Oil Change Frequency
12-04-2001, 07:44 PM
#12
My 740il was usually about 12,000 miles.
It had a program in one of the computers that looked at the type of driving you were doing and then calculated when you should go in for service. It was usually about 12k miles. You must have a 2.8 or 4.2 because the service interval on the 2001 2.7t is 5,000 miles, 7,500 on the 2000 2.7t. Maybe the 2002 2.7t specifies synthetic oil and has a longer service interval?
12-05-2001, 07:59 AM
#16
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Agreed, but I'm an Amsoil lifetime dealer. :>)
So I'm admittedly biased.
But my own spectrometric oil analyses experience on a variety of cars confirms the long oil change interval. At one time I was also senior engineer in the HQ Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics Tank-Automotive Office (no biggie, I was the only engineer left :>
when the Army was considering switching over to synthetics...it was a bad deal for the Army because the oil was more likely to be contaminated (more oil analysis data) than worn out, in which case the Army decided to ELIMINATE oil change intervals...crazy, huh? Still have quarterly oil checks and before/after operation and during operation/fueling checks, but unless you know the oil is contaminated, (fuel smell, hisses when dropped on hot manifold, obvious coolant mousses, etc.) you don't drop the lube unless oil analysis says it's bad. And if you do drop it, you still take a sample and send it in.
For turbo engines I've used 10K oil change intervals largely due to carbon particulate buildup...the curve takes a knuckle/turns a corner upward somewhere between 10 and 15K miles although it stays below 1.5%....and 5-7% carbon particulate is generally considered the change limit due to the lubricant's ability to keep the particulates suspended. Even the bypass filter at 1micron won't keep these particulates out!
But my own spectrometric oil analyses experience on a variety of cars confirms the long oil change interval. At one time I was also senior engineer in the HQ Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics Tank-Automotive Office (no biggie, I was the only engineer left :>
when the Army was considering switching over to synthetics...it was a bad deal for the Army because the oil was more likely to be contaminated (more oil analysis data) than worn out, in which case the Army decided to ELIMINATE oil change intervals...crazy, huh? Still have quarterly oil checks and before/after operation and during operation/fueling checks, but unless you know the oil is contaminated, (fuel smell, hisses when dropped on hot manifold, obvious coolant mousses, etc.) you don't drop the lube unless oil analysis says it's bad. And if you do drop it, you still take a sample and send it in.For turbo engines I've used 10K oil change intervals largely due to carbon particulate buildup...the curve takes a knuckle/turns a corner upward somewhere between 10 and 15K miles although it stays below 1.5%....and 5-7% carbon particulate is generally considered the change limit due to the lubricant's ability to keep the particulates suspended. Even the bypass filter at 1micron won't keep these particulates out!
12-05-2001, 09:37 AM
#17
Manual said something about "hard conditions"
Like if you drive on the shoosh road in envirement with filtered air and constant air temperature, you can change oil at the recomended intervals. Otherwise - snow, sun, dust, city, traffics, short trips, long hight speed trips, all red cars, your dog pee in the gas tank - you must do it more offten.
12-05-2001, 04:21 PM
#20
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I agree with all that, John...
that all makes perfect sense. My Porsche tech friend recommended Amsoil after using it in his race car and doing 3 oil changes in 2 yrs. based on analysis --- amazing life for a race engine. In my '73 street 911, easily goes a year with OK TBN numbers and good numbers in all categories, that covers about 2,500 miles or so. The added cost of Amsoil is about equalled by the savings in time, etc. of doing only one oil change a year.
On the everyday cars, I have so far stayed w/ Mobil 1 and change every 5k/6 mo. The 911 gets the Amsoil because even the Mobil rep admitted to my friend that Amsoil's base stock is different and more suitable to long term resistance to acidity. But yes, in a turbo (even in my 'normal' A6) 10k would be max for me, too. I'll probably put more Mobil 1 in the A6 at 15k next month. Once it's out of warranty I'll likely go to Amsoil and 10k changes.
Regards,
Jon
On the everyday cars, I have so far stayed w/ Mobil 1 and change every 5k/6 mo. The 911 gets the Amsoil because even the Mobil rep admitted to my friend that Amsoil's base stock is different and more suitable to long term resistance to acidity. But yes, in a turbo (even in my 'normal' A6) 10k would be max for me, too. I'll probably put more Mobil 1 in the A6 at 15k next month. Once it's out of warranty I'll likely go to Amsoil and 10k changes.
Regards,
Jon