Chain driven engines - oil

**PeterVV** · 21st November 2009, 16:39

My 1.2 Corsa hasnt even done 3k yet since the last oil change and the oil looks worse than the oil in my missus Vectra which has done 8k since its last change?
Both cars had GM oil.
Is it just me or does the oil get dirty quicker in smaller chain driven engines?

**Graham** · 21st November 2009, 16:45

Might depend on what type of driving you do in the Corsa. If its town work only, stop start short journeys then yes the oil will deteriate very quickly. I change my wifes Corsa every 5k cos its only used on short journeys.

But i also change the Vectra as well every 5k cos i think it makes the engine last longer.

**mattv6diesel** · 21st November 2009, 16:51

the quality of oil change cause if you dont drain the oil with the filter housing removed vacume holds around 1/2 a ltr of black old oil inside the motor

**the-wizard** · 21st November 2009, 17:32

my lad has a 1.2 y rg corsa-c 91k, and the oil stays fairly clean, ive tried it on fully synthetic this time to see how it goes, have you done a timing chain yourself ??, maybe doing sons shortly + wondered if its a pig or not.

**PeterVV** · 21st November 2009, 17:38

Motorway driving mon-fri in the corsa, always change the filter with the oil, as I dont see the point of not doing it, I have changed teh oil twice in the last year since I have had it, s I am suprised.
Mind you the oil isnt as thin as the veccy oil I use ( 10/40 semi synth in the corsa & 5/30 fully synth in the veccy ), so maybe that has something to do with it.

**fikse** · 22nd November 2009, 10:16

Originally Posted by PeterVV

Motorway driving mon-fri in the corsa, always change the filter with the oil, as I dont see the point of not doing it, I have changed teh oil twice in the last year since I have had it, s I am suprised.
Mind you the oil isnt as thin as the veccy oil I use ( 10/40 semi synth in the corsa & 5/30 fully synth in the veccy ), so maybe that has something to do with it.

I don't see any point not using the 5-30 even in the Corsa. The GM 5-30 is a HQ oil, good at removing dirt, and the oil last longer. The 5-30 should fit most of engines on the European market today.
I would check the breather hose for the valve cover, i.e. If you have a leakage/blockage of "something" in the internal breather system, you might get exhaust into the oil, making the oil dirty very quickly. Its many years since last time I was working on this problem, but as i recall it was a blocked, small airfilter in a breather hose from the valve cover who made the problem.
My experience is that a black/dark oil does not have to mean the oil is exhausted. What who is important is wether the oil still can make the oil film needed, and clean the engine.