With my car, it's recommended every 8000km... But I'm not going to wait until it's all dirty in my engine before changing it! The way I understood it was that these higher intervals advertized were just that, advertizing. Who wouldn't want to buy a car that needs less maintenance? By the time the less frequent maintenance has any effect on the engine, it's no longer under warranty. So, if you love your car, change oil, transmission fluid, etc. frequently

 

It will take you alot longer than 38 hours to get to Toronto. I've done the trip multiple times in other vehicles.

Advice. Always have a spare. Or Two. When one goes (and it will) get it fixed as soon as possible.

Saskatechwan has rough roads.

Going through the states to reach toronto will save 1 to 2 days.

Theres a stretch of the number one in ontario wheres theres no gas stations for about 400kms. I dont remember the exact number but they are faaaaaar apart.\

Trip takes 4-5 days in reality with one driver. Maybe 3 to 4 with two. Hard to sleep in those bucket seats.


BEWARE THE 401!!!!!


As for a healthy car and maintenance? I put 4000kms on my 2005 Mazda Miata and on my way to Kelowna the transmission failed. It was later determined it was a factory defect and it was repaired, towed and shipped from BC (still being shipped) for free. You will not be so lucky if such a thing occurs. West to East is a long trip. Drive softly. Oh and radar detectors are illegal in Ontario.

 

Bah!


Ya just gotta pick yer time of day to use it.


Rotary-Dragon - tell us when you're passing through and from what direction and maybe we'll give you an escort. Make a mini meet of it.

 

With the length of warranties getting longer and longer, I don't think the logic fits manufacturers fudging the interval longer for advertising purposes - especially since I doubt many purchasers pay attention to service intervals or costs. From the tests I've seen, even manufacturers err far on the side of caution with their recommended intervals. I think it was in Grassroots Motorsports that there was an article in the last year on oil performance - I seem to recall something to the effect that a C5 vette that was being used to test oil durability - and that after 20000miles on Mobil 1, the first oil they tried, it still was tested as having something like 30%+ life left, based on viscosity, contamination, and additive package against spec. I think they gave up on trying to "wear out" the oil and moved on to the next brand to continue the test. And I've heard of a racer who works at a GM dealership, and when people bring in their 'Vettes for service way earlier than required, often at 7.5-10k kms even though the oil life indicator, and apparently conservatively accurate measure, shows 70% or better, reuses the oil in his racer - free high quality oil. We don't use synthetics, so we can't expect 20000 mile+ life, but 15000km is realistic, even if I don't feel comfortable trying it - I love my car, and even though I'm draining out oil that's clear and hard to see on the dipstick, just like when it goes in, I do it - mostly because its a simple, relatively cheap way to make me feel good.

 

Or you can use the patented Amur technique for determining oil change intervals:


- if the oil is getting dark, change it.

- if it ain't. don't.