Just wondering what most people do concerning oil changes. Do you change oil every 3,000 miles or every 3 months? Sometimes it takes me up to 4 months to put 3,000 miles on my vehicle if end up making more shorter trips instead of long road trips. So, please let me know what you guys do. Thanks.

 

I use Valvoline Durablend and change it every 3,000 miles. Some guys go 5,000 miles, and others that use stright synthetic oil go longer.

I change at 3k regardless if it takes me 2 months or 8 months to reach 3k. I would say don't worry about the time it takes to get to 3k, unless it is something like a year or longer. To be honest I don't know when someone should change oil in a truck/car that has just been sitting around for along time like 1 - 4 years, or driven very rarely where maybe it takes a year to reach 3k.

Hopefully someone will come along that knows more about that and if oil degrades as it sits and when it should be changed regardless if it has 50 miles on it or none.

I see that your new so welcome to the boards. You will find alot of people here with alot of excellent information to offer you.

 

i change the oil in my HD every 5K miles, or twice a year. On my 85 f150, it only gets about 4K miles on it a year, and i would usually change that one every 5K, but i've noticed the dip stick was rusty from condensation in there. So i change the oil on that truck twice a year regardless of how many miles

 

i put in Mobil 1 10w 30 FULL synthetic in a while ago and ive got 5,300 miles on it so far. i dont plan on changing it till about 6,000 or so. Ive checked tthe dipstick and no loss of oil and it still looks pretty clean. These new synthetic oils are made for longevity, so if youre going to pay extra money for a great product, there no need to get rid of something thats still good after only 3,000 miles IMHO.
-Patrick

 

the oil industries 3 mos/3k miles suggestion is set up on the same principal that you tell your friend who is always late to be at your house at 7 when you plan on leaving at 8. if it takes you 4 months or even 5 months to accumulate 3k miles then that is no problem, as long as your car is regularly driven far enough to reach its operating temperature for a good while, this is what rids your oil of the condensation that is acquired from the short trips. when you just drive far enough to get the motor hot, and then shut it off and let it cool for several hours, it will build up condensation in the oil. it takes a good 30 to 45 minute drive after reaching operating temp to get rid of this condensation. however if you dont drive much, and your car gets grandmas "groceries, doctors office and church routine" then you shouldnt let it go more than 6 mos. regardless of the milage driven. you can normally spot the cars at the used lot that have had woo long between oil changes and had a lot of "short trip driving" theses are the ones that have the light brown slime with white streaks in it on the bottom of the oil cap" or the "rusty dipstick" and thats when ya drop the hood and say thanks anyway.

 

in most cases TIME is more important than mileage. Because acid builds up in the oil. That is why corvettes, benz, porche, bmw, etc. use an acid oil analyzer sensor to determine when to change the oil and they no longer use mileage ones.

However as stated above new oils are much better and if you happen to take 4-5 months to get to 3k I wouldn't worry about it.

Now with all the piston slap and start-up noise these trucks make I definitely would NOT reccomend any 10w-xx oils.

 

The oil manufacturers recommend every 3 months or 3,000 miles, whatever comes first. Ford recommends every 5,000 miles and I'm not sure about a time requirement, but I think it may be 5 months.

This is due to the fact that time will breakdown an oil just as quick as use will once it has been exposed to the engine.

Like hcmq posted, the more expensive / refined German vehicles have a sensor with an idiot light on the dash that tells you when the oil has broken down enough to change. Some people are getting 9,000+ miles out of an oil change. I'm sure the petrolium companys love this!

 

I change every 5,000 miles in my work trucks and with them time is not a factor as it only takes me 5-6 weeks to log that amount of mileage.

I have had many a truck that I've gotten 150,000 or more miles out of with very little problem. No special syn oils, etc. just a good ole fashion oil change.

I know many (quick change, etc.) people swear by the 3k or 3 months interval and most manufactures streach them out to as much as 7,500 miles. I figure it's far easier to look at the odometer and know that as I approach yet another 5k, it's time.

 

This reply is of course just my opinion. I think the oil industry and quick change centers have a 3,000 or 3 months gimmick for one reason only, that is to MAKE MORE MONEY. If a vehicle runs 12,000 miles in a year the quick change places get 4 oil changes a year. If a manufacturer recommends changes every 5,000 miles the quick change centers only get 2.4 average changes per year. If you calculate this by the number of cars a certain company run through each year it adds up to alot of additional revenue. THINK ABOUT IT!

 

What weight of oil is the best for all weather conditions??

Sorry to get off the topic.

 

you have a good point AllensF150. All the oils say change every 3K miles. But when you go to ford or look in your manual, it says every 5K. I've been doing that on my 85 since it was brand new and its still running great and doesn't burn a drop of oil.

 

JOSHO66---->
I run Mobil 1 5w-30 fulll synthetic year round. I think this is the best to run for all temps.
-Patrick

 

yup, i use 5w30 quaker state year round also in my HD
and 10W40 penzoil in my 85 and also slick 50 every other oil change on it

 

5w-30 Redline every 5,000 mi. (my truck 01)

10w-30 Mobile 1 every 5,000 mi. or 3/months (father's truck 97)



both are 4.6's

 

Mobil 1 SS 0W30 on Oct.1 + Feb. 1, then Mobil 1 SS 5W30 on June 1 for the hotter months.....Mobil 1 oil filter of course, average about 9K miles/ yr.

Used to have a minor "ticking" noise for a few seconds after startup, has disappeared after using M1 SS 0W30.