OIL Life Question (Just for fun)

[N_Jay]

For those of you with Maintenance-Minders, about how many miles does it let you go on an oil change?

[RSQ Pilot]

Originally Posted by N_Jay

For those of you with Maintenance-Minders, about how many miles does it let you go on an oil change?

@ 15% MM has averaged 8500 for 3 cycles

[KKL]

Slightly less than 5000 miles. Quite a bit of city driving daily once I get into Boston.

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by KKL

Slightly less than 5000 miles. Quite a bit of city driving daily once I get into Boston.

It that at 15% or 0%

[theirishscion]

6800 - 7200 at 0% has been the spread so far. I'd estimate my average start-stop cycle to be 10 miles. 18 mile commute twice a day, probably an effective 70%/30% split city/highway when you account for traffic. 2x2.5 mile trips for lunch. Then a mixed bag on weekends between 3 mile trips to the shops and occasional multiple-hundred mile trips out into the wilds of North and West Texas.

On my 4th sump of oil now, as it were. Consumption has gone from a quart in 7000 for the first two, then 1/2 a quart for third (which was probably coincidentally the 1st with Mobil 1)

Currently, I'm 2500 miles in to the 4th (23,500ish total miles) and it's showing around a 1/16th of a quart used. Over-filled the full line fractionally and it's now right at full. These engines seem to take a loooong time to break in fully, which bodes well for longevity.

Calculating out based on the percentages as they changed, it seems to be headed for 7500 this time around. However, there was a 1000 mile weekend at the start of the interval which is likely skewing things.

I'd love to know exact heuristic the maintenance minder uses. My pilot also spends more than it's fair share of time idling. I don't know if that's taken into account.

[KKL]

Originally Posted by N_Jay

It that at 15% or 0%

Typically at 15%.

[2010exl]

I believe it simply counts engine revolutiuons.

It may differentiate between hot and cold engine temps, but simply counting revolutions will give you less mileage between oil changes with city driving and idling versus more mileage with lots of highway driving.

[N_Jay]

Originally Posted by 2010exl

I believe it simply counts engine revolutiuons.

It may differentiate between hot and cold engine temps, but simply counting revolutions will give you less mileage between oil changes with city driving and idling versus more mileage with lots of highway driving.

No, it takes a good bit more into account.

From what I understand, mostly cold starts, time under temp, and time at above typical temp.

[whizmo]

Between 5-5.5K on mine (to 0%). I'd say 80% urban/surburban and 20% highway. Average trip length less than 10 miles.

- Mark

[gewf631]

Between 7,000 and 7,500 miles - mostly suburban driving (you know where we live).

On the 3rd oil change (first one done at the dealer, free).

My philosophy is 5K oil changes (easy to remember), but never think to reset the minder.

[Old Grey]

I change my oil at 5k miles, but in doing the math 15% on the maintenance minder would put me at roughly 8,000 miles.

[samc]

I've seen about 5500 miles before I reach 15%. But I do alot of city driving.

[theirishscion]

Originally Posted by N_Jay

No, it takes a good bit more into account.

From what I understand, mostly cold starts, time under temp, and time at above typical temp.

The BMW equivalent of maintenance minder on my friend's '02 540i allegedly just records the volume of petrol passing through the injectors, which if you think about it is a pretty good metric. That said, it has a ~15,000 oil change interval and takes 8 quarts of 0w40 fully synthetic, so the stakes are, well, different.

[CAjack42]

I'm 10% at 7200 mi. +/- 100 mi. Closing in on 55K miles and it's been pretty consistent.