Oil change intervals in SA

[CB40]

If you are doing low mileage, say 5000 km a year, how bad would it be to extend the service interval to say 2yrs?
Can you ask your oil specialists that question and also how fuel contaminants in the oil affect rubber seals in the engine.

I have just had a chat to the oil specialist and he recommends changing the oil once a year due to low mileage,you are only doing approximately four hundred kms a month.

The additive package in the oil does not have enough run time to work properley.As for fuel contaminant effects on rubber seals neither myself or him can answer that question.

 

[airborne]

I have just had a chat to the oil specialist and he recommends changing the oil once a year due to low mileage,you are only doing approximately four hundred kms a month.

The additive package in the oil does not have enough run time to work properley.As for fuel contaminant effects on rubber seals neither myself or him can answer that question.

What is that statement related to?

 

[Zuner]

not a fan of the oil with a viscosity of 5. You well end up burning more oil as the car get some mileage. Personally i think the oil is great for cold weather not for SA conditions

the 15w40 is for temps between -25 degrees and 40 degrees
5w30 is for -35 degrees and 35 degrees

oil is to thin for our hot conditions. But manufacturers do it for stupid reasons.

I have to disagree, my Fiesta is 16 years old and does not get topped up at all between services.
My old car with 545k km was the same, apart from one stint where valve stem seals were leaking and i switch to 25w60 until I had it fixed. other than that it also used 5w-40 even though it was a 99' model.

I would stick to what the manufacturer reccommends as tolerances have been built into the engine, just use decent oil.

 

[CB40]

What is that statement related

What is that statement related to?

A car has to run regularly and now and again a long run which is good for the engine.
Short runs continually are not good for the engine.
A simple explanation which I found on the web about additives in good oils.
Do not add additional additives as you mess up the package of good oils.
I know what I want to say but not sure how to put it into words.
Maybe this explains it better.

Additives ensure that engine oils deliver the best performance. Both mineral and synthetic oils have additives added to them. There are also various kinds of additives, such as:

1. Oxidation inhibitor

Engine oils need replacement from time to time, as they will experience oxidation and become less effective. Oxidation inhibitor additives slow the oxidation process and improve an engine oil’s lifespan.

2. Detergent

Detergent additives remove deposits and microparticles that from on surfaces while a vehicle is used.

3. Dispersant

Dispersant additives keep engines clean by preventing deposits and impurities from forming when an engine is running. They keep contaminants away and deposits are carried to the oil filter.



4. Antifoam

Detergent additives may generate foam on the surface of the oil. Foam prevents oil from working effectively to lubricate engine parts. Antifoam additives inhibit this process.

5. Anti-wear

Anti-wear additives, also known as friction modifier additives, add a layer of solid oil that immediately lubricates the engine as soon as a vehicle is started and minimize friction between parts. Anti-wear additives are common in mineral oils.

6. Corrosion inhibitor

Engines are made of metal parts that are sensitive to rust. Corrosion inhibitor additives provide protection from rust for the engine.

7. Viscosity index modifiers

These additives enable engine oils to provide protection at both low and high temperatures. At the lowest temperatures, they keep the oil from freezing, allowing oil to lubricate the engine after a vehicle is started. Conversely, at high temperatures, viscosity index modifiers prevent oils from evaporating and maintain their viscosity to be able to work effectively.

8. Antifreeze

Antifreeze additives help engine oils adapt to their environment by modifying the oil’s hardening temperature and can increase the fluidity of cold oil.



Engine oils may contain different mixture of additives and at different composition levels, depending on the oils’ specifications. In general, synthetic oils tend to have more additives compared to semi-synthetic or mineral oils. Regardless of the oil and additives type, always remember to use the oils suited for your engine as recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Can confirm OPs statement about Toyota using 15W40. They use these for all NA petrol motors.

NA petrol engines use 15w40.
Turbo petrols (GR Corolla/Yaris, Lexus 200T models etc) use a 0w20 oil.
Diesels use 10w30.

The concern wasn’t so much which oil, so much as mineral vs synthetic. You can get a 15W40 in both.

Because if it’s not fully synthetic then the 15,000km intervals become a real issue.

 

[qscwbt]

Manufacturers use thinner engine oils in new cars primarily to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Modern engines are designed with tighter tolerances, which allow for the use of lower viscosity oils that offer less resistance to moving parts.

The thinner oil is not to made to make a cars engine last longer but be more efficient.

I still see older engines still running, when modern engines fail. You do not often see modern cars on high mileage unless its had 2 or 3 engines

 

[Gordon_R]

Manufacturers use thinner engine oils in new cars primarily to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Modern engines are designed with tighter tolerances, which allow for the use of lower viscosity oils that offer less resistance to moving parts.

The thinner oil is not to made to make a cars engine last longer but be more efficient.

I still see older engines still running, when modern engines fail. You do not often see modern cars on high mileage unless its had 2 or 3 engines

Any of the videos on the channel "I Do Cars" (engine teardowns) confirm that thin oils, and low-tension piston rings, are a big contributor to this problem. Turbochargers add up to a death sentence if not maintained properly.

 

[airborne]

Manufacturers use thinner engine oils in new cars primarily to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. Modern engines are designed with tighter tolerances, which allow for the use of lower viscosity oils that offer less resistance to moving parts.

The thinner oil is not to made to make a cars engine last longer but be more efficient.

I still see older engines still running, when modern engines fail. You do not often see modern cars on high mileage unless its had 2 or 3 engines

Since when??
You are still spewing this clueless bs, a 5W30/5W40 oil is not overly thin and many modern engines will run to 500,000km on those oils no problem.
Honda and Toyota being two manufacturers that have many engines just like that and there are many others with similar engines.
Even the German manufacturers have some decent engines that would run to similar mileages if they didn't make so many critical parts from plastic/cheese, their engines often fail not because of lubrication issues but chain guides loosing the plot or some other garbage design choice letting the engine down.

 

[Gordon_R]

Since when??
You are still spewing this clueless bs, a 5W30/5W40 oil is not overly thin and many modern engines will run to 500,000km on those oils no problem.
Honda and Toyota being two manufacturers that have many engines just like that and there are many others with similar engines.
Even the German manufacturers have some decent engines that would run to similar mileages if they didn't make so many critical parts from plastic/cheese, their engines often fail not because of lubrication issues but chain guides loosing the plot or some other garbage design choice letting the engine down.

I think you are misconstruing his statement. Some modern cars use 0W12 and 0W20 oil, which is definitely on the thin side. These are standard in the USA, to help meet fuel economy rules.

 

[airborne]

I think you are misconstruing his statement. Some modern cars use 0W12 and 0W20 oil, which is definitely on the thin side. These are standard in the USA, to help meet fuel economy rules.

That's not what he was referring to, he was referring to the local oils we use, the popular 5W cold spec oil which is normally 5W30, I have quoted his original statement below.
I've not heard of normal non-high performance vehicles having 0W oils specc'd by manufacturers in the US, that must be a recent development?
0W12 and 0W20 are far too low on the hot rating side for many engines but 0W cold rating is fine for most engines.

not a fan of the oil with a viscosity of 5. You well end up burning more oil as the car get some mileage. Personally i think the oil is great for cold weather not for SA conditions

the 15w40 is for temps between -25 degrees and 40 degrees
5w30 is for -35 degrees and 35 degrees

oil is to thin for our hot conditions. But manufacturers do it for stupid reasons.