High Mileage Oil Change Question
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 287
Likes: 3
I was referring to the oil marketed for higher mileage engines. The stuff that's for engines with over 75,000 miles. Put it in a good engine, and suddenly started making noise and burning oil at an alarming rate.
Now, it probably was just doing what it was supposed to do: clean the engine of 10 years of gunk and sludge, opening up every crack and scratch and gap that had previously been filled with debris. But prior to that oil I had no problems or symptoms, and after I burned an awful amount of oil and lost a lot of confidence in that engine. My point is that I won't do that again.
Again, YMMV. Some will swear by it. I won't.
(This was also 15 years ago. I'm sure things have changed.)
Now, it probably was just doing what it was supposed to do: clean the engine of 10 years of gunk and sludge, opening up every crack and scratch and gap that had previously been filled with debris. But prior to that oil I had no problems or symptoms, and after I burned an awful amount of oil and lost a lot of confidence in that engine. My point is that I won't do that again.
Again, YMMV. Some will swear by it. I won't.
(This was also 15 years ago. I'm sure things have changed.)
Legend
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,663
Likes: 8
From: Central Oklahoma
I have a 98 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.9. The truck has 160000 miles. Right after I bought the truck I had to have a new oil pan put on it. I am assuming the mechanic used regular oil. The po said he used full synthetic with every oil change (don't normally trust and of the po hence the post). I am due for an oil change and would really like to use a full synthetic oil but I've heard about switching vehicles with higher mileage to full synthetic can result into oil leaks. Any suggestions? Any recommendations on oil? I normally use Valvoline or Castrol. Maybe a high mileage full synthetic?
Engines today are built to tighter tolerances than back in the 1970s, when putting synthetic oil in an engine would result in leaks.
Unfortunately this misunderstanding, along with the mythical 3,000 required oil change, is constantly perpetuated.