Fun topic. I agree with the Mobil 1 choice.

Oil can break down in the presence of heat, not the moderate temperatures of the pan or water-cooled block and head areas, but of the turbine bearing area and the underside of the pistons. Mobil 1 is allegedly very good at this peak heat problem. The pistons only find peak heat during full-power bursts, and the oil sloshed or sprayed at them keeps their average temperatures down. The water-cooled turbine bearings in later Saabs should not offer any peak temperatures.

I had an old Mini-Cooper that broke the old Pennsylvania crude oils down in 1000 miles. How did I know? I smelled the oil vapors from the filler (opened) and noted the change in odor over time. Of course, did this on a properly warmed engine to eliminate water droplet odor the old engines condensed internally. The oil pressure also would drop with RPM in this time frame. Smelling the vapor is a kind of chemical analysis, you know. I started using Castrol which was one of the toughest oils of the time, and the wearout extended to 2500 miles. The mini engines were known for hot spots in the head due to poor design.

Used the same technique on my Saab 99. It was much easier on the oil, and I eventually arrived at a 10,000 mile Castrol change with filter change every 5000 miles to clean out particles. Eventually changed to Mobile 1, but the 99 never beat the oil enough to notice the difference-except when I lost a water hose, warped the head, and saw gorgeous unvarnished metal when I removed it. You could use just soap and water to clean your hands after tearing the head off, the oil was so undamaged.

Water condensation and piston blow-by also taint the oil chemically, but our modern engines are agressively vaccuumed and the water+gasoline is purged. The blow-by particles come out with the filter. No problems here.

So I say, 10,000 miles is fine for Castrol. If you like golden color to your oil, replace the filter only every 5000.

posted by 63.68.209...

• oil change opinions. every 10,000 mi?!, Tom, Thu, 10 Oct 2002 21:55:59
  • NINES is working on this!, Stephen Goldberger, Sat, 12 Oct 2002 11:55:52
    • Synthetic drain, Dick in Falls Church, Sun, 13 Oct 2002 11:33:00
    • Where's the coherent argument here?............, zeke, Sat, 12 Oct 2002 14:59:47
      • Oil analysis is the only real way to tell., Dave Westlake, Mon, 14 Oct 2002 09:08:23
  • Re: oil change opinions. every 10,000 mi?!, Ari , Fri, 11 Oct 2002 11:36:47
    • Still trying to figure it out?, Wayne, Fri, 11 Oct 2002 21:00:50
      • Oil problems, Ari , Mon, 14 Oct 2002 09:55:53
    • I'm in agreement with ya..., Dinger, Fri, 11 Oct 2002 15:38:12
  • Re: oil change opinions. every 10,000 mi?!, Dick in Falls Church, Fri, 11 Oct 2002 10:30:16
    • I like the idea of 10,000 mi oil changes with synth, KB88900T, Fri, 11 Oct 2002 21:57:34
      • Re: I like the idea of 10,000 mi oil changes with synth, Dick in Falls Church, Fri, 11 Oct 2002 23:27:34
    • Re: oil change opinions. every 10,000 mi?!, BHarvey, Fri, 11 Oct 2002 11:31:10 <-- Viewing This Message
  • You cannot go wrong with 5K with synthetic, J, Fri, 11 Oct 2002 00:40:12
    • You're right, there is an oil war in 9-5!, Tom, Fri, 11 Oct 2002 10:10:04

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