Oil change placebo?

[Felon]

Does anybody else here think that when you get an oil change, the engine runs smoother?

Or is it all in your head, because you’re concentrating on it - you think there’s a difference when in actual fact there’s none at all?

 

[aaronyuri]

It depends how often you do your changes. If you are doing oil changes every 12k then I'd say it's smoother, probably. If you're doing oil changes at 3k; it's in your head.

Modern synthetic oils are so good nowadays... it's hard to call it perceptible or not with standard manufacturer intervals being followed.

 

[JonRGV250]

I’d say it was a placebo.
Servicing these days isn’t like it used to be many moons ago.
Back then it was replace plugs, clean/replace rotor arm, dizzy cap and set points, then you really could feel a difference when it was serviced and you had the feeling that your money was well spent.
Nowadays it’s a distress purchase born out of necessity rather than you actually getting the feeling that your hundreds of pounds had actually achieved anything other than keeping the warranty intact.

 

[sovietspybob]

If you can tell a difference you must have been seconds from disaster

Modern engines tolerances are so good that i highly doubt you'd notice anything, it'd be fine, fine, fine, BOOM clatter clatter

 

[ezekial]

I would notice on my 2002 330d, but not so much on my 440i. I definitely noticed when I changed the gearbox oil though.

 

[aVdub]

I did one on an old Escort* years ago and it ruined it Seriously didn't run the same again.

Modern cars not so much imo and not needed as often as some do.

*Not that type..

 

[tom_e]

I tend to notice it on my bike but that's probably because I give everything else a good clean and relube at the same time, only thing I notice on the car is the hole in my wallet and if I'm lucky they've washed the outside.

 

[Nasher]

I could tell the difference on my old diesel for a short time afterwards, it ran a bit quieter as well.

The EGR on diesels contaminates the oil pretty quickly.

 

[GravyMonster]

I can't say I ever felt much difference in the engine, but I've definitely felt a difference when changing gearbox oil - especially in a manual.

 

[DJMK4]

I would want decent clean oil circulating the engine and through the timing changes rather than dirty old oil


I can generally tell the difference, it seems to run smoother , and cleaner.

That being said, i change my engine oil every 6-8k usually, so I dont really let it get too dirty and old

 

[Littlenose]

I tend to notice it on my bike but that's probably because I give everything else a good clean and relube at the same time, only thing I notice on the car is the hole in my wallet and if I'm lucky they've washed the outside.

Same for me. I had one guy who serviced my bike back in the 2000's and it felt so much tighter / smoother.
To the point I looked forward to servicing time for that new bike feeling.

 

[MissChief]

I would notice on my 2002 330d, but not so much on my 440i. I definitely noticed when I changed the gearbox oil though.

Same for the gearbox oil on my 428i. Previously the up shifts, while smooth had a little, tiny lurch so you could feel the gears changing up. After changing, that is completely gone. The only way you can tell the box has shifted is by looking at the rev counter.

 

[Felon]

Same for the gearbox oil on my 428i. Previously the up shifts, while smooth had a little, tiny lurch so you could feel the gears changing up. After changing, that is completely gone. The only way you can tell the box has shifted is by looking at the rev counter.

That’s pretty interesting, is that a zf auto?

 

[MissChief]

That’s pretty interesting, is that a zf auto?

It is.

 

[BUDFORCE]

Placebo

 

[d_brennen]

IDK, probably placebo but I get it. I always feel that my car feels better after a good wash, slosh of V Power and fluid check too, so there is that...

 

[Janesy B]

Probably placebo, the same way a clean car always drives nicer.

 

[shifty_uk]

Back then it was replace plugs, clean/replace rotor arm, dizzy cap and set points, then you really could feel a difference when it was serviced and you had the feeling that your money was well spent.

Our local indy still does the lot on my OH’s runaround, well worth the little extra.

Can’t say I notice much on the premium cars I’ve been driving for years but they are generally well run on the motorway and serviced annually.

 

[nlel1975]

Does anybody else here think that when you get an oil change, the engine runs smoother?

Yeah definitely noticed it last year after a service, not so much this year. Not that it was running rough to begin with. I definitely feel it’s beneficial to change the oil once a year even on a car like mine that does 1000 miles a year.

 

[ezekial]

Same for the gearbox oil on my 428i. Previously the up shifts, while smooth had a little, tiny lurch so you could feel the gears changing up. After changing, that is completely gone. The only way you can tell the box has shifted is by looking at the rev counter.

yes definitely can confirm this. I knew I was going to do it about a month before so I definitely put attention towards how the gearbox felt before doing it and there is 100% a difference.