oil changes

I was reading another forum and one of the threads was talking about the Gallardo burning oil and doing oil changes. I was pretty shocked to hear the Gallardo burns about a quart of oil in less than a 1,000 miles, is that really true? The other shock was someone posted that they do oil changes every 7,500 miles. That just sounds high to me. I change the oil in my diesel pick up every 3,000. My Diablo and Countach get there oil changed every spring (March-April) before the season starts and then again in mid season in July, so say every 500-750 miles or maybe even less. I just feel that it is cheap insurance to keep it extra clean. My other question, is there anyone that has a Countach or Diablo that burns oil? Mine has never burned a drop (maybe because I change it so frequently). And, what is the average amount of miles that people do there oil changes?

thanks in advance for your input.

 

Yes it is cheap insurance to keep it extra clean. I change all the fluids every six months, weather I drive it or not. I will bet the 7,500 ml guy is not the owner of the car, It may be a lesed car. I have never herd of a Countach burning oil DH.

 

I change the oil on mine around a 1000 miles or less, which is about all that I can drive them each year. My trucks (2 F150's), however I change them around the 7500 mile range, but I do use Mobil one synthetic. No problems with them, one is almost new & the other has 190k miles. I don't see why a Gallardo would burn that much oil. It's a tight clearance engine, built in a better environment by a better funded co than the early stuff.

 

I change about every year and a half, or less than 3000 miles for my Lambo. For a passenger car though, 7,500 is fine. Basically 3,000 mile oil changes are a joke started by the quickie oil change places. NOT NECESSARY for your driver.

 

Dear Lamborghinisti,

I change the oil in my 97.5 VT Roadster every 3000 miles even though the OM calls for an oil and filter change every 7500 miles.

My 91 Ferrari Testarossa calls for 6000 miles or once a year in the OM...but I also change it's oil every 3000 miles.

Now for me, I think that's OK as I drive them both as daily drivers so the oil always gets up to temp....especially this time of year in FL.


Shamile

Freeze...Miami Vice !

 

A quart per thousand miles isn't an unreasonable amount in a high performance engine.

Ferrari specs 1-2 liters of oil per 1000 kilometers in the 355 WSM.

 

I am by no means a motor or oil experts...but I have used many and I ended up doing this with all my cars..

First, I do NOT use synthtic..I use Valvoline LEADED racing oil. IMO I have noticed that it causes for better wear on the inners of my motors.

I do change my oil approx every 3000 miles as well, which depening on the car can be as much as 4 times a year LOL I drive my cars.

I cant recall the last time I ever had a car sit for a year with less than 3000 miles on it...so the yearly thing has never come into play for me.

 

Exactly, so you'd think the newer cars would need less attention than the early stuff!

Great thread 97diablo.

 

I have found that thinner oils may result in less oil consumption in part by having better ring seal. Numerous other oil related concerns are addressed here:

These may help one understand viscosity, usage and timing, the first one is more complete:

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/faq.php?faq=new_faq_item#faq_haas_articles

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=259902#Post259902

aehaas

 

That is the same oil I have been using as well. Learned that little tid bit from Steve. I would have to agree about the synthetic oil, a friend of mine has a little under 40,000 kilometers on his 87 Countach, and is the original owner. I believe he has been using synthetic oil the entire cars life, and last summer it lost oil pressure. When the engine was taken apart to find out the problem, the main and rod bearings were shot. A Lambo mechanic explained to me in pretty good detail (which I could not reiterate, being mechanically ignorant) what and why synthetic oil causes this type of problem. I think synthetic oil is a good oil but not for all applications, just my opinion.

 

Dear Lamborghinisti,

OK...now it just got interesting....and confusing!

Roy, did Steve Gleaner recommend this leaded racing oil?


Shamile

Freeze....Miami Vice !

 

Yes, as well as several others in the industry that work with these cars..

 

Shamile, if interested give Steve a call 408-848-3138 and he can tell you in more detail why not to use synthetic oil in your car. Sounds like you have heard of him before?

For those who have not heard of him, he is the owner of Driven Exotics and works on Lamborghini's only. I believe he is the only shop in the USA that works strictly on Lamborghini.

