To interval, or not to interval, that is the question

"thebigbossyboss" (thebigbossyboss)
02/20/2015 at 08:08 • Filed to: None

Question: This weekend I am taking the Cavalier down to Toronto. There and back that is about 1000 kms round trip. I am about 300kms from my oil change interval. Do I drive it there and back, and then get my mechanic to change the oil, or do I risk it at a quick lube type place and stay under my interval.

Other mitigating factors:

1) It's been below 0F for most of this month.

2) I poured in a fresh quart a little while ago as my car tends to leak slightly, so about 1/4th of the oil is under-interval.

3) I just have regular oil in not synthetic.

Car is a 2003 Cavalier 2.2L Ecotect with 122,000 miles.

To be honest I think either way will work, but what would you do?

Lamborghini Siloutte for your time.

DISCUSSION (79)

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 08:29

What is the interval?

Street Surgeon > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 08:30

If you don't want to do it yourself for whatever reason have either the dealer, your mechanic, or a quick lube place do it. It's not rocket science, just keep your receipt for when the oil drain plug falls out :) Also, what oil change interval are you using for the car?

thebigbossyboss > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
02/20/2015 at 08:36

3000 miles.

thebigbossyboss > Street Surgeon
02/20/2015 at 08:37

The reason I don't want to do it is it's about -20F. I am very wimpy.

I use 3000 miles, ancient engine block is very ancient.

E. Julius > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 08:38

If it were me I'd change it before I leave.

505Turbeaux > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 08:41

just go for it. And come a couple hours further and see me instead

Jobjoris > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 08:42

2) I poured in a fresh quart a little while ago as my car tends to leak slightly, so about 1/4th of the oil is under-interval.

So, you've actually changed part of the oil already. I see nothing wrong with just taking this trip.

thebigbossyboss > 505Turbeaux
02/20/2015 at 08:43

Well aside from the fact you're a couple hours in the OTHER direction, I agree. To the quick lube!!

How was country and western bar?

thebigbossyboss > Jobjoris
02/20/2015 at 08:44

Haha yes, it's the never ending rolling oil change method!

505Turbeaux > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 08:46

worst service I have ever had. Bartenders hired for looks, not personality

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 08:48

Just drive.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 08:49

might as well change it now, but it's not needed. It all depends your priority, there won't be any harm in doing it or not.

thebigbossyboss > 505Turbeaux
02/20/2015 at 08:51

Oh dear.

Jobjoris > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 08:53

'Slightly leaking' sounds so negative. It's 'dynamic oil change'.

Street Surgeon > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 08:58

I hear ya, the only reason I would is my garage is heated and if for some reason I couldn't use that I could just visit my friends shop and throw it up on a lift :) Just take it to the dealer or a quicklube mang.

davedave1111 > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 09:00

It's not going to make a blind bit of difference. You're erring so far on the side of precaution that you're not even close to any practical limit. I'm sure your car would be just fine with changes every 5k, so 3.1k or 3k is neither here nor there.

Sweet Trav > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 09:02

First off. Oil change intervals are bullshit, especially one at 3000 miles

Second. 600 Kms past the interval is nothing, even if you did believe in such things.

Third. As long as you have the minimum required amount of oil in the crank case of any GM vehicle, you're fine.

thebigbossyboss > Sweet Trav
02/20/2015 at 09:05

In newer cars yes, but my engine comes from like 1995. I think I will check the oil level and depart, and change it when I get back. As Jobjoris mentioned, my car also comes equipped with dynamic oil change, so about 1/4th of it was changed already due to the old oil leaking out and me putting new oil in.

thebigbossyboss > Street Surgeon
02/20/2015 at 09:06

I wish I had a garage, I do have off street parking though, so that's nice.

Sweet Trav > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 09:08

No, if you have an '03 that was the first year for the L61 Ecotec. It's not an old engine, while parts are based off of the old Quad-4 it is actually very different. (I had an 05 Cavalier LS for a few years)

These engines are ALMOST un-killable.

thebigbossyboss > Sweet Trav
02/20/2015 at 09:10

Oh ok. I didn't know that. I though the '03 was just a facelift for the model not a full upgrade.

Now that the coils work my engine runs like new. It's incredible.

Sweet Trav > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 09:12

Well, not so much a "full upgrade" but new engine, same gearboxes and different styling.

Tohru > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 09:18

Jesus Christ, there's still people who do 3,000 mile oil changes? This isn't 1970 anymore, where you're dumping API grade SD engine oil into your carbureted big-block Mustang and it comes out black as coal because the engine was burning about as efficiently as a tire fire.

