Subject: I think the 3K interval is bogus... it is based on 30 yr old tradition... Author: Brian : member since January, 2005 : 10650 posts Posted on: 2008-02-12 12:10:46

I have long thought that the 3K oil change interval is totally outdated. That interval is a throwback to more than 30 years ago, and it has not kept pace with engine technology, fuel changes, and oil technology.

Many years ago, BMW did a really cool scientific test to objectively measure the impact of oil and oil change intervals on engine wear. This is the basis for their proposed change intervals. They took several cars to a track, and they ran them under different conditions. At regular intervals, they fully disassembled the engines and measured the internal parts for wear and noted any other wear characteristics on the engines. The result is that BMW knows exactly how oil types and change intervals affects their engines. That is why they have longer change intervals-- they know that shorter intervals to not materially improve engine life.

This also supports my "rational man test." Engines used to be very sloppy 30 years ago. Basically, you needed about 7 liters of displacement to get 300 HP. Gas was very harsh as well, with nonoe of today's cleaning and stabilizing additives. Finally, oil was just that, oil with not much special to prevent breakdown. Flash forward to today, and everything is different. Wouldn't it stand to reason that an idea oil change interval would be at least twice and probably three times better than it was 30 years ago.

• SoCal, watch abc7 news tonight re frequent oil changes. I saw a BMW V8 engine - visionbmw7 2008-02-12 00:47:21 (1112 views)
  • Here's the video (url) - 750il96erbill 2008-02-12 12:33:10 (1154 views)
    • post battery death audio and enviro displays are kaput - ailerons 2008-05-07 14:23:17 (1348 views)
  • Didn't watch, Wazzz up?? (nt) - IBHenry 2008-02-12 09:37:43 (1120 views)
    • What a friggin tease. It was only in the preview but not in the news. Lame. - visionbmw7 2008-02-12 11:58:18 (1084 views)
      • I think the 3K interval is bogus... it is based on 30 yr old tradition... - Brian 2008-02-12 12:10:46 (1241 views)
        • I ran for 10k miles on my last oil change before my car told me to change it (nt) - SDmike 2008-02-12 12:42:23 (1301 views)