[OpenTrackRacer]

Question about the maximum amount of time one should allow between oil changes... This past year I've put less than 5,000 miles on my 2008 since the last oil and filter change (Rotella). Does anyone have thoughts on how long is too long to go without an oil change regardless of mileage?

Truck is bone stock and located in a temperate climate (SoCal). It's driven about 10 miles (round trip) to work 3-4 times a week plus a 25 mile drive one day a week (in addition to trips and other driving around town).

Thanks!

 

[drewactual]

you're not driving enough to heat the oil and allow contaminants to burn off... these engines shine when they stretch their legs out over a long haul... because you're driving it like that, I'd rec you run an oil such as Amsoil Marine, which meets CJ4 standards but doesn't carry the rating (it costs a lot to get SAE certified and Amsoil chose not to with that oil)... the Marine oil will disperse water better, and it has sufficient sheer strength (doesn't drip off easily on dormant engines internals) to counter the lack of use...

about the interval- I let laboratory results tell me when to change.. I've been as high as 14k miles before, but usually lose my nerve around 10k- but only because I have a larger sump than most, and use a bypass 2um filter... if I didn't, I'd never go past 5k... as far as time is concerned, and in your dryer environment, I'd use as high a quality oil as you can muster, use a shot of 9100 in it, and figure myself to be good for at least a year. Cheap oils are fine, especially when you drive a lot- for a rig not driven as much, I'd do higher quality oil...

 

[OpenTrackRacer]

Well, the daily work commutes really aren't enough for everything to warm up properly but the 25 mile drive should be sufficient I'd think. I also get the truck out on 500+ mile drives every few months.

The question is, do I worry only about mileage or also about the age of the oil itself?

 

[zedd]

IIRC, six months is the max they recommend. I think it's in the manual somewhere. FWIW, Honda says at least yearly. I certainly wouldn't go more than a year.

My $0.02 worth...

 

[ArcticDriver]

Have you considered sending an oil sample to a testing facility such as Blackstone Laboratory in Ft Wayne, IN ?

But I certainly think one year OCI is the longest you should stretch it.

 

[zedd]

FWIW...I just checked the maintenance schedule in the diesel supplement manual. For 'normal' operating conditions (whatever that is) they specify oil change every 10k miles but I didn't see any max time. For 'special' operating conditions (lots of idling, dusty or off-road, extreme cold, towing a trailer) it's 5k miles or 6 months (three months for cold or extended low speed). I think the consensus here is every 5k so I'd go with 5k miles/6 months max (which is indeed what I do).

 

[Radioflyer]

5K for fuel, engine oil, and engine oil filter since day one on my 6.4. Delo 15w-40 and it's held like a champ since. Haven't had a rocker issue, piston issue, or injector issue and I've put my engine through the ringer with dyno runs, 1/4 miles, towing heavy, daily driving, etc.

 

[ArcticDriver]

5K for fuel, engine oil, and engine oil filter since day one on my 6.4. Delo 15w-40 and it's held like a champ since. Haven't had a rocker issue, piston issue, or injector issue and I've put my engine through the ringer with dyno runs, 1/4 miles, towing heavy, daily driving, etc.

Cody, but the OP question was about time between intervals and not miles.

 

[Radioflyer]

Cody, but the OP question was about time between intervals and not miles.

Ahh..good point. i did not catch that. Thank you!

 

[ArcticDriver]

Ahh..good point. i did not catch that. Thank you!

Hey...thats not an answer.
Well, unless you are a politician :grin2:

 

[Radioflyer]

Hey...thats not an answer.
Well, unless you are a politician :grin2:

HAHAHAHA! Touche.

I would say for time interval, no more than 6-months.

 

[dieseldogtom]

6 Months!!! What are you guys, In the oil selling business???
1 year, 5000 miles. That's the gold standard under "normal" operating conditions. BUT, I have ALWAYS had a problem with that word "NORMAL"!!!
"I don't think that guy is normal"
"Does this seem normal to you?"
"Does this feel normal to you?"
"Does this sound normal to you?"
"I met that guy DieselDofTom, He's not NORMAL" LOL
Get my drift.
There's a LOT of conditional variables from one vehicle to the other so there is no "normal" time frame.
I'm doing less than 5000 miles a year this oil change interval so IIRC my last oil change was June 2019.
So I am over the 1 year mark & still about 1000 miles away from 5000. I suspect I will be changing oil around September or October. I sleep just fine at night with that & I'm not wasting any more money on oil test or early oil & filter changes. And I use inexpensive FL1995 filters & Dino Rotella 15W-40.
There certainly is a time & place to spend lots of extra money on lower micron filters & synthetic oil & magnets on the oil filter... But driving in "NORMAL" conditions doesn't cut it for my wallet.
The body of this van will rot off long before this 7.3 craps out due to extended time interval oil changes.
I'll save the $$ for Brake Pads & Tires & Wiper Blades & ............... My .02 cents DDT