With modern bearing technologies, fuel injection, and new API grade SN engine oils, you can easily go 7500 miles on an oil change even with conventional. Doing oil changes every 3000 miles not only wastes money but causes unnecessary pollution to the environment.

Sweet Trav > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:22

It's not just bearing and induction technology, but tolerances. The tolerances on new engines are simply insanely well controlled.

Granted, I still believe that most vehicles, even modern ones, could use a little more ZDDP in their oil..

CalzoneGolem > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:22

I do it every 4 months. Which works out to roughly 7k miles

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:22

I'm still doing 3000-3500 mile changes because 400k mile '87 diesel with Shell Loltella. Black as coal is de rigueur.

zeontestpilot > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:24

What is the norm then? I honestly don't know, :(. I usually change it whatever the sticker says, and about 2,000 or 3,000 above that.

Tohru > Sweet Trav
02/20/2015 at 09:27

That too. Part of the reason the oil would come out so black on old cars was that gas and combustion gasses would get past the rings easier and into the crankcase.

On my '76 Delta 88, sometimes I'd buy the API grade SF (1979-1988) engine oil when it was on sale. That I would change around 4k miles, and it would come out black. The rest of the time, I'd buy SM (2004-2011) or SN (2011-present) and change it at 6k - and it would come out dark but cleaner than the SF.

Bandit > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:30

I do 3000, but my car's from the 70s so...

CalzoneGolem > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 09:30

I never change my oil myself ain't no shame in it. My normal mechanic charges about the same as a quick place so I take it there because I trust him. Most shops will do it pretty cheap so that they can get some other business.

Tohru > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
02/20/2015 at 09:34

Goddamnit Ramblin. That doesn't count, ancient diesels are different.

Tohru > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 09:34

What do you drive?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:35

Different. Different and sexy.

Sweet Trav > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:35

The simple rule is for anything with a flat-tappet camshaft DO NOT use any oil spec newer than SM oil because they lack sufficient ZDDP to to protect the cam and lifters.

OR use a high quality racing oil like Kendal GT-1 or Valvoline VR-1 which specifically market the level of ZDDP in them. If you put new Synthetic oil into a flat-tappet engine that doesn't contain ZDDP, you are asking for trouble.

http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/…

crowmolly > Sweet Trav
02/20/2015 at 09:36

Valvetrain technology is a big part of it. Specifically cam and rocker design.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:36

I have a Dodge Stratus with the 2.7L V6, if I don't change it every 3000-4000 miles, my mpg takes a serious nosedive.

Tohru > Bandit
02/20/2015 at 09:36

With my '76 Delta 88 I'd still do 6k oil changes when running modern (API grade SM or SN) oil. It's when I'd buy the API grade SF (1979-1988) on sale from Autozone that I'd do 3k-4k oil changes.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:37

I plan on doing it every 4-5,000 miles.....On my 944.

On the environment, I don't really care that much as I used to honestly.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 09:37

You'll be fine to do when you get back, I'm in the 3k mile club too btw.

crowmolly > Sweet Trav
02/20/2015 at 09:38

It's VR-1, and there are some other specialty oils that have it too. Or you can use cam shield or something like that.

Some guys get away with it since their 70's cams are like .380/.380 lift and the valvesprings are out of a ballpoint pen.

Personally I wouldn't chance it.

Sweet Trav > crowmolly
02/20/2015 at 09:40

Must have corvettes on the mind today...

Yeah, I wiped out a cam with Mobil 1 20-50 not knowing any better...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:40

I change mine every 3k-ish. 1. it doesn't cause extra pollution when you recycle your oil properly (like I do). 2. I intend to run my engine up to around 200k miles and I want to treat it nicely, even though 5k is completely fine. 3. I really like working on my car and it's a cheap easy thing to do every 3 months or so. 4. It also means if I'm late changing it because of scheduling conflicts, it's not a big deal.

I'll definitely never let it past 5k miles, that won't happen.

zeontestpilot > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:41

Jalopnik's arch enemy, a '08 pt cruiser, base model.

crowmolly > Sweet Trav
02/20/2015 at 09:41

Pour some out for dead homies. I had a stack of wasted cams from back when they cut the additive levels and it wasn't public knowledge.

Tohru > wunderwagen wants a longer roof
02/20/2015 at 09:43

Holy shit, you poor miserable bastard. I didn't realize there was still any of those on the road. The 2.7L V6 requires 3k oil changes because otherwise the engine converts the oil to chocolate pudding.

