I have the oil changed at 5K miles and before winter storage.

 

Has anyone heard of an engine failing or having issues by letting the change time go longer than a year or two? I never have.

 

 

What's your point? That there is only one consequence of leaving the oil for 2 years? If that is the only yardstick, you are right. Unfortunately, blowing up the engine isn't the only possible outcome. You could be shortening the lifespan of the components or are you contending that just because your eyes cannot perceive it that additional wear cannot occur? I knew of someone who would add oil to the appropriate level and not change oil. When the car was outside warranty, trade it in. As such, she could conclude that not changing oil doesn't hurt. You wanna try that out on your car? This was back in the 80s where car technology and oil technology was nowhere what it is today. Good for her. Sucks to be you if you happened to buy that used car.

 

Never.

My brother's got 10K miles on his Mercedes-Benz turbodiesel sedan, in 10 years time. Albeit Mobil 1.

 

Those have an oil quality sensor to tell you how good the oil is. They were pretty good when verified against an oil testing

 

November 16
73% oil life
23849 miles
612.9 hours
4606 lifetime revs

August 13
100% oil life
22545 miles
579.3 hours
4351 lifetime revs

I took it out sometime in April and it dropped some 35%. I am at

Today
8% oil life
27125 miles
693.3 hours
5227 lifetime revs

Sample collected and sent to Blackstone Labs. Mileage on the oil is 4580 miles and I sat it for 4.5 months, give or take. Pretty low mileage for the oil at 4600 miles if you ask me. This is with the 0W40 ESP oil or Supercar as it has changed to. Soon as they reply, I will post results.

 

^^^^^
Since the OLI is programmed to always require an oil change after 1 year, the indicated life remaining will drop by slightly more than 8% each month, even if you don't start the car.
In addition to your driving, the oil has been in the car for almost 11 months and lost 92% of its life. It looks like the OLI is calculating the way it's designed.

Is the OLI being too conservative? Probably. Should you change the oil anyway? Since the money that is possibly wasted is not great, I follow the OLI. If you are not under any kind of warranty, factory or extended, you are completely free to do as you choose.

 

Aklim - you sent a sample of your oil to a lab to have it tested? Honestly I do not understand the reason for this. Please know that I am not being rude or insensitive, just curious. Changing the oil is one of the cheapest things you can do to a car.

 

I would drop it off tomorrow.

Do you know if the oil change system is right? I don't. Do you know if the 8% drop a month it right with the newer oil? I don't. Call it intellectual curiosity. I also will know when I have to change it. If I had to do it, it will cost about $100 plus my time or pay someone to do it. Might as well do as few times as possible.

Besides, I love to know as opposed to believe.

 

Did you pay extra for the OCI testing or just the basic?

 

Actuslly an oil change is not cheap especially at a dealer so if it isnt necessary why do it? That is just more pollution to deal with and wasted cash. Many of us are curious as to the life of the oil so Aklim having his tested is a good thing. If time on the oil life monitor is correct than all cars sitting at a dealership for a year or more have bad oil as well, just hard to believe.

 

Here's a link to Tadge's comments on how the OLI is programmed:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-wet-sump.html

Ooops, the Ask Tadge section has only the question that was asked, but not his reply. You have to go to the Tadge Answers section of that thread, then read post #81 for his reply.
I read his reply when the question came up, and there's a lot of information there. Combined with my own experience, I trust the OLI.
But being skeptical is ok.

 

Not sure I see it in that thread. Why don't you quote it and make it easier.

 

I paid for the oil testing and the TBN. Came to about $45. I'd rather know for sure than to guess. I do this with my other vehicles.

 

My time is worth something. From the buying of the oil (Yes, it wasn't easily available when I want it) and filter to the jacking up of the car and dumping it in 90 degree weather and having to clean up and dispose of the oil. IF I worked at Carmax where I have access to a lift and an AC shop, it might not be as bad especially if I don't have to bring the oil out to be disposed of. I don't think you can toss it in garbage, not here at least.

 

As you always do…keep us posted.
Inquiring minds want to know.

 

We shall see. It gets dropped in the mail tomorrow so Indiana in 2 or 3 days. Call it Saturday. Maybe get answers mid week

 

It's a long and detailed reply. For some reason, I can't do a copy/paste to this thread, nor can do a copy/paste of the url.
It's worth your time to find the "Tadge Answers" (not the "Ask Tadge) thread and go to post 81 for his reply.

 

I don't recall exactly how those year/models oil life sensor worked. It was so long ago now.... I bought the car from new, and gave it to my brother in 2014. The engine in that series was warranted for 150,000 miles, or 10 years - IF you installed 100% synthetic oil in it. I did switch to it. Also, the recommended OCI (Oil Change Interval) of 15K miles, was contingent upon using 100% synthetic oil, to be covered by the factory warranty.

8.5 qts. 100% synthetic oil and a filter for the E300TD runs: "$100.00?"