Oil changes

greg334 · Mar 4, 2006

This is really directed to van owners, but may apply to other trucks.

I am wondering about something, why do people change their oil so much?

I ran across a couple van owners who literally change their oil every week (I donâ€™t think these vans get over 2000 miles a week), a few get to 3000 miles and zip, it is changed. A couple is using Mobile one, which I think it is truly a waste.

I am changing my oil between 6000 and 9000 miles depending on how much I idle, the less idling the more I go between changes. My oil analysis come back great, nothing out of range and I am thinking of putting on a by pass oil filter set to extend the oil change. I was thinking about an Olberg filter instead of the dual Amsoil by pass filter, but the one I have it for large trucks and beside that it may be too fine of a filter.

Now before you say I am wrong in my way of thinking, let me tell you I have had vehicle engines last over 500K without any problems, one 650K (Dodge 3500 Cummins) with a by pass system and 25K oil changes with synthetic oil.

What are your thoughts?

MSinger · Mar 4, 2006

1997 Dodge Ram 3500 with 12' cube. Dock high with jackstands. 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel.

I just turned 502K on the above truck. I usually intend to due oil changes every 7500 miles but when I actually get around to doing it, it seems to be more like 9500-10,000. I've never done an oil analysis but have never touched the engine other than routine PM. Still purrs like a kitten.
I think the public has been bamboozled by the "Quickie Lubes" who harp on the every 3000 mile oil change to effect their bottom line.
Most factory owners manuals recommend 7500 mile intervals unless the vehicle falls into the severe service area i.e. police, taxi and US postal use.
I think with our extremely high volume of interstate only miles we should be fine with a 7500 mile interval.
Just my 2 cents (which was 6 cents before taxes)

OntarioVanMan · Mar 5, 2006

I have a Dodge 3/4T 1999 gaser 318 with about 509k engine never touched it is in retirement now. (backup truck)
I am about the same as msinger for doing oil changes around 10000k's depending on how much city and idling. About twicw a year an engine flush.

Crazynuff · Mar 5, 2006

Frequent oil changes are required under warranty . After that I would go with an auxilary oil filter and oil analysis .

klippencott · Mar 5, 2006

Here's the reason I do oil changes more frequent than the mfg recommends.

I didn't start frequent changes till I had an engine that had to be rebuilt. When I pulled the engine on a van I owned several years ago I found the entire upper half of the engine had oil burnt and caked to the heads and intake anywhere from a 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. It was the biggest mess I had seen inside an engine. Since that experience I change oil more often. I use Mobile 1 in one of my vans and regular oil in the other. If after 200k or more these vans are clean I may change back to more miles between changes.

If a person is using Amsoil and fully trusts it I guess all you need do is change the filter. I have not tried it yet but I like what I read about it. I know one person that swears by it and my next new vehicle or engine will get Amsoil as soon as I drive it home.

As I read the post a few days ago about the Sprinter engine being caked over with burnt oil and had flashbacks of the one I had (not a Sprinter). I guess its all about where your comfort level is. I sure don't want my Sprinter engine getting in that shape. Oil is cheap compared to the expense and time it takes to rebuild an engine.

I'm not as worried about the oil in my FL70. The Cummins engine has lots of air and water cooling areas, the oil ports inside the engine are large, giving the oil plenty of room to drain and cool. I also has a seperate oil cooler.

davekc · Mar 5, 2006

As long as it doesn't void the warranty, I would go with the oil tests to determine change intervals. You can also have a filter checked to determine change intervals on that. You may be able to go to 12,000 if tests results are good, and change the filter at 6,000.
The only issue with extended drains is not to neglect lubrication of other components.

Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator

ATeam · Mar 5, 2006

Greg334 said, "This is really directed to van owners, but may apply to other trucks. I am wondering about something, why do people change their oil so much?"

I've wondered the same thing. At the MATS truck show two years ago I was impressed by a truck manufacturer's exhibit that has a 1,000,000 mile plus engine fully disassemled and on display. It looked good! It was documented as having nothing special done to it except regular maintenance per the owner's manual.

Class-eight expediting C and D-units are used to haul light freight. They haul nowhere near the weight 18-wheelers do. Idling takes a toll but that can be all but eliminated with an APU (generator). Expediters in C and D-units log mostly highway miles, not inner-city miles.

Yet I've met many that boast about how they change their oil more frequently than the manufacturer recommends. For some, it seems like they are upholding a religious belief in frequent oil changes. Each has his or her own reasoning about this practice, reasoning that will be enthusiastically defended if questioned. A simple question like, "Wouldn't changing your oil every 15,000 miles instead of 10,000 save you some money?" will, in some cases, prompt an emotional response that tells you it's best to change the subject.

While too-frequent oil changes certainly don't hurt a truck, they can hurt the bottom line. Especially with a brand-new truck purchase where the driver is in full control of how the truck is used and maintained, extra-frequent oil changes seem to me to provide little benefit for the costs involved.

highway star · Mar 5, 2006

There's a mention in this thread that 3,000 mile oil change is a rip-off. It's appropriate for the way most people use their cars. 10 miles to work, 3 miles to the store, ect. This is the type of useage that is hard on oil. Certainly, it is overkill for an expediter.

I go 6-8k on my Powerstroke. When I looked at what I would save in a years time if I went to 10k I decided to stay with my program. Cheap insurance. 850k plus and still going strong. I'd like to go for the million but the body is starting to show its age. We'll see.

Moot · Mar 5, 2006

I change oil every 6000-7000 miles on my Chevy gasser. My wife and kids cars I change every 3000 miles. I consider short stop and go trips severe service.

davekc · Mar 5, 2006

Keep in mind that alot of the time it is not necessarily the dirt that is the problem. Over time because of heat and other factors the viscosity breaks down.
Just something to keep in mind.

Davekc
owner
21 years
PantherII
EO moderator