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Chuck welcome aboard and there are no dumb Q's. Fire away . The problem is that filters (even the best) only catch some of the particles plus there's the problem of the soluble contaminates like acids/sludge/carbon etc. And even if the solubles were dealt with in some fashion you still wouldn't be able to go too small on the filter material micron size as you'd reach a point where the flow is restricted. It's comparable to when you were kids and your mom would clean several of you and your siblings in the tub one right after another & after so many kids in there you just reach a (saturation) point where the only thing left to do is change the water

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In 1988, the Society of Automotive Engineers conducted a study on the correlation between contaminants and engine wear. They found that contaminants in the 2 to 25 micron sizes directly correlates to engine wear. They also found that paper cellulose oil filters were ineffective at this while oil filters that used glass media where highly effective. Further, glass media oil filters have been proven to flow better and last much longer than paper media oil filters, something industrial and commercial markets have known for 20-years. Now we are starting to see the glass oil filters for automotive applications.

As far as motor oil goes, the first motor oils were non-detergent so they needed to be changed more often. This is where the 3000-mile oil change recommendation came from which goes back to as early as the 1930s. Today, we have motor oils with detergents in them. Detergents help control acids, sludge and keep contaminates suspended in the oil so the oil filter can filter them out. Based on the quality and quantity of these detergents, a motor oil can be designed or formulated for increased service life. One such detergent that is measured is called Total Base Number (TBN), which is commonly found in manufacture Product Data Sheets (PDS).

Total Base Number (TBN) is the measurement of a lubricant’s reserve alkalinity, which aids in the control of acids formed during the combustion process. The higher a motor oil’s TBN, the more effective it is in suspending wear causing contaminants and reducing the corrosive effects of acids over an extended period of time. A high TBN motor oil allows it to effectively combat wear causing contaminants and acids, providing superior protection and performance over extended drain intervals.

This is why vehicle fleet managers look at the remaining TBN content of motor oil. They do Used Oil Analysis to determine if a motor oil is still fit for service. A TBN value of 1 would be considered low and the oil would have to be drained and replaced. This is why a motor oil with a higher starting TBN value can effectively have a longer service life.

For example, look at some of the starting TBN values of these top brand motor oils:



This is why some oils are marketed as extended life oils and some are not. It's all in what you want and what you're willing to pay.

So again, if we keep the oil clean through efficient oil filtration and we use a motor oil that is formulated for longer service life, then extended oil changes are completely safe and doable as long as the engine is mechanically sound.

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"IF" thats key word, I do agree with your stats, but the problem is everyday consumers aren't big on doing the IF's.

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Look up a couple post, I pretty much answered this question.

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Hay CS ..... you sure have some DATA ......

BUT WHAT about the "contaminants" such as raw fuel, condensation and piston-ring blowby?

Are you suggesting that the "glass-media" filters will FILTER that all out?

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Hi Doc,

Great question. I'll try and anwser that.

While advancements in oil and filter technology have greatly improved over the years, we're not saying they will work miracles. Extended oil change intervals are recommended for mechanically sound, non-modified engines. If you have too much raw fuel getting into your motor oil and excessive piston blow-by, then this particular engine would not be recommended for an extended oil change interval. It would not be mechanically sound.

If you have too much condensation getting into the oil by means of short distance stop and go driving, then this would be considered severe service and the oil change interval would need to be reduced. There are normal and severe service recommendations for extended oil change intervals.

The best thing to do is get a Used Oil Analysis done on your vehicle. This will tell you how long your oil will last given your engine type, driving habits, and oil/oil filter/air filter combo.

Keep the questions coming...

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Yeah and these new and improved oils can't even handle the punishment of a flat tappet cam like the older 'poor' quality oils could handle. Really an improvement

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"IF" thats key word, I do agree with your stats, but the problem is everyday consumers aren't big on doing the IF's.

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Not from what I can see. I remember years ago, way back in the 80'S & 90's they were sold on a bypass filter design (made by Hastings--good company) that was not full flow. Thats how they were able to filter to a much finer particle size while maintaining flow to the engine.....BBBBUUUUTTTTT a bypass design can let very dangerous particle pass, until the stars align and its caught.

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Not worth the money! Back in 98 a friend bought a new Dodge Ram 318 eng 4X4.On his first oil change he changed to Mobil synthetic. He changed the oil religiously at suggested intervails and only burned high test gasoline. At 113,000 he lost all oil pressure. When he dropped the oil pan the sludge was deep enough it had blocked the oil pickup completely.I saw this myself and could not beleive it! Save your money,use regular oil and change at recommended miles. I have used Pennzoil for 35 years and never had one have sludge build up in the oil pan!

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Guy that are advocating the extended oil changes act and
or suggest that frequent changing of oil is almost harmful.
What is it hurting. If a person wants to change his/her oil at the recommended intervals or sooner than the manufactureer recommends, so what. The average driver will probably change oil 5 or 6 times a year at 3000/3500 mileage range or 3 times a year at 7000 miles. A savings of maybe 60 bucks a year. WOW. If you want to extend your changes fine - for those that don't and want to go by recommendations or sooner. It isn't hurting you, and it sure as heck isn't hurting the engine.

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Since you are an oil salesman lets take oil out of this picture. What other issues or combination of issues can put 2 inches of sludge in an oilpan in 113k miles? I have pulled engines apart with 100k plus miles that you could read all of the casting #s on the head and with no sludge in the oil pan.These engines never saw synthetic oil.I am not saying that synthetic oils are not good,I am saying that they are not worth 3 or 4 times the price of any good name brand.

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CS, please give your opinon on high mileage oils, such as Valvoline Maxlife 75,000 plus oil and other brands, thanks, dean (just love the banna)

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Since you are an oil salesman lets take oil out of this picture. What other issues or combination of issues can put 2 inches of sludge in an oilpan in 113k miles? I have pulled engines apart with 100k plus miles that you could read all of the casting #s on the head and with no sludge in the oil pan.These engines never saw synthetic oil.I am not saying that synthetic oils are not good,I am saying that they are not worth 3 or 4 times the price of any good name brand.

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Some issues that can increase the possibility of engine sludge:

• Faulty EGR valve
• Faulty MAF sensor
• Fuel Dilution
• Short trips under 10-miles
• Excessive engine idling

Engine oils do not cause sludge. It’s the external factors that can lessen their usable service life.

Today there is an increasing list of engines that are more prone to sludging issue due to design deficiencies. Some of this is due to the automakers trying to squeeze every last MPG from their cars in order to meet tough new government fuel economy standards. I’m sure many of these sludgging issues will be blamed on motor oil and not the actual root cause of the problem.

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