Oil change frequency:

[Jimmielee]

Im a little confused about when to change the oil in my 2013 Thor Tuscany 36 xte 360 engine. I had oil,and all fuel and air filters changed inJanuary 2020..I have driven exactly 3,250 mile in 10 camping trips this year. Now I’m told of the oil has been in the engine for a year it MUST BE CHANGED. What say you experts?

 

[Bob Denman]

Engine oil changes usually have both mileage and time parameters. One year between changes is pretty normal.

 

[Jimmielee]

Engine oil changes usually have both mileage and time parameters. One year between changes is pretty normal.

Thanks for the fast reply Bob

 

[Bob Denman]

That's what we're here for: to help one another.

Well... that: and the S'mores!

 

[lwmcguire]

Im a little confused about when to change the oil in my 2013 Thor Tuscany 36 xte 360 engine. I had oil,and all fuel and air filters changed inJanuary 2020..I have driven exactly 3,250 mile in 10 camping trips this year. Now I’m told of the oil has been in the engine for a year it MUST BE CHANGED. What say you experts?

Personally I would get an oil analysis and most likely not change it since it is a diesel and holds about 26 quarts

I change my ISL at 15K and it could easily go further based on oil analysis

Fuel filters definitely don't need exchanged unless you bought from several no name stations.

However as Bob noted the manuals for most engines say once per year, go with what ever you feel OK about

 

[ducksface]

The time thing is a marketing ploy.
It's been in the ground for a bazillion years and in the system for maybe 10 years.
Some machinery goes literally forever without an oil change.
Fuel does get past the rings and can dilute, but that's not a time thing.

I believe it's a hanger-on from the 6 months or 3,000 mile hypnosis of the 1950's

Lots of youtube videos to help you decide.

And
3250 miles is four day trip on tractor trailer rigs.
That would be 6+ oil changes per month for a driving team.

 

[10scDust]

I change mine every 5K miles, unless it looks or smells bad on the dipstick.

 

[Jimmielee]

You guys are very helpful on this site

 

[TripleGGG]

I follow the 1 year or 15k mile rule. Low, irregular miles can create its on set of issues. Running is actually much better for engines than not. Reason I like some decent hours per year on generators. A 10 year old generator with 150 hours or a 10 year old engine with 4k miles may not be a good thing.

With that said everyone will have varying opinions. Big thing is have some schedule and follow it.

 

[Judge64]

The old time and mileage parameters for oil changes were based on conventional motor oils. Today's full synthetic oils can go further and longer.

That is why most manufacturers use the onboard computer to tell you when it is time to change the oil. It is based on how the engine is being used and how it is running.

Most synthetics can go 7500 mile and well over a year between oil changes.

The only caveat is if you are operating in extremely duty conditions, pulling heavy loads often and / or running in extreme temperatures.

 

[Bob Denman]

So what kind of oil to use?
I prefer peanut oil: it makes everything taste better.

 

[lwmcguire]

Ever since the advent of the engine monitor computer I have utilized it for the road vehicles. I do use synthetic oil and synthetic oil filter and typically 7500 miles

On the diesels usually 15,000 or more miles and dino oil

On the off road equipment typically 5000 miles an if were experiencing dust storms that gets dropped to 1/2 with the air filters checked as needed and cleaned or replaced

Never lost an engine due to running long oil change intervals in 70 or so years so sure not going to change anything I do now

I never did subscribe to the 3000 mile BS even with the old oil

Now if there had been a cutie working in the oil bay maybe it would have been different

 

[Johnhf]

After my first oil change which is covered by my dealer, I will be using a oil analysis service.

It will give me the condition of the fluid and let me know should anything out of the ordinary be going on internally with the diesel engine.

https://www.amsoil.com/p/oil-analyz...c_lcid=t6270944077840384lw6606218217553920li0

 

[ducksface]

My wife used to drive an acquaintances vehicle to the gas station to have the oil changed every 6 months almost to the day.
It's all the car did for 8 years, be driven to the shop, oil changed and driven back.
Wife would warm it to temp, drive it the station, they'd charge five bucks to let it sit there for half a day, wife would go get it, warm it up, drive it back.
The widow thought she was being given a long time customer discount, the shop wasn't ripping her off,

Something like 52 miles in 8 years.
A 72 nova six cylinder if I remember correctly.

Some people do stuff.
This made the widow happy to be honoring her husband's rules.

Oil changes are as much religion as they are science.

 

[Bob Denman]

Ducky,
That's actually a very touching story: thanks for telling it!

 

[HarryS-THOR]

After my first oil change which is covered by my dealer, I will be using a oil analysis service.

It will give me the condition of the fluid and let me know should anything out of the ordinary be going on internally with the diesel engine.

https://www.amsoil.com/p/oil-analyz...c_lcid=t6270944077840384lw6606218217553920li0

If your vehicle is under a drivetrain warranty, you will want to follow their requirements for oil change, else you chance having a voided warranty.

 

[Lt Keefer]

I follow the owners manual for the chassis. The internet and forums are full of worthless information as to 'proper' procedures. The chassis manufacturer has tons of engineering data as well as real world testing data. They also take into account what the bean counters say to make sure a vehicle lasts for the warranty period. All this added together and round down to the nearest break even point tells them what to put in the book. I will take that info any day over whatever Cousin Eddie says on a forum.

 

[raffaelli]

I follow the manufactures recommendations in the manual assuming extreme conditions on all my vehicles.

 

[jr_nicholson]

I only change the oil when the engine "change oil light comes on" automatically

Today's newer engines are very intelligent.

I apply this same method to my gas cars, SUV and diesel trtuck engines.

 

[Bob Denman]

So do I.
But it always comes down to the time parameters for me.