oil change interval based on time?

[alexanderJ]

I have an "05 CTD that has the 7500 mile oil change interval based on towing/heavy use. Since 90% of my truck usage is towing and I only put about 5000 miles on it per year, I usually just change the oil and filter once a year. This is under the assumption oil breaks down over time (my feeble opinion).



This year I've only put about 2500 miles on the truck. I drive it to the store about once every 2 weeks to keep the battery charged and the seals lubed. I'm wondering why change the oil at this low mileage interval??



Could anyone point me to a website with some technical info on time based oil changes or the break down of oil over time?



thanks

 

[Grizzly]

I believe that the technical information you will receive is to change the oil every 3500 miles or every 6 months, whichever come first when you tow heavy. However in your case with only 2500 miles in one year, I believe once per year is sufficient for an oil change.



Having said that, I'm concerned with humidity, which depends on what part of the country your in. Your signature doesn't say. Too much humidity or too much dust may lead me to change the oil every 6 months.

 

[alexanderJ]

The '05 Dodge service manual places trailer towing under "schedule B" or every 7500 miles. It says nothing about a time factor.

I live in East Texas, which means no dust but high humidity. I've never really considered changes at less than every 12 months based on my miles driven. Maybe instead of thinking longer than 1 year I should be thinking shorter!

 

[steved]

"Bob is the oil guy" . . . Bob Is The Oil Guy


And in my opinion, I would change it once a year regardless of mileage (as long as you don't exceed the 7500 mile recommendation)...

 

[WMoroni]

I've got John Deere and Cummins power units on irrigation wells on my farm that I have been changing oil at intervals of once per year or 200 hours of use for years. Some of these are older than I am. If you don't change it at least once per year I would be scared of acid or moisture build up in the oil which I would think could be hard on the rod and main bearings.

 

[AABEN]

I thank once a year will be good

 

[nickleinonen]

i change mine about every 6 months [±1 month]. .

 

[Wingate]

AlexanderJ... . when did we start getting HIGH HUMIDITY here in East Texas??? I've lived here all my life and it seems like the air is dry too me!!! Sometimes we have engineers down here in August (they are from Illinois) When they get out of the rental car, it (the humidity) hits them like a ton of bricks... . hahaha. .

 

[DPKetchum]

I went 18 months and 3k this last time. Oil looked NEW still. Hated to pull the plug on it. Those long intervals is one reason I use the Amsoil full synthetic 15w40. Gives a little peace of mind. Another way to REALLY know is have a oil analysis done. Then no guessing or wasting of oil.

 

[JDerrick]

Oil sampling would be probably the best way to keep an eye on things with your engine. There have been MANY threads written on oil sampling , both here and in the magazine and im sure that a quick search on the web site would provide some very stimulating results, both fact and opinion. With me being a traditionalist and liking fresh oil in my cummins, the idea of oil sampling is very foreign to me but the nuts and bolts of it do make sense. For me now most of my driving is on the highway with some light stop and go traffic, my oil changes are normally between 3000 - 4000 miles. My old 99' ram normally saw severe off road service in very dusty conditions and also long and hard highway driving with very heavy stop and go traffic carrying a moderate load all the time in the hot desert in Las Vegas, NV. That truck very rarely saw an oil change that went beyond 2500-3000 miles. With your low mileage but heavy towing to me that is two opposite extremes that could possibly cause problems (acid, moisture, metals and contaminant build up) from sitting , and then hard use and sitting again, sampling is truly the only way to get good info about your oil. Who knows you might even be able to go 2 years or longer on one change of oil. This would be nice with the prices or lube oils still being fairly expensive... I have been putting a great deal of thought into using a sampling service to check my oil. We have recently started using a sampling service on all of our equipment with the fire agency that I work for. And have moved most of our oil changes to 5000 miles or one year which ever comes first. Some of our equipment sits for extended periods of time due to low call volume and others might see an oil change every month. Our head mechanic utilizes the sampling service to monitor contaminants and any possible engine break down that could be secretly occurring ... ... ... .