<VV> FW: How often do you change your oil?

[shortle]

I change the oil in my Corvairs every 3,000 miles. I use Castrol GTX oil and include a shot of ZDDP. I change the oil in my 1988 Volvo 240 every 3,000 miles (manufacturer suggests every 5,000) and have since I bought it in November 1987. It now has 197,000 miles and has never been on a tow truck or in a body shop. I change the oil in my wifes 2006 XC90 every 5,000 miles (manufacturer suggests every 7,500 miles) using Mobil 1 oil. On my customers cars I suggest changing the oil every 3,000 miles IF the car has over 100,000 miles. But what I want to know is what automotive engine uses cast iron pistons (as per the LA Times article)?
Timothy Shortle in Durango Colorado 81301



-----Original Message-----
>From: Joel McGregor <joelsplace at earthling.net>
>Sent: Dec 17, 2011 9:06 AM
>To: "virtualvairs at corvair.org" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>Subject: Re: <VV> FW: How often do you change your oil?
>
>Like pretty much everything the government does all you get is a bunch of hype and no facts.  Where are the oil studies that show that a 10k mile change interval is acceptable?  Where are the studies that show pistons no longer expand since they make them out of something other than cast iron?  I've read actual studies on oil in motorcycles that gave real data that indicated 1500 miles was too long for several of the oils tested.  I've never seen a cast iron piston myself and I've seen some pretty old pistons.  My wife's CTS recommends not changing the transmission fluid at all.  We bought the car with 6k on it and the trans fluid was like black water.  I change my Mobil1 and transmission fluid at 3k and that doesn't seem to be overkill based on how nasty and thin the oil appears when I drain it.  I know that isn't very scientific but I haven't worn out any engines lately.  I had a friend with a new Honda about 15 years ago that had a 15k oil change interval.  I told her tha
 t
>  was nuts but she insisted that Honda knew more than me.  That engine was smoking by 65k.  I guess the auto manufacturers won that battle over those big oil nasties.  When's the last time you saw a study on resources wasted on replacing cars instead of driving old ones?
>Joel McGregor
>
>Or, it's a conspiracy to rid the roads of cars which are gonna be
>wearing out faster.  ;)
>
>
>...wtf?  When was the last time a car made in this country had iron
>pistons?   And iron expanding more than aluminum?
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