How Often for Oil Change

Upstater88 · 03-12-2019, 09:18 AM

Hey guys, wanted to check in and see how often everyone changes their oil when towing. Is the oil life monitor really all that accurate when you tow a good amount in the summer time, or is it better to change it more often? I also always run synthetic, but it that also recommended when towing?

DocBrown · 03-12-2019, 10:26 AM

Follow the manufacturers recommendations, which these days is the OLM. There are many factors in how the OLM determines a need for an oil change. Depending on conditions, it will recommend a change between 5000-7000 miles. If your vehicle does not require synthetic and you are using it, you can go longer than the OLM says.

Running synthetic is a choice depending on the vehicle. There is nothing wrong with conventional oil if synthetic is not required. But I switched to synthetic for my vehicles a number of years ago. It really quieted down the 5.3 in my Sierra, which now has 153k on it. I don't believe it makes any difference in towing, but I do believe it's better overall.

oldmanAZ · 03-12-2019, 10:42 AM

I have my engine oil and filter changed every ~5,000mi or every 6mo if we're not traveling very much. I use a full synthetic, 5w-40.

My truck is ~13yr old so doesn't have an oil life monitor, but it is going strong after 355,000mi.

Shackrat · 03-12-2019, 12:16 PM

If your vehicle is equipped with a OLM there's usually no harm in waiting until it calls for one. I've got a 2017 F-250 PSD and my dealer still insists on putting a sticker on my windshield telling me to come back 5k miles. I'm sitting around 25k miles and have only had 2 oil changes so far going off of the OLM. Not complaining.

33 RLDS · 03-12-2019, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldmanAZ

My truck is ~13yr old so doesn't have an oil life monitor, but it is going strong after 355,000mi.

Dang, my truck is 2 years older than yours and I have an oil life monitor

Don't know if I will make it to 355K since I only have 38K now

I run Mobil 1 synthetic and change it once a year

thirdktm · 03-12-2019, 01:24 PM

We drive the Jayco Melbourne, which has the Mercedes diesel.
The owner's manual says change it every 20,000 or one year, whichever comes first.
I wish we had a lifestyle that allowed up to travel 20K per year, but no.
Just last week, we changed the oil, at 12,000.
The vehicle was built at Jayco in the summer of 2016. We bought it in the summer of 2017. So, I should have changed the oil a long time ago.
Going forward, I will change it in February of every year.
We used synthetic, which is what Mercedes is required.
I also changed the generator oil and air filter last week. It had 96 hours on it.
Again, I think the recommendation is to change it every 150 hours or at one year, whichever comes first.

**Midnightmoon** · 03-12-2019, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdktm

We drive the Jayco Melbourne, which has the Mercedes diesel.
The owner's manual says change it every 20,000 or one year, whichever comes first.
I wish we had a lifestyle that allowed up to travel 20K per year, but no.
Just last week, we changed the oil, at 12,000.
The vehicle was built at Jayco in the summer of 2016. We bought it in the summer of 2017. So, I should have changed the oil a long time ago.
Going forward, I will change it in February of every year.
We used synthetic, which is what Mercedes is required.
I also changed the generator oil and air filter last week. It had 96 hours on it.
Again, I think the recommendation is to change it every 150 hours or at one year, whichever comes first.

I'm not suggesting that you don't follow the manufacturers recommendations of 1 year or 20K. But, the oil life monitor will give you a 30 day countdown when you are approaching 2 years on your oil on your Sprinter. Don't ask me how I know......LOL

Steve1152 · 03-12-2019, 05:41 PM

vehicles sitting a lot i think its best to change the oil in the fall so the dirty oil doesnt sit in the engine all winter.

Riverman · 03-12-2019, 05:44 PM

The quicker your engine wears out, the quicker "they" can sell you a new truck.

I want my diesel to last longer than I do, so I change it every 5000 miles.

No one will convince me differently.

**Midnightmoon** · 03-12-2019, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riverman

The quicker your engine wears out, the quicker "they" can sell you a new truck.

I want my diesel to last longer than I do, so I change it every 5000 miles.

No one will convince me differently.

No harm in changing it early as you are doing. But an oil sample every once in a while on those engines is also a good idea, especially when looking at fuel dilution and wear metals. Watching that fuel dilution over time will be a good indicator of when you are starting to have injector problems.

Send out an oil sample next time you change your oil. I change mine every 7500 miles in my 5.9L Cummins trucks and sample every other oil change.

TCNashville · 03-12-2019, 07:14 PM

I dunno but it seems if you're changing the oil at 5K and using a full synthetic, it's a waste of money. With that change interval dino oil will more than suffice.

thirdktm · 03-12-2019, 07:15 PM

To Midnightmoon...
If there is a trick to deleting the dashboard reminder that tells me how many past the due date of a service, I'm eager to know......!
I think the days-past number is something like 112....And I don't even know what service it is I'm supposed to do....
We did change the oil two weeks ago.
The service writer at the MB dealer told me that the owner's manual tells me how to delete the alert. He also said the dealer is not permitted to do so....liability issues, if the work is not done there....

**Midnightmoon** · 03-12-2019, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirdktm

To Midnightmoon...
If there is a trick to deleting the dashboard reminder that tells me how many past the due date of a service, I'm eager to know......!
I think the days-past number is something like 112....And I don't even know what service it is I'm supposed to do....
We did change the oil two weeks ago.
The service writer at the MB dealer told me that the owner's manual tells me how to delete the alert. He also said the dealer is not permitted to do so....liability issues, if the work is not done there....

Here you go. This works on my 2015. Most likely will work on yours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VuD...Qwk2-DR6eWTW_Q

**Midnightmoon** · 03-12-2019, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCNashville

I dunno but it seems if you're changing the oil at 5K and using a full synthetic, it's a waste of money. With that change interval dino oil will more than suffice.

I use dino oil (Mobil Delvac 1300 Super 15/40) in the Cummins ~7500 miles. Mobil 1 High Mileage on my wife's Ram 1500 and just wait until the oil change light comes on. Whatever bulk oil that Ford uses on the free oil changes on the EcoBoost Ford, again waiting until the light comes on. Mobil 1 ESP 221.52 spec in the Sprinter.

PistonSlap · 03-12-2019, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Upstater88

Hey guys, wanted to check in and see how often everyone changes their oil when towing. Is the oil life monitor really all that accurate when you tow a good amount in the summer time, or is it better to change it more often? I also always run synthetic, but it that also recommended when towing?

Right from G.M. This if for your 2015 Silverado and most G.M. vehicles.
Personally, I go 3000 miles on the gas vehicles and 5000 on the diesel. As for synthetic or not, I put what is recommended. