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spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4662

Oil....what the mechanic told me

While getting the Defender serviced last week I mentioned to the mechanic that I was considering getting the oil changed at six monthly intervals. He dipped a finger into the oil that had just come out of my sump, rubbed the oil between his thumb and finger then wiped his finger with a cloth. The cloth took ALL of the oil off his finger. This test he said showed that the oil was still O.K. and did not warrant twice yearly changes.
He did the same test on oil that had come out of somebody else's car but the cloth could not remove the oil from his fingers which showed, he said, that it was well used and should have been changed earlier.
He showed me my old filter element but apart from oil it was "clean" whereas the filter from the other car had blotches of thick oil adhering to it which again showed that my service interval was fine but the other car should have been serviced earlier.
So if you want to check the condition of your oil just rub your finger on the bottom of the dipstick and wipe it off with a cloth.
Not scientific I admit but it's from a mechanic of many years experience. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

23rd Jan 2016 3:30pm

Tommo

Member Since: 19 Dec 2013
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 830

2006 Defender 90 Td5 Black LE Java Black

I have also heard of this test. However, when the mechanic did it he just rubbed the oil between his finger and thumb and said I should do the same as the oil coated my fingers and provided a film between finger and thumb and he said oil was still good as it coated both finger and thumb and said this was still protecting engine!

23rd Jan 2016 4:51pm

adseybear

Member Since: 08 Oct 2009
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 260

Or send a sample off and see if it's broken down at all

http://www.millersoils.co.uk/automotive/millercare.asp 2003 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Belize Green - "Betty"
1958 Series IIA 109 Station Wagon - "Randolph" - Awaiting Restoration
2019 Jeep Wrangler JL Rubicon - SOLD
2006 Volvo V70 D5 - Ocean Race Edition, SOLD
2003 VW Passat Estate 1.9TDI - SOLD
2008 BMW 320D M Sport Estate - SOLD
2001 Defender 90 Td5 Hard Top - SOLD

23rd Jan 2016 5:53pm

Cuthbert

Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Up North
Posts: 1535

Sounds like a bit on an 'Old School' mechanic.

Meanwhile at other locations, huge investment is being made in labs where highly skilled chemical scientists are developing lubrication for specific engines, applications and lifespans.

23rd Jan 2016 6:47pm

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4662

It is just a simple test to show if there is any "life" left in the oil. It is not ment to take the place of indepth laboratory testing. I am also aware of the dangers of used engine oil but the amount is miniscule and would only be applied to the fingers very occasionally. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

24th Jan 2016 11:20am

Supacat

Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green

I'm sure it can't hurt - might give it a try next time the bonnet is up

25th Jan 2016 9:13am

jimbob7

Member Since: 06 Jul 2013
Location: uk
Posts: 2055

AFTER A FRESH OIL change I can always hear the engine (tappets) getting noisier after only a couple of weeks. Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5.

25th Jan 2016 3:40pm

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