# Oil changes. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 11, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes/722269 "2015-06-11T17:17:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dan1500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dan1500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dan1500)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes/722269/41 "2015-06-13T19:01:19Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > There’s a company called [Blackstone Labs](http://www.blackstone-labs.com/) that’ll analyze the condition of your oil if you send them a sample. Usually people just do it out of curiosity, but I suppose on a car like this with really expensive oil changes it might be worth $25 to see if you can stretch it a little longer. In the past I’ve done work that required taking oil samples every day. If you did a lot of short runs where it didn’t fully warm up it would accumulate moisture in the oil fairly quickly. One run of decent length and it would nearly all evaporate out. There’s no need to change oil due to time unless you only do 5 minute trips exclusively. In which case it would be easier just to take a long drive than to change the oil. The guys at Blackstone have done tests on oil that had been sitting around for decades and didn’t find anything unusual in it. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes/722269/42 "2015-06-14T01:50:01Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > So if he chooses not to use synthetic oil, based on your recommendation, despite the car makers requirement for synthetic, are you paying for his engine repair? :dubious: That’s where I referred to “special engine”. It very much depends on the car. As for manufacturer “requirements”, you might discover that recommendations for the exact same car vary in different countries. I was surprised to discover it for my VW many years ago. Talk to a couple of mechanics. If the car is valuable or vintage, check with a couple of those mechanics as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes/722269/43 "2015-06-14T02:35:26Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > That’s where I referred to “special engine”. It very much depends on the car. As for manufacturer “requirements”, you might discover that recommendations for the exact same car vary in different countries. I was surprised to discover it for my VW many years ago. > > Talk to a couple of mechanics. If the car is valuable or vintage, check with a couple of those mechanics as well. It’s an AMG Mercedes. Special enough for you? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes/722269/44 "2015-06-14T12:43:40Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Mercedes specifies that you must use full synthetic oil in their engines. > (several other car makers do also BTW) Sorry for the hijack, but what is so special about a Mercedes engine that it requires synthetic oil? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes/722269/45 "2015-06-14T14:07:57Z")
There is nothing “special” about MB engines that isn’t also true of most late models cars, including Honda, Toyota, VW, etc… Most high power or performance engines, particularly those that are turbo charged have been designed to use synthetic oil and come directly from the factory that way. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes/722269/46 "2015-06-14T14:46:23Z")
A $50,000 car that lasts 20 years will cost you $2,500 a year just for the purchase price. Seems $129 extra per year for fresh oil is not that great an expense. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes/722269/47 "2015-06-14T17:18:29Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > There is nothing “special” about MB engines that isn’t also true of most late models cars, including Honda, Toyota, VW, etc… Most high power or performance engines, particularly those that are turbo charged have been designed to use synthetic oil and come directly from the factory that way. And this is nothing new either. My 13 year old GM LS1 engine says right on the oil fill cap: SAE 5w30 Mobile 1 Factory Fill NOTICE See owner manual Special engine oil required Now the Mobil-1 is just a marketing tie-in between GM and Mobile, but you do need to use synthetic oil in the engine, and premium gas in the tank. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes/722269/48 "2015-06-14T18:22:58Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > It’s an AMG Mercedes. Special enough for you? Yes Rick, that is special enough for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oil-changes/722269.md?page=2)