warren@ihnss.UUCP (Warren Montgomery) (10/12/84)
I have a couple of questions for the oil experts: 1) The service manual I had for my 1972 toyota recommended chainging oil every 3K and filter every 6K. Another book on the car suggested cleaning the filter (with gasoline!), but it always seemed like a lot of bother over a $5 part. I generally changed the filter every other oil change as recommended and the engine lasted fine with no mechanical problems due to this. These days when the recommended change interval is 7.5K but lots of people feel that this is too long for the oil, is there a benefit to changing the oil and not the filter on a more regular schedule? (It makes changes a lot easier on some cars with awkwardly placed filters!) 2) All the previous cars I have owned or known people well enough to know this about have had a recommended service and oil change at about 1K miles. The purpose being to get rid of the break in oil and tighten anything that's loose. My new Mazda doesn't. Would there be a benefit in an early change? Is the oil used during break in generally different from that used other times? (My dealer has no real opinion on it). 3) The dealer I have had most of the major work on my 79 VW done uses a graphite based additive called "Krex", claimed to have superior lubrication. It's not black like Arco graphite, but somewhat silvery. I have no complaints about the way the car performs, and the engine now has 93K miles on it. I've never seen the stuff elsewhere or heard it discussed. Any opinions pro or con on it? (I used Arco graphite in my toyota when it was readily available with moderate benefits on gas mileage and no noticable problems.) Where (chicago area) could I get it over the counter if I decided I wanted to use it on my own changes? Thanks for any enlightenment. -- Warren Montgomery ihnss!warren IH ((312)-979) x2494