I have been wrestling with how often oil and filter changes need to be done, ever since I bought a new vehicle with a factory computer that tells me when my oil needs to be changed.
I use regular Dino oil...Quaker State.
I have always changed the oil and filter at 3000 mile intervals, for going on 40 years.
I've never had an engine related, internal problem in all those years, with many vehicles. I live in an area where the temperature goes from -40 or so to around 100 F, through winter and season.
Many of my vehicles have been used for towing during the hot summer and see lot's of short , city trips during the winter.
I've got a couple of 2007 gas fueled vehicles.
Sometimes when I change the oil/filter @ 3000 miles, the computer says my oil and I'm assuming filter too, is still good for another 3000 + miles or so.
But I'm set in my ways, 3000 miles oil and filter change has always worked for me. The other consideration I think about, is that I know I will be driving my vehicles well beyond any factory warranty, possibly 200,000 miles + and many years..so I think I will be financially responsible for any engine wear needing to be repaired , possibly a long time from now, but still there.
I always recall the old Fram filter ad about changing oil and filters regularly. You know, pay me a little now, or a lot later.
Am I wasting my money, or am I just being wise ?
Opinions, welcomed.
* This post was
edited 08/20/08 11:02am by lesmore49 *
Read the motor oil thread there are many opinions, however go with what works for you. Mine get changed every 15-20k miles and filter gets changed twice in that interval but I use synthetic always have and always will. I like you have never had any motor related issues.
I started with 2000 mile oil and filter change intervals when I started driving 40 years ago. My last oil change was with some 6,700 miles on the oil in my diesel. I have been making the change in interval by using oil analysis. If you don't trust your onboard oil computer you can do an oil analysis at 3,000 miles then increase the interval by 500 miles each time it comes back being good and stopping or backing up when you need to. Oil analysis runs $15 to $25 per sample and is available from your local NAPA store or Blackstone plus other sources.
Try it and satisfy your curiosity and it will answer your questions.
Steve and Gayle
2004.5 Dodge 3500 4X4, SRW, QC, SLT, LB, NV-5600, 3.73 AS, 325/600 Cummins
Wasting your hard earned $$$/ Read your owners manual!!! My '05 Dodge CTD says towing/dity conditions---7500 miles. Regular duty---15,000 miles. Engineers know more than I do so I listen to them. Filter and oil. Fuel every 15,000. I use Shell Rotella full synthetic. Oil is well engineered now. No Quaker State for me as it used to gum my big block Chevy up. Old habits ................JMHO
The 3000 mile oil change was valid back in the 40's thru the 60's with old bearing technology, leaded fuel, etc but the clean fuels today and modern materials, go with the computer and change at 35% or so. On the Caddy, thats about every 5000 miles, wifey's Honda is more like 7000-8000. The Honda's oil never gets black.
The service manager at my dealer says it's OK to trust the oil change light. GM uses an algorithm based on literally millions of miles of data.
That said, for around town driving I go with the oil reminder light. For towing it's 3000 miles. I've also heard the latest oil formulation uses less zinc and using a can of GM EOS isn't a bad idea especially in older vehicles.
"A bad day of camping is better than a good day at work."
'04 GMC Envoy & '05 Travel Star 21SSO
17' Wenonah Kevlar & 16' Dagger Royalex canoes http://community.webshots.com/user/mbopp0153
Turbo Diesel Dude wrote: Wasting your hard earned $$$/ Read your owners manual!!! My '05 Dodge CTD says towing/dity conditions---7500 miles. Regular duty---15,000 miles. Engineers know more than I do so I listen to them. Filter and oil. Fuel every 15,000. I use Shell Rotella full synthetic. Oil is well engineered now. No Quaker State for me as it used to gum my big block Chevy up. Old habits ................JMHO
Right on Charles. The guys that design, test, manufacture, and guarantee these units are trying to tell you something. They're also trying to save you a bit of time and money. No one said you have to listen to them, but you should consider it.
I don't have any motor troubles because I carry a lucky charm... One thing has nothing to do with the other. You can't prove a negative with no data.
Oh yeah, the initial oil change interval on my Cummins is 20,000 miles. We should do that in less than a year, and that's when I'll change it. Read the book.
John
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