Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
I'm not convinced it does. Most engines outlast the car anyway these
days - unless they suffer a failure like a broken cambelt or cooling
system, neither of which will be prevented by frequent oil changes.

Er no.
They can still end up with worn bores and buggered bearings and burn oil
and then put a rod through the block.
Please name and shame so we know to avoid those makes.

Any car will do that if you abuse it with no oil and no filter cahnges
drive it hard and let it go past a point of no return

Err, I wasn't suggesting neglecting routine servicing. Just querying the
oft stated view that you need to change engine oil more often than the
maker says.

It wasn't clear that was what you were doing to me, sorry.

And why just engine oil? Surely if there is some conspiracy to make
engines fail early even when serviced by the book, it would also apply to
every other part of the car which uses a lubricant?

There is no conspiracy beyond cheapness.

The Germans and then the Japs started the ball rolling when they
installed really good automatic lathes and grinders to polish and shape
parts to exact tolerances, and then when they also used top grade
materials, their engines started to last, and British ones did not.

End of British mass car industry. People didn't like all that servicing.

Add in EFI and electronic ignition and another source of wear problems
and potential engine damage went..engines get better BUT they are
always the weak inside and the primary bearings take massive side loads
as well.

So whilst a differential these days barring corrosion damage to oil
seals, is almost oil sealed for life, the engine still isn't.

Bit of carbon and metal dust will accumulate in the oil: The filter is
supposed to take out the worst.. but wear still is happening...