Funny, My 87 Saab recommended 10,000 mile oil changes in the manual, and the 98 Dodge recommends 7500 mile changes. Never saw a manual suggest under 4000 miles.

 

Not all of the engine is aluminum. Many of the parts that wear are ferrous such as cam, timing chain, lifters (or followers depending on engine type), crank, piston pins, etc.

 

These engines are not 100% aluminum inside.

I have a magnetic drain plug...it picked up ferrous material from the engine on the last change.

 

^^ thanks... now more people know the real story

was that plug on an echoteh? when did you start using magnets? i started when i was aircrew in the navy... they called chips plugs on aircraft back then. long time ago there was discussion about metal milling debris (visible on the fillter) found on the first oil changes on echotec... my filter was clean and has been... not sure that it was ever true... never seen any metal because if there is any it is stuck to the inside of my pan. disk pac (computer) magnets are awesome...

 

Yes, that plug picture if from an Ecotec (2.4 VVT). I installed the plug in October 2007 as an extra measure to keep the insides of the motor clean.

That pic shows what was picked up in 6,800 miles, but I believe that the plug pulled out a lot of the material that had been floating around inside the motor from the previous oil changes as well.

I expect that the plug will not be as dirty on the next change. The motor only had 23,000 miles on it at that point. Oil analysis shows that the engine is wearing very well.

 

If I remember right my 2.4 has a magnet on the plug. If not its my 96 silverado. I know one does. I made a mistake last month, I changed both vehicles oil at the same time and using the same brand oil but different weights......put 5-30 in the silverado and 10-30 in the HHR. I could tell a difference in the HHR bigtime.

 

As long as the dealers keep sticking on the reminders on the windshield, will this myth ever die??

Just got Dory back from servicing several items and just got the oil changed while she was there, and the tech put the usual reminder sticker on the window. Removed it immediately.

 

It's their cash cow....they will keep doing it as long as they can.

 

Well, other than wasting money and oil (unless it get recycled) at least this myth does no real harm.

BTW, I go by the DIC reading on my 08, but changed the oil when it reached 25%life.

 

I go by appearance mostly, if its getting dark, I change it. I also went through a learning lesson 20 years back on all this. Also living in different parts of the world educated me on it but many may not agree.

They recommend 5-30. 5 wt in New Mexico is stupid. They are trying to cover all basis here which is thoughtful but what is better for the engine where you live?

In Alaska, I ran straight 5 wt plus many refer to oil as a lubricant and not a coolant. Changing the oil regularly also helps the car run cooler.

I changed mine a couple months ago and right now was at 75%. Oil looks okay but it's getting hot outside now and I want all the help I can get to keep it cool, so I changed it out a couple days ago.