Change the oil fast!! As the car is driven oil additives break down due to heat, dirt and contamination from gas and moisture and keeps varnish and othe deposits from building up. If not removed these deposits will clog up the oil passages and damage the bearings leading to engine failure. Filters take out the dirt, or most of it anyway but you still need to change the oil regularly!! Also don't just change the oil, you need to flush the engine out too. Slick 50 and the other additives reduce friction which reduces wear, that doesn't mean quit changing the oil. I just hope you haven't damaged the engine already, good luck! Dave U. 81 Imp 02 Stratus (wifes car) 94 Dakota -----Original Message----- From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of George Laurie Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 7:06 AM To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: IML: An oily question On the oil for older cars Question, I have never owned a newer car, and never will ( could not afford one if I wanted it anyway ) so I have driven a lot of miles in the likes of 58/59 Desoto's etc, and here in Australia where we do not have to worry about Freezing, I always have found a straight 50 Grade oil suites these old girls the best. I have even done my far share of Drag racing ( on a Drag Strip ) with 361,383,413 Motors so I sure have tryed to stress them to the max, and it has been the straight 50 grade that has held them together. Now to take it one step further I am now a firm beliver in some of the oil aditives now available, I use slick 50, it is very expensive, but it does work. Three years ago I changed the oil in my 71 318V8 Valiant Wagon and added the Slick 50, since then I have NEVER changed the oil, and as it has a leak, I only buy the cheapest/nasteyest oil form KMart etc, this stuff is so thin it is a wonder it does not evaperate in the Can! and let me tell you I give that old 318 a Hard time! it still runs quite and blows NO smoke, so I am a beliver. Just one mans humble opinon from Down Under, regards George.