[Vwdiesel] RE: [TDI-conversion] oil change intevals...

[pmdolan at sasktel.net]

5,000 km or 3,000 mi IS the "traditional" period for changing oil - if you have an air-cooled Type I, II or III engine with just over 2 litres of oil, dusty roads, and no filtration whatsoever.  It is one of the most environmentally and resource conservatively irresponsible things that you can possibly do (mostly because collection to re-refining is still not very effectively practiced).

I agree with 10k kms for small engines with small sumps, and feel that 10k+  MILES is fair for medium duty engines (T444E, 6D14T, etc.).  I can also tell you from my distant past (forumlating lube oils, doing failure analysis for manufacturer and distributor) that you cannot leave oil in an engine forever, it actually does have a useful life.  Testing is a very good way to determine that point, but it is seldom cost-effective for a small engine.  So, we compromise and chose a "safe" interval.  

I just can't understand the HUGE portion of enthusiasts who believe they are doing a good thing by changing out oil at 5k kms.  If we are ever going to succeed at getting a lot better selection of diesels in our marketplace (i.e. the NA one) everyone has to get on board with CLEAN exhaust (i.e. not to chip the thing into smokey oblivion) and reasonable oil change intervals.  We already have the fuel use thing well covered.  Remember that it is our community of enthusiasts to whom the general populace turns for guidance and leadership, so let's show them some good stuff instead of being irresponsible ourselves, and worse yet, promoting irresponsible practices.

Pat

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fast Forward Automotive Inc." <sales at fastforward.ca>
Date: Friday, January 20, 2006 11:33 am
Subject: [Vwdiesel] RE: [TDI-conversion] oil change intevals...

> VW recommends a 10.000km oil change interval with the TDI using full
> Synthetic oil.  So there really is no need to keep with the 
> traditional5000km change interval that we use with dino oils. 
> 
> I use PetroCanada Dunron Synthetic 5W40 API rating CI-4 and after 
> a 10.000km
> change I sent the oil away for testing.  No problems and they said 
> that I
> could have ran it a lot longer.
> 
> David Marshall
> 
> Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
> 4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
> Quesnel BC Canada V2J 6Z3
> 
> Internet          http://www.fastforward.ca 	
> Email          sales at fastforward.ca 	
> 
> - Engine Conversions and Accessories for classic water-cooled 
> Volkswagens- Electrical harness fabrication and customization
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: TDI-conversion at yahoogroups.com [TDI-conversion at yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of Matthew
> Sent: January 20, 2006 8:21
> To: diesel fans; audi-vw-diesels at yahoogroups.com;
> tdi-conversion at yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [TDI-conversion] oil change intevals...
> 
> Folks,
> yes, i know 3K miles for oil changes is a good habit
> and one i practice. But...
> 
> we change oil on a gas engine because of acid and gas
> buildup in the oil (and minute metal shavings, of
> course). But on a diesel, my understanding is the
> diesel fuel + combustion prioducts are in fact
> lubricants themselves, and don't foul the oil like gas
> engines. So, other than the minute metal shavings, why
> do we change out oil every 3K miles, when we could
> probably go much longer? Assuming we have not cooked
> teh oil from running hot and are running top notch
> synthetic (rotella, amsoil, etc).
> 
> thanks
> matthew
> whose rig needs an oil change (and will get one tomorrow...)
> 
> "Racing with the wind and flirting with death
> So have a cup of coffee and catch your breath"
> 
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