Longest oil change interval......

chris4x4 · Feb 7, 2009

So, A while back, I was changeing my oil on my truck, and one of my neigbors walk by. She says "I sure see you working on your truck alot, what are you doing all the time?". I tell her that Im doing routine maintinance, like changeing the oil, etc. She asks, "How often do you change the oil?" I tell her every 3000 miles or so. Then I ask, " How often do you change your oil?". She tells me she doesnt know. "What do you mean, 'you dont know?" She then says, "I havent changed it yet."....

Now, She has had this car for 3 years. Its a Chevy Metro, with a Suzuki engine, And she bought it new.

I say, "How many miles do you have on it?" She tells me 58,000. "You havent had the oil changed in 58,000 miles???????"
"No" she says, "Is that bad?".......Ummmm......YES.
I pull the dipstick and the oil is about the consistancy of tar. How that little engine could start and run is beyond me..I do a quick inspection of her car, and find the air filter is completely blocked, and being sucked into the airbox. I tell her to go to this friend of mines shop, have them drain and flush the engine, change the oil, and air filter, and inspect anything they can.

A day goes by, and she comes up to me with a big smile on her face. "I cant belive how much POWER this car has!!!" she says.
No, I tell her. It doesnt have anymore than when you bought it, it is just less work the engine has to do to overcome all the resistance it had built up due to lack of maintinance.

Now, The amazing thing I find in this is that the little suzuki engine had been able to #1. run, #2. RUN WITHOUT THROWING AN ENGINE LIGHT.

Delmarva · Feb 7, 2009

damn... I guess some people don't know any better. It's cool that the thing still runs... lol

petersharp · Feb 7, 2009

As many have said before me, you certainly are a good guy for be willing to help people out.

Reminds me of a story about a guy who took his Land Rover Discovery for an oil change (at about 10,000 miles I think) only to find that there was no oil in it - the factory hadn't put any in. It worked fine witout it.

Simon's Mom · Feb 7, 2009

Good Neighbor high five!
Can't believe no maintenance in 58k
They do walk among us!

FoxySandChick · Feb 7, 2009

Haha...reminds me of my sister, but I think hers blew up or something, it was a few years ago.

Brunes · Feb 7, 2009

As much as it was only a Chevy Malibu with a Sucksuki engine- It should have been put thru that. I can't believe people don't read the manual for such as expensive investment....=\
Good on you for sending her in the right direction-and hooking your buddy up with some work!!

klown · Feb 7, 2009

Changing oil is overrated

chris4x4 · Feb 7, 2009

klown said: ↑

Changing oil is overrated
Click to expand...

Yeah....Im gonna drain mine so I wont have to worry about changeing it.

Delmarva · Feb 7, 2009

^^

Janster · Feb 7, 2009

I can totally believe it.

Although I don't have any concrete evidence, my one neighbor is probably really close to being the same way.

She's got a couple vehicles - Toyota station wagons. The one vehicle sat in her driveway for YEARS. She asked me to help her jump start-it the one day. It blipped once and that was it - never turned over. Visually, I could see other things and I knew there were other issues involved. This lady is always looking for a 'hand-out' and personally...I didn't wanna get involved fixing her junk.

My sister-in-laws boyfriend isn't much better..... his minivan was puking steering fluid everywhere. He drove it around like that for months. He'd have to add a quart of oil everyday to drive it. It'd leave piles of oil on the road.
My husband an I looked at it for him..... for gawd sake, he had TIN FOIL as a resevoir cap. The high pressure line was so dry rotted that it was spraying oil like a sprinkler!! It almost shot me in the eye when we turned the wheel with the front tires off the ground!

My sister-in-laws jaquar and her mechanic isn't much better. I don' know what he charges her or what he tells her - but you can pull the wool over her eyes VERY easily.

pataco · Feb 7, 2009

back in the day i worked at a jiffy lube and u cant believe the crap i saw.and yeah they do walk among us for sure.

chris4x4 · Feb 7, 2009

Janster said: ↑

for gawd sake, he had TIN FOIL as a resevoir cap. .
Click to expand...

