How long do you think it will be before we see auto manufacturers offer a "sealed" Engine with No Oil Dipstick? Since we have automatic "sealed" transmissions, what do you guys think? I think they would have to develop a really strong synthetic oil. Personally I would not want an engine that was sealed but still thought it was an interesting question to pose
How Long before We See a Sealed Engine with No Oil Dipstick
- Thread starter JP4RNR
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fitzt4r
New member
I am going with never. The reason we change our oil now is b/c internal combustion engines produce carbon. The carbon contaminates the motor oil which needs to be removed from time to time. Could you go 100k miles with no oil change? Maybe??
Also, blow-by occurs on all internal combustion engines. Higher mileage engines have it worse than newer one's of course. This is when oil gets through the piston rings and into the combustion chamber and exits with the exhaust. This would require adding oil to replace the oil burnt off.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Also, blow-by occurs on all internal combustion engines. Higher mileage engines have it worse than newer one's of course. This is when oil gets through the piston rings and into the combustion chamber and exits with the exhaust. This would require adding oil to replace the oil burnt off.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Re: Re: How Long before We See a Sealed Engine with No Oil Dipstick
Already exists with electric motors!
Never say never, but tech would need a huge shift.
Already exists with electric motors!
I agree with you. Unless some drastic tech change happens, oil will always be consumed in an engine and contaminated by the combustion process and contaminants brought in through the air.fitzt4r said:
Never say never, but tech would need a huge shift.
Sac State
New member
Some Mercedes engines have a 20K oil change using Mobil 1. BMW makes it hard to change the oil. You have to goto the dealership and have it changed and the service indicator reset for a minimum of $65. To reset the indicator, there is a special BMW tool.
Or, in cars that have the maintenance included in the price, they are pushing oil changes to 10-12K with synthetics.
Personally, I would like an engine that was closed. Too many people change their oil after only 3K miles, which is a tremendous waste of oil and a blight on the environment.
Maybe make the oil filters more efficient at arresting the carbon and other by-products?
Or, in cars that have the maintenance included in the price, they are pushing oil changes to 10-12K with synthetics.
Personally, I would like an engine that was closed. Too many people change their oil after only 3K miles, which is a tremendous waste of oil and a blight on the environment.
Maybe make the oil filters more efficient at arresting the carbon and other by-products?
I can see longer intervals for sure, especially with synthetics and some sort of active filtering system.
I agree the 3K mile oil change everyone's obsessed about is a waste of money. Even 5K oil changes are dubious IMO, especially if those miles are mostly freeway. I've seen oil come out of an engine after 5K miles that looks virtually new.
I agree the 3K mile oil change everyone's obsessed about is a waste of money. Even 5K oil changes are dubious IMO, especially if those miles are mostly freeway. I've seen oil come out of an engine after 5K miles that looks virtually new.
TitaniumToy
New member
I don't anticipate a sealed engine with life-time oil anytime soon, but I can see them getting rid of the actual dipstick part to save a buck. I'm guessing most cars probably already have a low oil pressure sensor. What % of people actually ever check the dipstick anymore? I bet it is pretty low.
TitaniumToy said:
You could be right and for a new car you could probably be OK depending on a low oil indicator. But after the car get 10 years or more old, I hate to have to depend on the sensor/wiring/indicator not failing and damaging the engine because of low oil.
The people who keep their vehicles for a long time and maintain them well check the oil, or have it done for them. A lot of people trade in every few years and don't give a crap.
pipspeak said:
at 3K miles all my cars oil look pretty dirty...even the full synthetics. i wont push it past 4K usually.
they may look clean, but at what point do they break down and not provide the same lubrication that new oil does?
i heard on the radio that bmws included service is 15K miles :awais:
nserpa9248
New member
yep 15k even the first oil change
my father has a 06 330xi and its at like 12k, and its never seen an oil change since the day he bought it
It amazes me...i cant belive to think of what that oil is gonna look like when it comes out
my father has a 06 330xi and its at like 12k, and its never seen an oil change since the day he bought it
It amazes me...i cant belive to think of what that oil is gonna look like when it comes out
TheBlueWave
New member
TitaniumToy said:
I check mine at every fuel-up and I bet most folks here do as well because we understand that the oil interacts with combustion by-products and can get burned in engines with bad rings, ect. Transmissions on the other hand, are a different story. I haven't owned an auto other than my 4r for a long time, but back then I checked the fluid level about once per month. The system is closed and it doesn't interact. I didn't check for level, as I didn't have leaks. I checked for burnt fluid. If not a dipstick for the 4runner, a sightglass would be nice so I could monitor the condition of the fluid. When I asked the service manager last time it was in for service, I had to insist and practilally yell at her to just get a damn sample of the fluid so I would know when I should change it. Based on what it looked like, I will be changing mine out at 60k, instead of the 100k recommended "inspection".
RamThis
New member
Dont think it will happen anytime soon, if ever really. Dipsticks gone, yeah I can see that. But a sealed system, wont work on an ICE. Like said before, alot of combustion deposits and other debris brought in from the intake get in the oil around the rings, that's why we change our oil. Not because it's really broken down, just because it gets alot of contaminants in it that the filter cannot catch. Some of these contaminants can become acidic and corrode internal parts as well if not removed from the engine.
I may waste "good" oil changing at 3-4K on Mobil 1 Synthetic, but at least I dont have a year's worth of intake debris and combustion deposits eating away at my engine. My Acura with 143K on it when I traded her in, changed every 3-4K miles on Mobil 1 10W30 and a Mobil 1 filter, didnt burn a drop of oil between changes. Just darkened quite a bit from combustion deposits.
I may waste "good" oil changing at 3-4K on Mobil 1 Synthetic, but at least I dont have a year's worth of intake debris and combustion deposits eating away at my engine. My Acura with 143K on it when I traded her in, changed every 3-4K miles on Mobil 1 10W30 and a Mobil 1 filter, didnt burn a drop of oil between changes. Just darkened quite a bit from combustion deposits.
Koz
New member
Not going to happen. I'm a firm believer in extended oil changes when it is done safely (using UOAs). BMW have extended their change interval because they offer (so called) free maintenance. Unfortunately there is no way this is safe to do without UOA (Used Oil Analysis). There has been several pissed off owners who have had UOAs and found that the oil was not safe to use that long in these vehicles. It's amazing what some manufactures are willing to do to sell a vehicle.
Koz
Koz
fitzt4r
New member
I just read in the new Car and Driver that BMW is having problems with the "low oil light" coming on by mistake. It says that customers are complaining b/c the light comes on and they go to check the dipstick and there isn't one. This applies to most 2006 3 series (not the M3). BMW was asked and said that they don't want customers to have to go under the hood so they recommend that if the light comes on, you bring it in and they will drain the oil and measure it once it has been removed. WTF???
And guess who picks up the tab for non scheduled maintenance service? The owner.
You won't ever see me in a BMW unless someone gives me an M series.
And guess who picks up the tab for non scheduled maintenance service? The owner.
You won't ever see me in a BMW unless someone gives me an M series.
Jeff Kleb
New member
[size=large]
BMW = Burn My Wallet
or Bring Money With you.
:bash:
[/size]
My mother has a 2006 (330i, I think) with all-wheel-drive. Yes, the maintenance is free for a certain amount of time......but they ream you royally for anything that is not under warranty. Also, her dealership is almost an hour away and things seem to go wrong on weekends or after their service department has closed for the day.
Nice car - and I would take one if you gave it to me; but I don't think they have the reliability of a Toyota Yaris.
BMW = Burn My Wallet
or Bring Money With you.
:bash:
[/size]
My mother has a 2006 (330i, I think) with all-wheel-drive. Yes, the maintenance is free for a certain amount of time......but they ream you royally for anything that is not under warranty. Also, her dealership is almost an hour away and things seem to go wrong on weekends or after their service department has closed for the day.
Nice car - and I would take one if you gave it to me; but I don't think they have the reliability of a Toyota Yaris.
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