100k Relative Oil Change cost by Method

Qualifier..Cost was never my consideration. Wasting time was my consideration.
Question: What does an oil company have to gain by producing an oil that can go much longer? Better margin? I have no clue, but I enjoy seeing fact and testing in my linked video versus the other video.

 

If you’re sending samples to the lab, why not follow their recommendations on OCI?

 

Why do tests though? Seems like wasted money

 

You bring up a valid point. The cost is the same for an oil change every 5,000 miles as it is for a change every 10k with a test.

 

The UOA can also help identify oil contamination & filtration issues, insolubles, flashpoint, coolant, gas, etc in your oil. It's not just for wear metals and oil life condition.

 

Kind of my point. What’s the purpose of the test if you’re not using the information they provide. A lot of armchair techs/mechanics/engineers are screaming about OCIs and I know people HAVE sent their samples to Blackstone which is actually compiling data and does consist of subject matter experts. So if you’re sending your oil in and they recommend an interval that you promptly ignore, yea, big waste of money.

 

I’m in the 5k group but don’t really care what others choose to do as far as that goes. They all have there reasons. As far as the chart I don’t think you guys need it to to do the complicated equations. If you change your oil twice as often I’m pretty sure it will cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of twice as much. The price will vary depending on choice of products so while I like his idea I don’t see how this information has any value.

 

Truck gets put on jack stands every 5k miles for me to rotate the tires. For another $30-40 I change the oil. Peace of mind and still far cheaper than wasting half a day at the dealer for them to screw it up and charge me 3x more.

 

I would like to commend @mquibble on the nice color coded spread sheet. I will admit that I fail to grasp the point of paying $30 for motor oil analysis when I could just change the oil for that same amount, I understand the appeal on a million dollar industrial grade machine where a oil change costs a couple hundred dollars and loss of profit due to down time. I use 5K mile intervals on my vehicles because its easy to remember when its due and I personally am not comfortable with going 10K between oil changes.
Also $30 oil change seems reasonable to me, I buy full synthetic oil on sale for an average of $3.00-$3.50 a quart, I use to get pennzoil now I get Kirkland(Warren Distribution), I buy a case of 12 Napa ProSelect(Mann Hummle or Wix) oil filters for around $2.50-$3.00 each.
Granted I do have a 4.0L so the 3.5L takes more oil and a different filter, but lets randomly guesd the 3.5L filter is $5.00 each, that still only comes to $26.70 per oil change plus whatever your local taxes are.

 

So what's your thesis? Like, what is this info supposed to help people with? Planning the cost of ownership?

 

The info is there for people to make their own conclusion. I didn’t post to try and convince anyone of anything. If it doesn’t helpyou- that’s fine. If it helps some- then I’m happy, no matter how they use it.

I guess the point is to possibly help some people make a more informed decision. A secondary point might be to illustrate there’s not a whole lot of difference, cost-wise, on which OCI you choose or if you are so inclined to test or not.

As you are probably aware, many feel passionate about the cost of doing more oil changes as well as how slow oil drains for that matter. I just don’t know why it will continue to place people on opposing sides and I’ll probably continue asking why.

 

On this you are correct.
OCI is like politics or religion to some. They just cannot fathom going 10K and in some cases, 5K.
It is what it is. Probably? Dad and Granddad helped formulate and solidify those thoughts from back in the day

 

Despite this being a divisive topic I do know one thing. The people on this forum are smart, clever, experienced and are at the ready to help us out whenever we have a question. If we have to put up with a little bickering about “this” it doesn’t seem like much to put up with for all the good we get from it.

 

Mobil 1 at WallMart around my area for the longest time was 22.97. Recently went to 24.97.

 

I'll also add that there is a strong emotional attachment to these trucks and some will do whatever it takes to pamper and baby them in whatever fashion that makes them happy.

 

I mean oil is oil, right? why not get the cheapest?

 

I concur. Several smart people here and a good place to be.
This is a subject that is deeply ingrained in each person and likely will not change no matter what proof is posted.

 

I agree, I love my little white truck!

 

Oh boy. You are brave, lol.

 

Well said