Ray, have you priced oil lately? There's not that much difference between cheap dino oil and Mobil 1, all things considered. You still have to buy a filter. You still have to do the work. You still have to dispose of the old oil. It's not overkill.

If you're considering the ATF clean-out, I'd add two points to what FastEddy already stated (correctly, as always). He's probably suggesting to add the ATF to new oil because the ATF cleans so much. You'd want the max oil additive package from new oil to help protect the engine and to keep the crud in suspension. And adding ATF to an already full engine can mean overfilling it. This isn't good, so don't do it.

I actually went to the extra step of sending my used oil to Blackstone labs. With 176,000 miles on the engine and 5000 on the oil change, they made the suggestion to try 7000 miles and re-analyze. They didn't "look" at the oil and say that. It's a chemical analysis and testing with equipment you don't have. There are often local places that do an analysis profile. Try a heavy equipment dealer/rental place.

Or continue living in the dark ages. I'll bring candles if I stop by.

John B.