OT - Changing Oil and Filter

Bill VA · Sep 19, 2015

Got an old car, about a 1997 model. It has some 220,000 miles on it and over the past few years has started using about a quart of oil every
1,000ish miles. The thing only holds about 3.5 qts to start with, so when we add oil, it's usually 1/4 to 1/2 at a time - when we check it while
getting gas.

I'm beginning to think that we are adding enough oil to forget the regular oil change and only do a filter change going forward as new fresh
clean oil is being added on such a frequent basis.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
Bill

Gary Mitchell · Sep 19, 2015

I had an old Maverick with a 302 in it that I drove to work. I did as you are considering. It seemed to use a lot of oil. One day I decided that it had been so long since I had changed oil that it probably needed a fresh oil start. I was really surprised at how much less oil that Ford used after an oil and filter change. Between that experience and the small amount of oil your ride holds I'd never stop oil changes. gm

David G · Sep 19, 2015

I run the "high mileage" oil in my 1994 Corolla.

Blackhole49 · Sep 19, 2015

I wouldn't stop changing.

Bryce Frazier · Sep 19, 2015

Shouldn't stop with the changes.. Oil in the BOTTOM of the pan sometimes may not be circulated, so, it is technically "old" oil while you are burning / replacing all the good stuff on the top.

Well, if that engine is starting to use oil, then perhaps things are wearing out, which means other things are wearing out, which might mean metals or??? other things IN your oil, so, a regular oil change is now important er because you are getting those contaminants OUT of your engine, and preventing further harm...

Bryce

JD Seller · Sep 19, 2015

Many cars/trucks will use more oil as it breaks down form use. Our one semi will not use any oil at all until the oil has about 13-14K on it. We change it at 15K. It will stop using oil until the mileage goes back up.

So like the others have stated keep changing it regularly. Try some STP or Rislone additives to see if they will help the oil consumption.

Determined · Sep 19, 2015

My old 1-ton will not use a drop for the first 4-5000 miles after an oil change, then it will start dropping and need to be topped up.
Change the oil and it is good to go for another 4-5000 miles.
Have had this happen on various vehicles over the years.
Your choice to keep topping it up or change it but my opinion is when it starts dropping something in the oil has been depleted.

gtractorfan · Sep 19, 2015

Years ago my dad in law had an old Oldsmobile that he didn't care much about. He never changed oil, just kept topping it off. It sludged up and that did it in. Oil changes are much cheaper than the alternative.

Allan in NE · Sep 19, 2015

Trouble with your assesment is that the oil pickup lives at the bottom of the pan.

Allan

Bryce Frazier · Sep 19, 2015

Yes and no, a lot of the times that is true, but in many oil pans, there is usually a slight detent around the drain plug, where heavy "things" can build up, and be emptied out.

oc-18guy · Sep 19, 2015

I think you would find the longer you don't change it the more oil it will consume. change it.

rankrank1 · Sep 19, 2015

Personally, I would still change the oil and filter but when a car gets that old and is starting to use oil like that I switch to the maximum long intervals on oil changes mileage wise compared to the ideal best practice intervals like when a car is new.

Geo-TH,In · Sep 19, 2015

Bill,
most filters have a by-pass valve, so if filter is choked, some oil still gets to engine. With 220K your car is on borrowed time. Do what you want. A qt every 1k, oil may not get very dirty. May invest in filter every 5-7k. I wouldn't be buying expensive oil.

I had a neighbor, a true redneck, that worked at a gas station where they changed oil. His idea of changing oil was to bring oil he drained out of cars at work and put it in his car. He may have done the same with filter too.

I know another guy who changes the oil in his hydraulics. Put oil in a special barrel with a drain a few inches off the bottom of barrel. He lets his oil sit for a long time, so the dirty particles settles to bottom. Then he uses the oil from barrel next time he changes hydraulic oil. Another redneck idea.

sotxbill · Sep 19, 2015

you dont wear out oil.. you do loose the additives and it gets it dirty. If your adding oil often, you are replacing the additive package. So a filter change will keep the oil clean, the new oil will replace the additives. Its called "makeup" oil in the industry.

Using that much oil, I would switch to a 40 weight, and lots and lots of STP.

