In all the years I've been involved with cars, starting in 1952, I've
lost one engine due to an oil problem. This was around 1960, and it was
a 1956 Plymouth demonstrator, serviced by the dealer using a Shell
multi-viscosity oil. I let an oil change slip up on me and stretched my
luck to make a weekend family trip. I had an engine seizure in the
middle of nowhere in North Alabama with my wife and two young sons. My
Dad rescued us and we towed the car to my old home town in Mississippi.
Engine disassembly revealed that the bottom of the crankcase was loaded
with a substance resembling white lead found in old house paint. My
conclusion was that the multi-viscosity additive separated from the oil,
and some of it plugged up an oil passage.
I had the engine rebuilt and traded it. A co-worker's brother bought
it, knowing its history, and drove it happily.
On 10/9/20 6:06 PM, Moose wrote:
On 10/9/2020 1:24 PM, Philippe wrote:
Le 9 oct. 2020 à 21:32, Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx> a écrit :
On 10/9/2020 9:27 AM, Philippe wrote:
They’d be wrong Jim if they did so and poorly trained mechanics -
oil (and by the way gas as well) degrades over time.
Gas, yes
Oil, no. Is there an expiration date on that container of new oil?
No. Oil is shelf stable over many, many years.
Manufacturer say you’re no longer covered after, usually, 5 years.
Which manufacturer, vehicle? Oil?
There must be another reason than just trying to sell you their stuff.
"Must be"? Are they not in business to sell you stuff? For what other
reason?
There is, in fact, another reason,as well. They must retain reserves
to cover anticipated costs of warranty claims, or show them as
contingent liability. In any case, there is a balance sheet reason.
Then I put it in an engine that isn't used for years. What has
changed that would cause it to deteriorate?
I did some web research on this. Our Mercedes Sprinter has this
smart oil life calculator. One day, based on time, mileage, temps,
etc., it says the oil is good for, say, another 7,000 miles. The
next day, is says it needs to be changed right away, because it's
been in there a year.
Mileage OR time - the first one of either, else you lose the
guarantee and have to pay any damage from your own pocket … In truth
I don’t care, servicing is included in the extensions we buy for our
cars ;-)
Our vehicles are long out of warranty/extended warranty.
Diesel and/or turbo charged engines require careful attention -
electric cars less ;-)
The old x,000 miles or one year rule is based on an unstated
assumption, that the car has been used regularly, but for only very
short trips, the kind that are hardest on engine and oil.
In the case of an RV, which sits idle most of the time, then runs up
most of its miles on hours long trips, that assumption is invalid.
Also invalid for a car that has been in storage.
Ask anyone with a chainsaw or a lawn-mower that only occasionally
runs why they nevertheless service them regularly, and empty the
tank before storage.
That's easy, because they have been taught to do so.
Or learned from facts and experience in my case.
Trouble you can accurately trace to engine oil alone? Gas mixed with
oil will deteriorate, indeed.
My chain saws, hedge trimmers, etc. are electric. Far less fuss and
bother. The guy who does our heavy duty, once a year, trim is now
using a cordless electric chainsaw. Loves it.
Contrarian Moose
--
Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA
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