car says oil is at 20%. ignore and reset if amsoil 0W30 was used?
08-17-2011, 09:57 AM
#11
Oil colour is affected by heat and additives even If it is perfectly clean.
08-17-2011, 10:22 AM
#12
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08-17-2011, 05:34 PM
#13
I did an experiment on my BBQ once heating up several oil brands, they all turned dark pretty quickly when exposed to heat even though they were entirely clean virgin oil samples.
08-18-2011, 11:51 AM
#14
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My engine runs about 110 minutes a day, so it has been running for about 60 hrs now.
Most of it around 4500 rpm.
The SSO still has very little color.
IOW: your BBQ test does not represent the temperature load (*) on oil in an engine.
IOW: engine oil color isn't an indicator the oil needs to be changed.
(*) it may be there is less oxigen - and oxidation - in the crank case, when the engine is running.
OTH, there is way more oil "mist" so more change for the oil to be oxidized.
My bottom line: change oil based on TBN, miles or shear, not color.
08-18-2011, 01:26 PM
#15
Keep in mind that it's not that the oil wears out, it's that it gets dirty and needs to be changed. A top quality synthetic will still get dirty. When you get to 5000 miles and your oil on the dipstick is dark I'd recommend changing it. For a street car I think it's actually better to run non-synthetic oil and change the oil more often rather than running expensive oil and extending the change. For cars that see track duty a good synthetic is worth the cost in added protection. This is of course just my opinion.
You can read the laundry list of quality syn oils (and not so quality oils) in the Oil Journals or on the bitog. Rest assured, Amsoil is a proven, top-quality synthetic. The benefits of using Amsoil (and other quality synthetic oils) greatly outweigh anything any conventional oil can offer - street driven or not. I don't consider compromising any margin of protection in order to save $15 per oil change as a rational tradeoff (especially when you can extend your drain interval with a quality synthetic such as Amsoil under normal driving conditions). I personally use Amsoil ATM 10W30 - and there is not a better 10W30 you can find in the U.S.
For the OP - I would only regard the maintenance minder (for the oil) if your current fill was your first oil change over to Amsoil 0W30. Otherwise, keep the oil in there for 7,500 miles. For note, Amsoil (and other extended drain oils) caveat their extended drain interval is for standard performance engines. IOW, high performance engines (AP1, AP2 for example) FI or racing engines default to the manufacturer's recommendation or a designated oil life monitoring program.
08-18-2011, 05:03 PM
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Ive had my car for about 15k miles...
After 5k I sent my oil to be tested and the results basically said i could have drove another 3-4k miles. Next oil change was 7k later, results showed i still have some cushion..
I use the extended performance mobil 1 10w30 oil and change it every 7500.
For anyone unsure how often to change your oil, the only way to know is to have it tested.
Cheers!
After 5k I sent my oil to be tested and the results basically said i could have drove another 3-4k miles. Next oil change was 7k later, results showed i still have some cushion..
I use the extended performance mobil 1 10w30 oil and change it every 7500.
For anyone unsure how often to change your oil, the only way to know is to have it tested.
Cheers!
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