Oil change interval question

[NASCAR Mike]

I know the old saying of change your oil every 3 months or 3000 miles doesn't apply to diesels. So what is the max time period between oil changes?

Is it every 6 months or 5k miles which ever comes first? Or should i just wait until I hit 10k miles regardless of how long it takes me (maybe another 6-8 months).

I bought my 2005 X in Aug 2005 and I now have 5300 miles on it.

 

[www.truckpulls.com]

Depends on the oil type and what the vehicle see's for duty. If its a construction site truck, walmart oil, and a cheap filter....3500 or so. If its a highway truck, full synthetic oil, and a bypass filter system....maybe 30-50 thousand miles with oil anylasis. And there is just about every degree in between. I run the new Amsoil EA synthetic filters and the Amsoil HD diesel oil and will change oil/filter at 20K miles and do a blackstone report on it.

I realize I did not actually give you the reply you asked for, but if you tell us what exactly your truck will see for service, and what kind of oil/filters your planning to use.....we can help stear you in a general direction.

 

[jvencius]

Even though I've got a 7.3, I change mine every 3 months/3K miles (whichever comes first). Most of my driving is in-town and they tend to be hard miles, since I'm on a VFD and when the pager goes off, I don't let the truck warm up and take it easy for the first couple of miles until things are up to operating temperature. Therefore, I figure the $37.50 it costs me to do an oil change is cheap insurance considering how not-nice I am to the engine.

 

[powerboatr]

my 06 says 7500 miles
aint no way.
we do it every 5k and maybe stretch to 6k
HOWEVER this upcoming is the last of the break in changes, s o the next one will be based on oil analysis, shoul be able to punch through 10k with the bypass working right
we will see

 

[bushpilot]

my 04 recommends 7500, i change it (and the filter) every 5k or as
close as i can (ive gone as much as 6200)...ive tested via blackstone
EVERY change and other than a slight drop in flash point/viscosity once
ive not had any abnormal oil-reports

im running conventional dino/14-40 rotela

 

[Kleetus]

I have heard, but can not say for sure if it's BS or not, but time wise, 6 months is about the limit. Personally, if I had 2k miles on the oil, and the truck sat for 8 months or something, I'd probably run it. Unless it's sitting outside with large temerature swings, that is, enough to get some decent condensation in the block, then I might consider changing it sooner. If it's parked in the garage at your house, run it.

That WAS what you were asking, right?

 

[rgdillon]

As we most everything else I try to get done around here - I say I will change it at 3K - that way it gets done around 5K or so


Ron

 

[www.truckpulls.com]

If any of you...or me....were to change to Cen-Pe-Co parafin based oil, you could push the oil change interval to about 20-30K miles. It is a base TBN 15, most of the stuff your using like the rotella is around 8.5-9 TBN....my Amsoil checks out at about 8-9 TBN with 15K miles on it.

I dont sale Cen-Pe-Co, and Im not sure how to get it in your home areas....but I know its not allowed to be sold on the Internet, only thru regional dealers. Im going to try it this year for a while and test it....maybe I can push my change interval out to 30K or so.

If any of you run good oil and good filters, you can go 5-7K under most normal conditions. If you use your truck to haul a trailer every day and beat it like a rented mule....you need to change it at 3500 or so. I bet alot of you are over changing oil because your so used to hearing the 3500 mile crap...you actually believe it. You may be throwing away perfectly good money that is buying you nothing! Until you pull a sample and test it, you will never know in your heart anything other than if you keep changing every couple weeks...its got to be OK. You may be able to safely double that interval with absolutely no adverse effects at all.

 

[Mobeydick]

Every 10,000 miles weather it needs it or not!! That's about every other month!!

 

[Fine69]

I changed out the factory oil and filter at 1500 miles. Then again at 3000. Now I change every 3000. Cheap insurance for a rather expensive engine if you ask me. I use Motorcraft oil, and filters. It helps having a good friend that owns the dealership, all parts at cost.