Brian G. NY · Sep 19, 2015

I know another guy who changes the oil in his hydraulics. Put oil in a special barrel with a drain a few inches off the bottom of barrel. He lets his oil sit for a long time, so the dirty particles settles to bottom. Then he uses the oil from barrel next time he changes hydraulic oil. Another redneck idea.[/quote]

Geo, Just to let you know how old I am.....My Dad had a '52 DeSoto (little Hemi V-8) that he drove about 90 miles round trip to work every day.
He changed the oil regularly and saved it in one gallon clear glass jugs.
Now....this was before the modern "high detergent" oils and like the hydraulic fluid, after a few months the contaminants would settle to the bottom leaving a nice maple syrup colored oil which we used in our little walk behind garden tractor Briggs engine, oil cans etc. We never reused it in a car engine.
I have "high detergent" oil now sitting in my shop for several years and it never "settles out".

DR. EVIL · Sep 19, 2015

My first car was a '70 Nova w/307 V-8. Must have over heated bad once or twice before I bought it. The o-rings put around the valve stems got hard, brittle and started breaking about the time I got the car. I ran a can of Rislone thru it because I was using a quart of oil every 500-600 miles, ended up using a quart every 250 miles afterwards. I finally found a mechanic that agreed with me where my oil was going, past the valve guides. I had him replace the o-rings on the valve stems. I drove the car 400 miles using no oil, then used a quart in 500 miles, then a quart in 200, and finally ended up using a quart every 125-150 miles. Valve guides were wore and I chewed up o-rings just like the mechanic said I would.

I checked all the local salvage yards for either heads or complete engines. Not much of a selection and expensive, so saved my money to trade cars. I went the last year without changing the oil, just spun on a new filter every 4-5 months and added more oil. I carried a case of 24 quart steel cans of oil in the trunk, whatever was cheap.

dhermesc · Sep 19, 2015

Just curious - what car is it that only has 3.5 quart oil capacity that you got 220,000+ miles?

01gentdc · Sep 19, 2015

if its gm or rice burner ,.,par for the coarse ,,put and in it , like onumnutz cash forclumkers . if ford or Chrysler or European go ahead and change it filter and oil ,,. if you keep adding to gunkie oil you will cause undue harm to a good old engine ,,

pete 23 · Sep 19, 2015

My little car holds 3 1/3 quarts with filter. Only has 192K though so might not make it to that 220K

teddy52food · Sep 19, 2015

If it chewed up the valve stem o rings, your mechanic didn't put them in right.

T.R.K. · Sep 19, 2015

I think what these guys are telling you is the part of the oil that is getting away is the good part that actually lubricates the engine. Its the crap that you don't really want in there that stays in and builds up in the engine.

TEXXASJOE · Sep 19, 2015

Technically when you add new oil to the old you generally are adding the ability for it to go a few more miles than if you had'nt. But with out doing oil sample tests you don't know exactly. My advise if your gonna get rid of it soon than do as you wish, if your gonna try to keep it as long as possible than treat like a new one. Also try to determine is the engine consuming the oil or is it just dripping it away on the ground. Leaks may be inexpensive to correct. I also seen some replies that said their engines consumed no oil until a certain number of miles. If you know your engine with the brand of oil your running only starts needing oil after a certain amount of miles then you should be changing your oil & filter just before that milage as that is when your oil is no longer giving your engine it's full potential. And thats when you start slowly wearing away your engine life. So if for example, the manufacturer says change your oil every 5000 miles but the brand your running starts being consumed at 4500 miles the you should change it at 4000 miles to eliminate premature engine wear. Also pick a brand of oil and stick with it. Jumping from brand to brand is not a good thing to do. All oils are designed different and if you change from brand A to brand B you may experience oil consumption and even leakage at seals that didn't leak before the brand change. After running the new brand a couple of oil changes the leaks may stop or may not.

jimg.allentown · Sep 21, 2015

Typically, the cars I have owned would start using oil after passing the recommended oil change intervals. Fresh oil and filter reduced the oil consumption back to normal levels.
In your case, just adding oil does not address the dirt and contamination that will accumulate in the remaining oil. There are also harmful corrosive chemicals that result from combustion that are not removed by the filter. I would say that if you continue just adding oil, your consumption will continue to increase until at some point, the engine will fail - either from an accumulation of contamination or just getting too low and losing lubrication.

Bill VA · Sep 21, 2015

Very interesting discussion. Changed oil and filter tonight and will continue to do so.

Someone asked about the 3.5 qt capacity, it's 4.0 qts with filter. 1997 Honda Odyssey minivan, 4 cylinder.

Thanks again,
Bill

OT - Changing Oil and Filter

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