Oil change
 

Just changed the oil and replaced the filter. Last change was 24/11/12 and 17k miles ago :o using Quantum Longlife III. I dont know where the time went and the last 5k miles were all done ina very busy last 3 months. I know its "longlife" but I should do it every 10k. :tuttut:

But just look at the colour in the attached photos - even if the oil has not broken down in any way the black stuff must be something (carbon?) suspended in the oil thats not supposd to be there and it cannot be doing the engine any good.

(New oil on the left)

oil changes
 

i used to rebuild engines a few years ago
so i know what goes on inside
oil is cheaper than an engine
do it every 5000 miles

my D3 has done 35,000 miles and had 6 oil changes

My A8 is on 136K miles, on variable servicing and has had 7 changes so far.

In theory whats in the sump should not matter, because the oil filter should remove all the crap before it hits the engine.

I would like to believe that but I am not sure. The filter looks pretty dark on both sides. I guess my issue is that this change was within "requirements" for Long life service and oil type and yet the oil is very black due to contaminants suspended in it. I think that I put in 1/2 ltr over the period, i dont burn blue smoke so its not as if the engine is letting huge amounts of oil/exhaust past the rings.

I guess I'll try to change at 10k intervals (at most). +++

I have simple strategy -- i change oil as soon as it starts to get darker.
That usually between 3000 and 4000 miles.

Is that the other halfs roasting tin?

:ROFL:

Not quite! it was a rusty bread tin that was about to be thrown out - but its just the right size to drop the filter into. +++

And I make the bread - though not in that tin anymore.

To be honest, the cost of Quantum Platinum (i.e. non-long-life) is cheap enough that it is not a big deal when the engine is at stake.

any engineer will tell you and even audi admitted to me that the long life oil changes were not a good idea
at the end of the day its not even oil
so be it on your head
one of my local garages has shown me perished oil filters after being in too long
change the bloody oil people at at least 10,000 miles 5-6k to be sure

Aye, lesson learnt. +++ The dark stuff was thick and treacly.