# Oil monitoring tip from Practical Sailor **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 11, 2024, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577 "2024-10-11T18:44:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/21 "2024-10-12T21:12:27Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Just see Dave’s shop out in Utah. He tears them apart for analysis and repair. Says to cut the recommended changes in half if you want long engine life. Then the trans shop down in Texas, calling for 30,000 mile fluid changes. IDK who Dave in Utah is, but I recall a character named “transman” (don’t google that) who used to visit and was a pro rebuilder. He always said something like 30-40K on the trans fluid/filter. I’ve had a couple of notoriously problematic ones - the Dodge A604 and Ford 4FEAT - that I personally never had trouble with for well into the 200K miles range. I chalked it up to pan/filter every 30k or so. But who knows? Of course, the best interval will vary with driving. Of my overall mileage, I do very little short trip & city street driving which matter a great deal. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 9:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/22 "2024-10-12T21:18:20Z")
The analysis differs, depending upon the number of years and miles expected before major engine repairs needed on a new car. If the buyer’s new car objective is to need no major engine repairs for 5 years and 100K miles, 10K oil change intervals are probably fine, provided the oil level is kept topped off b/t changes. 10K might not work as well if the expectations were for 20 years and 200K miles. There’s no “right” answer. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/23 "2024-10-12T22:25:16Z")
Just search in YouTube for Dave’s auto center Utah. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/24 "2024-10-12T23:26:19Z")
I have to change my oil once a year to keep the warranty from toyota. Bought the 7 year 70k mike warranty near the end of lease in 2020. $1400. Taking it in next week for oil change and tire rotation. 2500 miles since last sept. oil change. ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 2:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/25 "2024-10-13T02:40:52Z")
I am a 5,000 mile or 6 month oil change guy. Oil is cheap, engines are expensive. All of the cars I have owned had engines that were still running well when I sold or traded them in. AC / body rust are another story. One car I traded in needed to have the A/C evaporator leak fixed, the cost to pull the dash was more than the car was worth but the engine was still solid. ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 12:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/26 "2024-10-13T12:11:00Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Just see Dave’s shop out in Utah. He tears them apart for analysis and repair. Says to cut the recommended changes in half if you want long engine life. Hi Bing: I did take a look at Dave’s advice. For the question of “How often should I change my oil?”, his website states: > Oil change intervals can vary based on your vehicle’s make, model, and usage. However, a general guideline is to change your engine oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles (4,800 to 8,000 kilometers) or every three to six months, whichever comes first. _ **Modern vehicles and synthetic oils may allow for longer intervals, so it’s essential to consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for manufacturer-recommended oil change schedules.** _ ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/27 "2024-10-13T13:18:24Z")
Dave was not much help was he ? Just proves that oil discussion’s are pretty much a waste of time. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/28 "2024-10-13T13:39:33Z")
Dave likes to talk about high pressure fuel pumps crapping out. $10k for system overhaul? ---
**Author:** ![sheridanpaul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c2a13f/32.png) [@sheridanpaul](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sheridanpaul)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 12:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/29 "2024-10-14T00:33:04Z")
Ah yes, the well-respected philosopher, Mr. Carlin. He was so very often 100% spot on! ---
**Author:** ![TheWonderful90s](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/thewonderful90s/32/29584_2.png) [@TheWonderful90s](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TheWonderful90s)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/30 "2024-10-14T01:21:47Z")
> [@bing](#): > > Yup, like Briggs and there never change oil engines. It’s all marketing hype. No wonder the mower I got from the trash with a broken spark plug spews white smoke. It must be all worn out from the never change the oil thing. They also use 10W30 now which is less forgiving to neglected oil changes than SAE 30. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/31 "2024-10-14T15:49:07Z")
> [@TheWonderful90s](#): > > less forgiving to neglected oil changes than SAE 30. Like a dog with a bone, aren’t you? Please show a link that proves that or stop posting this myth. The best oil for air cooled engines is caster oil… And that stuff was used before WW1 deep into the 1960s in Porsches. But don’t neglect it… it gets very gummy when old. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/32 "2024-10-14T16:53:32Z")
And the Snowflake is visible again… ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 1:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/33 "2024-11-13T01:42:07Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Motor oil is easy. Trans fluid is a mess. For me its been other way on Hondas. No tranny filter - so just drain and fill. ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/34 "2024-11-13T01:46:36Z")
> [@bing](#): > > … Then the trans shop down in Texas, calling for 30,000 mile fluid changes. He recommends changing tranny fluid every 30k? I am prob doing it already - besides time factor catches me since low usage of the car. For the 2000 Integra, I was doing every 3yrs at 15k. ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/35 "2024-11-13T01:55:39Z")
> [@JoeMario](#): > > > [@bing](#): > > > > Just see Dave’s shop out in Utah. He tears them apart for analysis and repair. Says to cut the recommended changes in half if you want long engine life. > > Hi Bing: > I did take a look at Dave’s advice. For the question of “How often should I change my oil?”, his website states: > > > Oil change intervals can vary based on your vehicle’s make, model, and usage. However, a general guideline is to change your engine oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles (4,800 to 8,000 kilometers) or every three to six months, whichever comes first. _ **Modern vehicles and synthetic oils may allow for longer intervals, so it’s essential to consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for manufacturer-recommended oil change schedules.** _ That is what I was thinking - Full syn vs regular oil. Most of us are using Full Syn now - what is the best practice? Mobil 1 advertises 10k mile warranty - that probably take an ICE car upto to 2yrs? IDK. CareCareNut on youtube might have said 6 months due to fuel seepage. I guess one would want to know optimal change interval for Full Syn. We surely has to do earlier than what manufacturer recommends - this is why we have this confusion and debate! Both Mobil and Car companies says longer and longer intervals, often at the cost of customer. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 2:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/36 "2024-11-13T02:18:26Z")
> [@sciconf](#): > > Mobil 1 advertises 10k mile warranty - that probably take an ICE car upto to 2yrs? IDK. with all due respect, who cares about that Mobil1 “10k mile warranty” . . . ?! Do not exceed your car manufacturer’s service intervals, no mattery what engine oil you’re using I’m pretty sure a 2010 Corolla has 5K service intervals Do you want your car to have a long and happy life? Or do you want to be a miserable penny pincher? ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2024, 2:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577/37 "2024-11-13T02:27:58Z")
I change my Mobil 1 at 5000 miles and 25 hours on the mower instead of the 50 hours recommended. The oil is pretty black though at 25 hours. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-monitoring-tip-from-practical-sailor/197577.md?page=1)