Seriously though, how can you drive something like that? Is it Stockholm Syndrome? Are you being held against your will? Blink twice for yes.

Sweet Trav > crowmolly
02/20/2015 at 09:44

The hilarious thing was my Monte still ran a 14.6 at 97mph with a mostly flat cam haha.

Honestly, not sure if it was the bad oil, or Comp putting out soft components, switched to a Lunati voodoo, much happier engine...

crowmolly > Sweet Trav
02/20/2015 at 09:44

What year? I lost a Comp cam in the '04-'05 range. 292H so while it wasn't a pro stock cam it did have some beef to it.

Tohru > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 09:46

On a PT Boozer the factory recommended interval is 6000 miles. You should be able to do 7500 no problem.

And honestly that's not even that bad, there's another poor bastard in the comments driving a Stratus with a 2.7L V6.

Tohru > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/20/2015 at 09:48

Is it still recycling if you dump the oil in your neighbor's yard because he's a douchebag? Asking for a friend.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:50

what if I still have a carbed big block mustang?

Sweet Trav > crowmolly
02/20/2015 at 09:51

04-05 268H Comp Extreme Energy 268/270 duration .477/.480 lift

zeontestpilot > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:53

Hahaha, pt boozer, I haven't heard of that one before! Nice. :p

thanks for the info though!

Tohru > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
02/20/2015 at 09:53

Then throw more tires on the fire and change the oil every 3k-5k miles.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 09:58

Hell the recommended dealer service interval for my 2013 Ford fusion ecoboost is 5000 miles for conventional oil. The 3000 mile oil change is a thing of the past. I run mobil 1 synthetic so I change it every 7000 miles. It is still relatively clean when it comes out so I could push it even longer. But I won't for warranty purposes.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 10:14

One word.

Sludge.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 10:15

LOL

Nope. Though when I had a touch of antifreeze in the oil once Advance Auto was PISSED. Went like this:

Me:I was like well where would you like me to take the antifreeze?

AA: I don't know anyone who takes AntiFreeze.

Me: Well what the hell should I do with it then?

AA: I tend to bury mine in my backyard somewhere

Me: Wow dude.

And my overcomplicated DOHC VVT 3.0 Duratec V6 can have as many oil changes as it likes as long as it keeps treating me well. Lots of cam shafts man...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 10:16

I say we see if we can swap a hemi into it.

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/20/2015 at 10:27

A hemi in a pt has been done before, :). But I was actually leaning towards getting a pt cruiser gt, and swapping everyone out into my pt. What'll really be nice is making it rwd, or even awd.

Dang, I wish I had money for all this. If I did have bottomless money, I would make my cruiser a force to be reckoned with. A track beast, that'll essentially be the ultimate sleeper because no one will see it coming. ..until it is too late, :).

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 10:31

Hahaha....maybe we should just find you a new car....

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/20/2015 at 10:46

Ha, hopefully. but the way things are going, *le sigh*, I won't be able to afford a new/used car until a couple of years. We're still paying off the cruiser.

I don't make enough to be afford a luxury like a second car, just enough to pay the bills and loans. Unless i get a free car, but no one does that. It's a...umm...humbling experience...to put it nicely, :/.

wunderwagen wants a longer roof > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 10:46

That's exactly why I keep the intervals, otherwise kaboom metaphorically speaking. First car, my mother and I didn't know any better when buying 5 years ago but it has been a faithful vehicle. I take care of it so that helps keep the oil issue at bay and other things from popping up.

briannutter1 > thebigbossyboss
02/20/2015 at 10:55

My odometer quite at 156k miles. I do mine on a quarterly basis...likely every 4000 miles in my old volvo 850.

Boss2452stolemylunchmoney > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 11:13

Read the manual for your car and go by that. Otherwise you can sample the oil and have it tested to determine the best interval.

thebigbossyboss > Tohru
02/20/2015 at 11:24

Meh, the manual suggests, and it is somewhat old.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 13:05

meh. Depends on the type of car that is your second car. I rolled the Montego into my wife's old Jeep loan that I refinanced for a better interest rate. It was only 2500 bucks so it didn't change payment much and is paid off already mainly because we profited when trading in the Jeep for a newer model (somehow we got a good deal on trade in value). So a second car is only as expensive as you make it. 2500 spread over a few years is very affordable. I'm not saying everyone can do it. but it's been an incredibly low budget project. I think with the upgrades I've put into it I'm around a total 0f 2800 invested.

Next time we meet up we can go for a ride in the Montego.

