However it is not greater than that of a car that also doubles as a drag race and road race car.
Fine, we can compare my truck if you want to do daily drivers - I do over 35,000 miles a year on the truck. March '04 it will be 4 years old - it has over 115k miles on it. It also holds more than 5 qts of oil....16 to be exact. According to the 'synthetic is garbage after 3,000 miles' club, I'd use $90 a month in oil alone. Instead I installed an Amsoil ByPass filter, the primary filter is changed every 7500, both filters at 15k, primary at 22.5k, both at 30k. I send out an analysis at 10k and 20k - and then replace it at 30k. Now, back to Amsoil being $6-7/qt (we'll use $6 again) I am now using $96 in 11 months for oil, and $40 in sampling (4136 total) as opposed to Mobil 1 ($5/qt) being changed at 3k for an almost yearly total of $900. So now we're not talking $10, we're talking almost $1000 in the course of a year - $1k I can then put into working on my car....or towards a vacation, or whatever. My oil comes up clean every time, my mileage is the same as they day I purchased it, and this has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned. How many mustangs on this board have 115k on them?
I don't get excited about having to change the oil either unfortunately. I do enjoy working on my car, cleaning it, driving it, racing it and showing it...you know things an enthusiast does? Something that this board is supposed to be made up of. I seriously doubt that there are 'average' mustang owners here - there are enthusiasts....what percentage of board members have stock cars? I'll even go out on a limb and guess - something I don't do - and say the percentage is in single digits. While it is a shame that a growing percentage don't work on their cars themselves (I suppose it keeps the shops in business) they are still enthusiasts looking for better performance - not average drivers.
Grey01 said:
Snykpete, I have enjoyed debating with you some of the issues surrounding how often people change their oil. It is an interesting study in human nature. Don't know about you, but hardly a day goes by that I don't thank my lucky stars that I was born in this great country and have the right and ability to do things like this!!
Have a great day!
I don't mind a healthy debate, I actually enjoy it. Unfortunately in this thread, the people debating that synthetic oil is garbage after 3000 forgot to bring any facts to the table so there wasn't really any enjoyment - or was it that they didn't have any to bring - only opinions that were based upon nothing?