Ah, yes....the ol' tin foil replacement cap. I have seen people use zip lock bags, plastic wrap, and everything else. I mean, you can get a cap at Auto Zone for about a buck.

JimmyCrackCorn · Feb 7, 2009

I know it's time to change my oil when I find myself on the side of the freeway with smoke billowing out from under the hood....

I'm like, "Shit, guess it's time to change the oil!"

JimmyCrackCorn · Feb 7, 2009

^^^ just kidding of course ^^^

sonjay · Feb 7, 2009

Its those people Chris that keep the domestic auto market afloat! Ever heard the expression 1 time use, drive it until it quits, then buy another cheap econobox car!

Snipe · Feb 7, 2009

A friend of mine bought a new Pontiac back in the early 80's, I was changing my oil one morning when he dropped by and asked since I have my tools out could he do his, of course I said sure if he'd run down and grab a filter.
I pulled the drain plug and watched these black globs start plopping down into the bucket and thought what the hell, when I asked him the last time he changed the oil he just stuttered a little and said never.

I don't remember exactly what the odometer said but it was over 30,000 miles!

TheOne · Feb 7, 2009

Chris you did the right thing but we all know that it will now start to cause problems even though it never did. Murphy's law will kick in and now she will have constant issues arising.

chris4x4 · Feb 7, 2009

TheOne said: ↑

Chris you did the right thing but we all know that it will now start to cause problems even though it never did. Murphy's law will kick in and now she will have constant issues arising.
Click to expand...

Perhaps.

Alaskaflyer · Feb 7, 2009

In the Coast Guard there are 3 aviation rates, AMT, AVT and AST. AMT are your mechanics, engines, structural and electrical (this is what I am) AVT's are the avionics guys, and the AST's are the rescue swimmers...anyhow, I work with one of the AVT's and he told me the other day he drives his little toyota tercel until the oil light comes on then he adds a quart and continues to drive until the light comes on again. You won't believe this but it has over 200k on it!!!!!!!!!! for the life of me I don't know how this thing is still running!

DeeKay21 · Feb 7, 2009

Well that's like this time my friends shop back in Cali, some lady asked for a part for her engine. She called asking for the "710" part for her engine. My buddy was like WTF. Turned out she was missing her "OIL" cap and was reading it upside down!!! HAAHAA!!! I was like HOOOOO....CRRAAAPPP!!!! Some people I guess!!!

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Longest oil change interval......

#1
chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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Delmarva Mayor of TW

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Simon's Mom Wag More Bark Less

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chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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Delmarva Mayor of TW

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Janster Old & Forgetful

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chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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JimmyCrackCorn Atlanta Falcons

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JimmyCrackCorn Atlanta Falcons

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chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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Longest oil change interval......

#1 chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

#2 Delmarva Mayor of TW

#3 petersharp Well-Known Member

#4 Simon's Mom Wag More Bark Less

#5 FoxySandChick Well-Known Member

#6 Brunes abides.

#7 klown Tacoma World Ring Leader

#8 chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

#9 Delmarva Mayor of TW

#10 Janster Old & Forgetful

#11 pataco Well-Known Member

#12 chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

#13 JimmyCrackCorn Atlanta Falcons

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#15 sonjay Well-Known Member

#16 Snipe Well-Known Member

#17 TheOne Beach Prerunner

#18 chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

#19 Alaskaflyer My other ride Hovers

#20 DeeKay21 Lieutenant Dan.

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#1
chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

#2
Delmarva Mayor of TW

#3
petersharp Well-Known Member

#4
Simon's Mom Wag More Bark Less

#5
FoxySandChick Well-Known Member

#6
Brunes abides.

#7
klown Tacoma World Ring Leader

#8
chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

#9
Delmarva Mayor of TW

#10
Janster Old & Forgetful

#11
pataco Well-Known Member

#12
chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

#13
JimmyCrackCorn Atlanta Falcons

#14
JimmyCrackCorn Atlanta Falcons

#15
sonjay Well-Known Member

#16
Snipe Well-Known Member

#17
TheOne Beach Prerunner

#18
chris4x4 [OP] With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

#19
Alaskaflyer My other ride Hovers

#20
DeeKay21 Lieutenant Dan.

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