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/20/2015 at 13:28

I'll take you up on that ride! :)

From what my wife and I figure, we'd prefer not to pay more than $100 a month on the car, over a period of 5 years. It has to have at least 4 doors, and get better than 24 mph hwy. Amything else is free game (even transmission).

But, we're still paying off the pt, so my car desires are taking a back seat for now. Hopefully, with the tax refund, the car will be paid off! Or at least take off a large sum.

We decided not to get rid of the pt, as last we checked the car was worth $3k, which has probably dropped even more. It's reliable, and we now its history.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 13:35

all fair points. I'm planning on keeping my DD for another 100k miles or so. (07 Mercury Milan V6 FWD) I'm at 92k miles. I just checked, it's been a while, and I'm just on the good side of a trade in value on my Milan owed vs value (by like 500 bucks haha).

Whenever you want to come down to Canton we can take a ride, or meet up somewhere. Of course once this ridiculous cold goes away.

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/20/2015 at 13:49

Ha, I've had nearly a year to think about all this, :).

I got my '08 pt in '10, with 36k miles on it, it now has 98k, :D. And it's a Florida bought car, so no rust, and has only seen two winters (of course this sentence is speculation, but I'm gonna say it's true). And I bought the car with the plan to drive it to its dead. Though I can't help but entertain the thought that it'll be cool if my kid learns how to drive on it, :).

On that topic, how is your kid doing?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 14:03

He's good, turned 2 last month. Talkative and smart little guy!

I'm hoping he'll be responsible with some ear plugs/ear protection and can go for a Montego ride this summer. We go buy it in the garage and he says "Dada's Race Car!" Hahaha

How's yours? don't make them use the bruiser as their first car haha!

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/20/2015 at 14:31

She's doing good, :). We discovered she loves talking and singing along with songs. And we're not sure where she got this from, but she randomly shouts "weee" when I'm turning. It's adorable. Mine'll be 2 next month.

Yesterday her and I had a screaming match. We were FaceTiming my mom when she asked my kid for a kiss. She said no, I told her yes. We kept going back and forth, getting louder. I keep reminding her that she can't beat her old man, :).

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 14:35

Mine like's to say "Ready, Set, GOOOOOOOOOO" and i'll hit the gas to get moving on GOOOO.

And he ratted out my wife the other day too lol. "Ride in Momma Jeep, GO FAST"

thebigbossyboss > briannutter1
02/20/2015 at 14:53

My speedometer quit but my odometer works. :)

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/20/2015 at 15:04

Mine doesn't have a big vocabulary yet, but she does say dada or mama a lot. If I get really bored, I discovered a fun game I can play. I find the cat and say to my kid "*gasp* its a mao mao!". She spend the next 20 minutes chasing the cat. The cat wants nothing to do with her, so it's a humorous game of cat and mouse, :).

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 15:08

lol Cat's not used to that position is it?!

My kid's weirdly advanced in vocabulary. Doc said the "advanced part" will probably plateau in a year or so and everyone will catch up. Honestly it makes it hard to remember he's just 2. Sometimes I want to treat him like he's older, but despite his vocab he's still a 2 year old in everything else. Hopefully they don't though and he can get an academic scholarship for college, since you know it'll be about 4 billion dollars for a degree when he gets to college hahaha.

He likes to run away from the dog, which makes the dog chase him, then he turns around and chases the dog when it least suspects it haha.

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/20/2015 at 15:50

lol, The cat only really approaches me, but my daughter LOVES the cat. Which is funny because the cat avoids her like the plague. Plus the dog won't let the cat go near anyone, lol.

Your son reminds me of my niece. She was speaking full sentences by the time she was two (she's three now). Her younger brother actually sounds like he is currently at the same level as your kid. And he speaks some sign language (the daycare taught him), which is pretty cool.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
02/20/2015 at 15:53

Kinja'd!!!

He's got a couple baby sign language words that daycare taught, but he learned words so fast they gave up haha.

Dog is surprisingly tolerant of baby.

Evidence provided lol. These were from early summer last year i think (may or june?)

Kinja'd!!!

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
02/20/2015 at 19:05

Nice. My dog loves my kid, primarily for the free food. How old is your dog? Mine is 3 years old.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot
02/23/2015 at 09:42

4.5, turns 5 in July.

Every time I think he's starting to calm down and act like "an adult" dog....it fails and he starts running around like a maniac haha.

vacantserver > Jobjoris
02/23/2015 at 14:11

It’s a feature: constant-loss lubrication system.