 

I've been in the oil change business for 22 years. Keep doing what you're doing.
I do not recommend the 5000-7500 on ANY vehicle. I know what the oil looks like and the low test results when I've sent it out. And we have serviced pretty much every car on the road.
Oil starts to break down at about 1500 miles and is pretty much useless after 3500-4000.
But people will do what they want and believe.....so I pretty much avoid these discussions.

People just don't get it. Don't you realize that the manufacturer recommends 5000-7500-10000 for a reason. They don't want their cars to last forever, then you won't buy another. At those intervals, they are betting people will replace a worn out cars in 5 years -+. Or keep the service department busy making money for the dealership.

 

I guess I should check my oil level more often but when I have checked I have never noticed 1qt/1000 miles of oil usage on my car. I seem to change my oil by 3,000 miles in my Gallardo I use Mobil one 15W-50. I change the oil filter every 2 oil changes. I have put 11,000 miles on the car, changed the oil filter 2 times and the oil I think 5 times. When I have done track events I change the oil more frequently after the abuse.

But frequency requirements vary a lot car to car. A new car that doesn't have much blowby in the cylinders the oil will last much longer than one that the there is blowby and gas is getting into the crankcase. Also high temperature bothers me. When I had my '03 Zo6 on the track the oil would see 305 degrees F, that model didn't have an oil cooler. So I would always change the oil after a track event.

 

Can't argue with the experts, but I will anyway. It's funny that in the 60's and 70's oil changes were never recommended at 3,000 miles, oil was not as good, and engines were dirtier, still you could rack up over 100K miles no problem, today with better oils and cleaner engines 200K miles is nothing, not due to 3k mile oil changes either, because someone that has a 200K mile beater dosen't change the oil that often.

As you said, people believe what they want, but 3K oil changes are the life blood of the quickie oil change shops, they started it and the advertising is definitely bent to scare you into engine failure, it's BS.

Just as a side note, my 03 jag dosen't recommend an oil change for 10K miles I'm sure it's the same with other high end cars, I doubt it's because the manufacture wants the car to wear out sooner, they don't need it. In addition radiators and transmissions are sealed up now are they not? Stands to reason engines have made progress too.

 

Believe what you want.

Good Luck with that.

 

I must be missing something.

Valvoline is putting "lead" in their oil? For what purpose?

I didn't see anything about it on their website.

 

Don't need luck, pretty factual.

 

Its a vicious cycle - manufacturers tell you not to change your oil, valvoline sells you oil with little bits of lead in it, all meant to kill your car so you have to buy a new car and new oil!

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3,000_mile_myth

 

The oil companies have told me year after year that they don't understand why the auto manufacturers recommends 5-7-10k for oil change. They say their oils don't last that long. And that's not coming from the quick lube industry.
Guys go 5k then 7k and check the oil. see it, touch it, taste it and tell me if you are comfortable with it.

I just ask that we keep this a civil conversation. Because I've seen too many time it get out of hand. One guy even getting into details that are far too long and complicated.

As I said, do what is comfortable for you.

 

I have to agree with you...but then again I drive my cars and have always had not a signle issue with 5k or so oil chnages..works for me so no need to change it..

 

FWIW Some manufacturers have gone to sealed transmissions and have pondered to go with sealed motors. Having been trained (or brainwashed ) by one of the big three; the 7,500 miles OLF is now in the owners manual but dealers often try and convince customers to go for the shorter span and often supply the cheap versions of the oil filters to malke a price point. The important thing is the maintenance more than the oil change. Many other things to check than the oil. Now if you are truly concerned about the oil you can go to a Heavy Truck shop and buy a oil sample check kit for something like $22.99, Send a few ounces of oil, they will test it in lab and return a fully detailed report.*(last time we did this with a dozen samples most were still good.) I'm not saying do /don't change your oil, but 10QT of Mobil1 and a premium filter aren't cheap, but you (the owner) have to be comfortable with these costs and not assume if the OLF is done your car is properly maintained. The Owner's manual is nothing more than a guideline.

Denis

 

i have seen many galardos and mostly all murcis use oil,especially if there driven hard.its good to ck your oil level every 1000 miles or so and make sure you ck it the correct way.the old rule of 3000 miles to change the oil is the way to go imo.