Hello,

Some advise...

Wer'e going on a 1500 mile trip towing a 4500 loaded TT. I have 1500 non towing miles on the last oil change and was wondering if fresh oil would be necessary? I hate to change it with only 1500 easy miles. I'm new to towing so any advice would be appreciated.

 

I'm sure you will get someone that says, "hey, it's cheap insureance and protection so why not..."

Most every oil is rated for a minimum of 8k miles...Even the cheap ones. Most of us change it between 3.5k and 5k. Your oil is still virtually new. I'd wait till you got back and change it.

 

hey, it's cheap insureance and protection so why not...

 

Year? Engine? How many miles? What oil is in it now?

Have you looked/read your Maintenance Guide?

 

It depends on what kind of oil you're using (dino or synthetic, cheap or high quality), what kind of non-towing driving you're doing, what service intervals your owner's manual recommends and how cautious (or paranoid) you are.

 

Just because you drop a trailer tongue down on a hitch ball does not mean your engine is experiencing Severe Service. How big is your trailer? What is the terrain you'll tow on? How frequently will you be running up hill at WOT in a lower gear to maintain speed?

It is possible that your towing miles will be better on your oil because it's a long trip with a warm engine, meaning few cold starts.

 

You'll be fine with the oil that's in it now... Check it often while towing (do a walk around the trailer each time too).. I check mine at various gas stops along the way, just for my own piece of mind.. Take extra oil with you so you don't have to pay for more on the road, as you will likely need to add some along the way on a road trip like that... Don't forget the trans fluid too...

Good luck and have a safe and great trip!

Mitch

 

Changing the oil would be like eating a lot of spicy Mexican food, then wiping before you take a crap. It's pointless.

 

Thanks for the responses. The truck is 5.4, 3.73, with 35K miles. I use the Motorcraft Ford recomended simi-synthetic. I do all the routine maintenance. Turns out we shortedn the trip to lees than 1K miles so I left the oil.