Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2007 16:05:16 -0800 From: "Richard Sauer" <chongkilnospamast.net> Subject: Re: SAAB 9-5 fluid changes
> > Fair enough, there is also the economical consideration that oil change is > relative inexpensive compared to fuel change over the same mileage, so > it's > not a big deal to have peace of mind. However, transmission fluid hardly > gets > polluted, it can easily last 100,000 miles (manual box) or probably > forever, > it only needs topping up. Thanks. To give an example of how contentious the question of frequency of oil change is ..here is what Deanna Sclar has to say in Auto Repair for Dummies (Please no jokes)..."If you do a lot of stop-and-go driving in city or rush-hour traffic, change your oil as often as every 1000 miles. Your engine rarely gets hot enough to evaporate the water that forms in the crankcase and builds up sludge in the engine. Some auto repair experts believe that it's more accurate to determine how often you should change your oil by the number of cold starts your engine experiences than by the number of miles it's driven." If she is right, and I have no idea if she is, that adds up to a lot oil. On Coolant she says " You should definitely change your coolant in two situations. The first is if you haven't changed it a year or in the past 20,000 miles." Additionally she seems to be suspicious of the manufacturer's recommended intervals for oil changes for the simple reason that the manufacturer wants you to buy another car, and steps to lengthen the life of your present car are not in the manufacturer's interest. Keep in mind that many people have Sclar's book and it has become a kind of bible for car owners. I am not holding this book up as a shining example of truth. She might be right and she might be wrong. Rich Sauer
