Can you "feel" a difference after a regular oil change?

Is it possible to feel a difference (smoothness, better acceleration,
etc.) after a normal-interlude oil change? Someone is claiming this and
I think it's just their imagination, but I was wondering if there'd be
any technical reason. I can't think of one, unless the oil was quarts
low or something drastic, which it wasn't.

Thanks--
Al

 

Strictly imagination. Of course, perhaps that would be the case if you
never performed the required maintenance on time.

 

Not unless someone noticed a loose plug wire and stuck it back on or
something like that .....

 

of course you could, although it really depends on the state of the old
oil.

usually, oil goes up in viscosity as particle load increases with age,
so the engine will be having to work very slightly harder against that.
you'd not expect a big difference on changing to fresh, but it can be
there. i doubt that recreational oil changers that compulsively do it
every 2k miles will notice anything.

 

No alterations will be felt simply by the fact of the oil change.

Psychologically though, some may feel as though the car is running better
because they've done something "good" for the car.

 

Of course you can! Just like after a nice wash and wax. Everything is
smooth and powerful. At least, that's the way it is with me.
jor

 

Hi,
Yes for sure.

 

I notice the engine runs a little smoother with fresh oil.

 

http://www.bishopsperformance.com/dynoinfo.htm

this is not a great link, but it's quick.

"Another little known fact is that the type and weight of oil can affect
the power as well. Pure synthetic oil can easily show a 1% - 3% or
greater increase in horsepower compared to conventional petroleum based
oil."

the same applies for older more viscous oil.

 

Main thing I notice is the used oil kills the weeds along the fence.
Here's some reading for ya,
$10 Million, Just for Motor Oil
The most advanced piece of technology in a Nascar vehicle these days
isn't its engine, its suspension or anything made of carbon fiber. It's
the motor oil.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123932274269507173.html

 

I notice if you lived where I live, you'd have to pay a hefty fine and
clean it up at enormous expense...

 

It's OK here, and it works great as termite preventer. I
"scientifically" applied a few gallons to a section of fence with a
Wagner spray gun and no termites on that section after 15 years, they
went through the rest like a buzz saw. Neighbor thought I was running a
tattoo gun and came over to see what kind of rig I was running.

 

When I was a kid and we had to put in new fence posts, we routinely soaked
the bottom foot or so in old drain oil. Did that now I'd be in jail. And
no, I've never noticed anything after an oil change as far as performance.
But I seldom go as far as 4000 miles as I prepayed for 3000/3month "free"
lifetime oil/filter changes.

Ron in Idaho

 

I notice my wallet is lighter.

 

People claim a lot of things. I.e. they claim they can feel the
difference between synthetic base stock oil and petroleum base stock
oil, but of course they can't.

 

except that you can measure the difference on a dyno. 1-3% in not
trivial. that means you'll be a cars length ahead of the guy that
started beside you by the end of the block.

 

That's for sure.

 

A car's length? It would be hard to feel the difference in
acceleration. Plus, you would have to floor it to feel the difference.

No, it's one's imagination.

Jeff

 

not good at math - are you.

 

What's rather amusing is that even companies like Exxon-Mobile have
never claimed, nor of course proven, an increase in MPG from synthetic
base stock oil. Of course you see claims all over the map from Amsoil's
multi-level-marketing distributors.

Of course there are benefits to synthetic base stock oil in some
circumstances, such as extremely cold climates. For most people,
synthetic is simply throwing money away, other than the fact that it
makes them feel good by believing they are doing something good. It's
rather like a religion.