Hey guys and gals,

I've got a '05 F150 4x4 with about 44,000 miles. I'm putting about 6000 on it per year right now, driving it once or twice a week to get the fluids and stuff warmed up and moving around.

Question is, how often should I change the oil since I drive it so little? I never have gone with the 3 month rule but now I'm getting close to a year before I hit 5000 miles (the Ford recommended change interval). Is that too long to wait before changing the oil?

Once a week it gets a good drive, up to full operating temp, etc. But other than that it's hit and miss how much it gets driven.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

 

they say every 3000 miles or 6 months but thats just what i heard

 

I've driven my '08 less than 4k per year and do the oil change in the spring. If I averaged my miles since new it works out to be 3666 miles/yr. I do drive it every week and usually up to op. temp.

 

Use a good synthetic oil and have your oil tested one year after your oil change. If it looks good I would go 2 years between oil changes.

 

I change mine every 5,000 miles, but I put on about 10,000 miles a year. I'm sitting a little over 20,000 miles right now, so I need to take care of it this weekend.

 

I'm going different than most, I'd say every 3k miles or twice a year whichever comes first. My T-Bird gets little driving now days and I change the oil every spring and fall if not sooner. It's not so much mileage as contaminents and moisture in the crankcase that I'm trying to minimize.

For what it costs to do an oil change, it's cheap at twice the price if it helps preserve your vehicle IMO.

 

Depends on the usage of the vehicle. The key here is going to be when you do use the vehicle, make sure it is at full running temp at least 30 minutes before shutting it down. If you are doing that, change every 5000 miles. If the runs are shorter and the engine sometimes does not get to full temp especially in the winter, change every 3 months regardless of miles. AVOID any synthetic oils unless you like seeing extremely high wear metals that will show up in spectroscopy. Synthetics are lousy when it comes to corrosion protection and corrosion will be your biggest enemy in an engine that sits. Pennzoil, Motorcraft, Kendall, Chevron, Valvoline blends will be the best choice of products for you.
FWIW, I have a one of seven 1989 LSC with a highly modded factory 5.0 under the hood. The car is a garage queen. I put maybe as much as 250 miles a year on it and the oil gets changed per analysis report. I haven't changed it in 4 years and the oil is still doing fabulous. But when I drive it the engine runs at least 30 minutes to get rid of moisture which causes sludge and to burn off contaminants.

 

pics????

 

I appreciate all the insight. Thanks.

 

Yeah I want to see that too

 

So, Labnerd..if I am reading this correctly I am in the wrong using a high end synthetic oil ? Currently using Amsoil 0-20 and change about every 5000 mi and usually about twice a year (overkill for the oil..I know). I have an 07 with only 36,000 on the clock..you can do the math on yearly usage, I do value your input here..I thought I was doing my engine no harm , but now I am not sure...your input very welcome here.