Chage it or drive it: Your input

[sweeks]

I've only driven my 2500 approx 3300 miles since it's last oil change in May, '01. Trips were not short,generally minimum of 30 or more miles, just didn't drive it frequently, sat in the garage alot. Do I need to change the oil before going on a 1400 mile vacation(no towing involved)?I figure change the oil every 5000 miles, but thought I'd ask since it's got 13 months in the truck. Thanks for your input. SWW

 

[RottnDogue]

I would change it before the trip, but that's just me..... Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo.





Darren

 

[Bigsaint]

Ditto, I would change it as well, oil's cheap ( well, cheap enough).



Scott W.

 

[HC]

Ditto. Change it.

 

[lgibson]

When I attended Universal Tech. Inst. in Pheonix, we did a test on oil. We took a good engine, no mechanical defects, and ran it for about one hour. We changed the oil and filter. Again we started the engine and ran it for another hour. We checked the oil after running it, and it looked like new. We then sealed the engine to keep dust off of it. It was put in storage.



Six months later we pulled the engine out. Checked the oil, and it looked brand new. We then started the engine and checked the oil after it ran. In the first 10 minutes the oil was black as night. It looked like it had not been changed in 10,000 miles.

The oil broke down over time.



Change it.

 

[mberry]

Definitely change it!!

 

[sweeks]

Pretty convincing opinions . Convinced me to call and order the oil and a drain valve to my door and will change it next week BEFORE my trip. Thanks again, gentlemen .

 

[ISBPilot]

?????

How do you live without driving your truck no more than that?



I go through an oil change (5000 miles) ever couple of months.



Todd

 

[WTBurke]

I change oil and filter every 3000 miles. I drive a great deal and time wise it varies from 3 weeks to seven weeks to place 3000 miles on the OD. I drive a lot



William

 

[Chipstien]

Sweeks,

Being that your truck sits for long periods without driving you might want to consider using a synthetic oil. That way time shouldn't be as critical cause synthetic oils don't break down as quickly from just sitting.

 

[rraulston]

remember those old cars of the 60's. Just seemed to run for ever. i had 240,000 on a slant 6. changed it once a year maybe. oil changes are only PART of what keeps you going like the energizer bunny. worked for cat in the copper mines in AZ for 13 years as a lube tech. I bet if you did an oil anylisis now DIDNT change it and did one when you got back, there would be NO difference. Dont change it, run it and stick to a steady 5000 plus or minus 10% and you will be fine. I know paranoid people who changed theirs too often and ended up with shorter engine life!! Remember, a good majority of damage is on start up. But start up too many times on a dry oil filter. Yuk. (always prime them in case you didnt know that) RRR

 

[emarsh]

Yeah, my old boss always said a dirty filter cleans better than a new one. I only wish that he would have had his chance to prove it. I no longer work for stupid people.

 

[DocStressor]

sweeks - It would be very interesting to see analysis results on your oil after 13 months in the engine. I once had an analysis come back condeming the oil after only 3,800 miles over a period of 11 months in a gas engine. High particulates (probably from oxidation), fuel dilution, and low flash point. And that was with Mobile 1 synthetic! My driving was all short trips unlike yours. If you plan to continue driving (or not driving) your truck as you have been doing, it would be worth it to have an analysis done. That way you would know if you you can keep the oil you are using in there that long. Instead of listing to us experts (I'd say change it to be safe).



I'd recommend Oil Analyzers since they do oxidation, nitration, and TBN tests without charging extra.

 

[sweeks]

Thread went longer than I expected! An oil analysis would be interesting just to satisfy curiousity. Is it possible to get one done quickly in order to have time to change the oil before my trip on Sat, 6/22? I like the better safe than sorry approach but it'd be nice to get data from testing. Didn't mention what oil I ordered earlier so as not to start another oil debate war. It is a synthetic,though. All those high miles,you know?!

 

[Bigsaint]

I think you could get it done in time. I have only dealt with Blackstone, but they now have it set up so that they can email you the results. They state that they do the analysis the same day the sample is received. Give 'em a call and see if they can send out a sample kit pronto.



http://www.blackstone-labs.com/index.html



Scott W.