Should I change my oil?

[CraigSmith]

I first changed my oil at 4000. The light had not come on yet. Those miles included about 2000 miles of extended highway driving.

At 6500 my oil change light came on. I took it in to the dealer to have it changed, but first I asked them to check to see if they had reset the computer the first time. They said no and talked me out of the oil changes. Those 2500 miles only contained about 500 miles of extended highway driving, so both contained about the same amount of local driving (which included some freeway).

I'm now at 7000, including some highway, and am about to embark on a 1000 mile trip and am wondering if I should get it changed now or just when I get back.

A few thoughts:
1) 6500 seems kind of high for the light to come on given what I've read on this forum, especially since my daily commute is very short.
2) They said they reset the light for me, but when I picked it up the light was still on, so I reset it myself. So did they really hook up the computer and check?
3) While they were at it I asked them to enable the idle-up feature, but I haven't been able to get it to work. What's the trick? So again I'm wondering if they actually even hooked up the computer at all.

So what are your recommendations? It would be a lot easier to do it when I got back. I was initially planning on changing it every 3750, half the standard interval, so everything else would be nicely in sync, but that falls right in the middle of my trip and I can't do it then.

Thanks.

 

[HBarlow]

I think the owner's manual usually calls for a 7500 mile oil service interval but don't know about the pickup version of the ISB6. 7. It may depend only on the ECM to set the service required light.

If I am approaching a required service interval I usually prefer to service early before the trip.

If it was mine I think I'd change it immediately before your trip and make sure the service performed reset is accomplished. That will give you peace of mind during your trip and avoid the possible hassle of being forced by an idiiot light to go looking for a strange dealer and risk less than sterling service.

 

[Bob4x4]

The service information will tell you to go by the warning message but in no case go beyond7500mi . If in doubt whether it will not come on during the trip and you can not service it during the trip CHANGE it before you embark

 

[CraigSmith]

Thanks guys. The service light was reset 500 miles ago, not at the last change, so I'm sure that won't come on. I only have 3000 since the last change, but they haven't been easy miles ...

 

[sabersix]

My first oil change light came on at 7500 at which time I changed the oil. I just did the second change at 12500 miles since I'm leaving on a 2700 mile trip (I did not get any lights). If not for the long trip, I would have waited until 15000 miles. I'd recommend you put at least 5000 miles on your oil. It won't hurt the engine, saves you money, and keeps the environment clean(er).

 

[daverobb]

I think that this service (oil change warning) light is one of those annoying cutsie things for computer nerds. There is no rhyme nor reason to why or when the light comes on. I ignore it and change the oil and filter and service the truck at 10,000 KM intervals.

 

[EricBu12]

My light had come on around 2000 Mi the first 2K. . since then, I drive 13 miles a day . . 10 of it freeway. . I now have over 6000 miles on this change and no light yet.

Going to the dealer to change the oil this weekend. . got a coupon in the mail for $36 Oil change... Good til the end of the month... it says includes oil and filter so I will see if it is true. . If so, then heck yeah I'll have them change it.

 

[CraigSmith]

Well, I had to cancel my trip so I guess I won't worry about this for a little while.

 

[daverobb]

Last summer I tested this feature running the truck for 6 months, pulling my travel trailer on the same highway on weekends and same DD routes during each week. The total KMs for the trailer season was 40,000. The "oil change required" light would come on at any time between 800 and 6,000 KMs. And yes I cancel it at every change! So this is why I say above, that there is no rhyme nor reason to it's function. I change the oil every 10,000 KMs. I use Mobil Delvac 1 and Fleetguard filters. The engine does not use any oil nor does it so called make oil. I think by doing this I have a better handle on the situation than some damned computer program.

 

[sag2]

Last summer I tested this feature running the truck for 6 months, pulling my travel trailer on the same highway on weekends and same DD routes during each week. The total KMs for the trailer season was 40,000. The "oil change required" light would come on at any time between 800 and 6,000 KMs. And yes I cancel it at every change! So this is why I say above, that there is no rhyme nor reason to it's function. I change the oil every 10,000 KMs. I use Mobil Delvac 1 and Fleetguard filters. The engine does not use any oil nor does it so called make oil. I think by doing this I have a better handle on the situation than some damned computer program.

You are really taking a chance ignoring the light. You may not see any ill effects now, but you are most likely running your engine with excessive contaminates for many more miles than it was designed for. Unless you are going to back up your theory with some oil sampling I hope you have an extra $15,000 lying around for the new short block. It's one thing to use good sense to make your decision, but to just go for it because you think you know more than the computer does is taking unnecessary risk.

I have done dozens of samples and the fuel dilution is always 4-7% when the light comes on.

 

[daverobb]

Now, let me get this straight! I am running the truck on the same road and routes day to day, week to week, pulling/carrying the same load, locked on cruise running at the same speed, using fuel from the same station, tires inflated to the same pressure, etc, etc, etc. The only variable that is different is when the oil change light comes on. There is no sensor in the oil pan or any place in the engine to measure fuel dilution, soot content or any other oil contamination, so it is strictly a computer calculation. The fact that the light comes on in as little as 800 KMs (about 500 miles) indicates that it is not accurate. Add to this that the distance travelled before the light came on, varied up to 6,000 KMs and anywhere in between, confirms the calculation's inaccuracy. Further to this, the distance travelled before the light came on during the last oil change interval (80,000 to 90,000) went to 9883 KMs. During this period there was no towing involved. It was 95% commuter travel, stop and go with on or two 100KM highway trips. It should also be noted that the oil is checked at every fuel fill. This truck has never "made oil" and does not use any. I have also been running with the EGR unplugged for over 80,000 KMs.

As far as I am concerned, this oil change required light is in the same category as the Tire Pressure Monitor systems on the '08+ vehicles. Cutsie but they don't work worth a damn in our climate.

I'll continue to run my 10,000 KM (6200 mile) service intervals until someone can prove to me with out a doubt that the oil change required system is not inaccurate. We'll see what she's like at 10 years and 500,000 KMs.

 

[Bob4x4]

Last summer I tested this feature running the truck for 6 months, pulling my travel trailer on the same highway on weekends and same DD routes during each week. The total KMs for the trailer season was 40,000. The "oil change required" light would come on at any time between 800 and 6,000 KMs. And yes I cancel it at every change! So this is why I say above, that there is no rhyme nor reason to it's function. I change the oil every 10,000 KMs. I use Mobil Delvac 1 and Fleetguard filters. The engine does not use any oil nor does it so called make oil. I think by doing this I have a better handle on the situation than some damned computer program.

I see MANY diesels... ... ... the oil that drains out of the 6. 7 is way different than what comes out of the 5. 9's. I don't need an oil test to know it should not have gone so long. The message is a good reminder to change the d*** oil. You plan to keep the truck service it the way it should be if not I feel sorry for the second owner

 

[daverobb]

To each his own! You obviously missed my point!

 

[AH64ID]

Your engine is new, I would changed it every 3K miles (at most) until you have 10-15K miles on it... So I would change the oil, reset the light and go from there.

 

[sag2]

You can do what you want, my point is, for $30 vs a $15,000 engine you can act from a position of knowledge instead of potential stupidity. It's your truck and your money, but hey, I'm just some dummy like Bob that works on them every day for a living. What do we know?

I hope your right and I'm wrong, but I would like to be proven wrong with facts.