Originally Posted by
Parallel Ice
Just my .02
A co-worker of mine briefly talked about changing oil in his motorcycle. One day he got curious because he heard the same information. I believe he went here:
Oil Analyzers, Inc. - Oil Analysis, Oil Testing Services
He received the kit, took the samples over time and had them analyzed. According to him; the "effectiveness" of the oil did not change significantly. Now, this is second hand information, but I myself have been quite curious about this as well.
I'm not saying oil doesn't need to be changed, nor could I ignore the significance of dirt/grit/particle collection that takes place in oil. It could be worth trying out and see what you come up with.
Nahh, I'll do my gambling at the tables, but for what it's worth I went to the Mobil 1 site and found this:
Why do you have to change your motor oil on a regular basis?
Motor oil breaks down over time. When it breaks down, it loses its effectiveness and can no longer properly protect your engine.
In addition to lubricating an engine's moving parts, motor oil is designed to carry combustion by-products away from the pistons and cylinders. It is designed to deal with the small amounts of water that form as the engine heats and cools, and to collect the dirt and dust that enter the engine through the air-intake system. It also handles acids that are formed by the reaction between water and other contaminants. Sometimes there are even fuel leaks (fuel dilution) or coolant leaks that get into the oil system.
As a car is driven, the level of contamination in the motor oil constantly increases. The oil filter removes particles as the oil passes through the filter, but over time an oil's additives are used up and the oil itself can start to degrade (oxidize or thicken). At that point, the oil can no longer do its job and must be changed.
The rate at which contamination and additive depletion occurs depends on many variables. One of these is driving conditions, which vary greatly and have a direct effect on the useful life of the oil. Other factors include the precision of ignition, fuel injection or carburetion adjustments, air cleaner service and the general mechanical condition of the engine.
Oil should be changed before the contamination level reaches the point where engine damage can result. Because it is difficult for the individual motorist to determine when the contamination level is too high, automobile manufacturers provide recommended oil change intervals. These change recommendations vary by model year and manufacturer. Recommended intervals and mileage limits also vary with the type of service under which a car operates. More frequent oil changes are recommended for severe service.
Here's the direct link to the above:
Car Care | Frequently Asked Questions