Oil change

[Arith2]

Check with your BMW dealer, both of my local ones offer 3 oil changes for $199 if your car is over a certain age. At that price you can't beat it.

You bought this for your M3? I was under the impression M cars aren't eligible. I can ask an adviser

[Estoril]

Until Blackstone makes an onboard condition-based oil maintenance system, we basically have to go by either milage or time (schedule-based).

You can't mail a sample in the container they provide?

[9kracing]

You bought this for your M3? I was under the impression M cars aren't eligible. I can ask an adviser

Both my M3 and X5M got the deal.

[Arith2]

Both my M3 and X5M got the deal.

$90 vs $72 and getting paid .4 hours to do my own oil sounds phenomenal

[ugaexploder]

You can't mail a sample in the container they provide?

No, I'm saying the Blackstone tests really don't help for oil changes or when they should be done. My understanding is that they are used to help make the most informed decision on when to change rod bearings.

[Estoril]

No, I'm saying the Blackstone tests really don't help for oil changes or when they should be done. My understanding is that they are used to help make the most informed decision on when to change rod bearings.

Respectfully, your understanding is incorrect.

[ugaexploder]

Respectfully, your understanding is incorrect.

You brought up Blackstone, what are you talking about?

[eacmen]

No, I'm saying the Blackstone tests really don't help for oil changes or when they should be done. My understanding is that they are used to help make the most informed decision on when to change rod bearings.

The blackstone reports give you condition of the oil and they also suggest if you can run the oil longer or if you ran it too long. This can help inform oil change interval advice.

Oil itself does not degrade with time, especially modern synthetic oils. But add in the contaminants that may enter the oil (fuel,water,coolant) - this pushes most people to change oil based on time vs mileage.

Blackstone also gives you composition of various metals and contaminants that may be present. Sometimes this points to an obvious issue (lead or copper is never good!). Unless there is an obvious spike it's like reading tea leaves.

[ugaexploder]

The blackstone reports give you condition of the oil and they also suggest if you can run the oil longer or if you ran it too long. This can help inform oil change interval advice.

Oil itself does not degrade with time, especially modern synthetic oils. But add in the contaminants that may enter the oil (fuel,water,coolant) - this pushes most people to change oil based on time vs mileage.

Blackstone also gives you composition of various metals and contaminants that may be present. Sometimes this points to an obvious issue (lead or copper is never good!). Unless there is an obvious spike it's like reading tea leaves.

Correct, it does give you a report of the condition of the oil sample you just sent in. Sure, it can give you an idea to EXTRAPOLATE under similar conditions how long you can run your current oil. But by no means is this a real-time tool to help you make oil change decisions based on the condition of your CURRENT OIL. Which is exactly why most people just change based on time-based maintenance.

My argument is that Blackstone cannot provide any details of your current oil, or when it should be changed outside of extrapolating based on past data. Please correct me if I'm wrong here. How is this any better than being safe and staying on a time-based maintenance program. Blackstone does not change your maintenance program into condition-based, sorry.

I take Blackstone samples to create trending data so in the long run I can have the best idea of when to change rod bearings. I do not use Blackstone results to tell me when to change my oil. If you do, great.

[dukeofchen]

LiquiMoly 10W-60 on a 3-4k interval via FCP's warranty program, with a sample sent to Blackstone with every change gives me enough peace of mind. Consistent testing flagged the need for rod bearings that came out in pretty rough shape to say the least, and subsequent tests have come back perfect.

[digger]

Correct, it does give you a report of the condition of the oil sample you just sent in. Sure, it can give you an idea to EXTRAPOLATE under similar conditions how long you can run your current oil. But by no means is this a real-time tool to help you make oil change decisions based on the condition of your CURRENT OIL. Which is exactly why most people just change based on time-based maintenance.

My argument is that Blackstone cannot provide any details of your current oil, or when it should be changed outside of extrapolating based on past data. Please correct me if I'm wrong here. How is this any better than being safe and staying on a time-based maintenance program. Blackstone does not change your maintenance program into condition-based, sorry.

I take Blackstone samples to create trending data so in the long run I can have the best idea of when to change rod bearings. I do not use Blackstone results to tell me when to change my oil. If you do, great.

no one said it was real time based monitoring of your current oil....lol

[ugaexploder]

no one said it was real time based monitoring of your current oil....lol

That's funny, I didn't either. Reading comprehension isn't for everyone......lol

[bigjae46]

I tried the FCP Euro thing. I found that it is too messy putting the oil back in to be worthwhile. I have a buddy who can get OE parts at cost for me so I stick with the OE oil.

Check with your BMW dealer, both of my local ones offer 3 oil changes for $199 if your car is over a certain age. At that price you can't beat it.

You only get an oil change when it is within range based on CBS data. You'll get 2 oil changes unless you're putting a lot of miles on the car. Which still isn't bad but then you have the stealership trying to sell you stuff two times.

[bigjae46]

$90 vs $72 and getting paid .4 hours to do my own oil sounds phenomenal

It has the be due or within range depending on the average mileage. I think with the pre-turbo cars with the 2yr/15k interval you have to be over 10k miles from the last oil change. Turbo cars can usually get one around 4k miles before its due.

I'd do it for my wife's car because I could get 3-4/yr but then I'd need to drag my ass to a dealer 3-4 times per year.

[jet_dogg]

I'm risk averse, I don't try running as long as possible without harm on existing oil.

I change the oil prematurely, don't have any issues, and sleep easy.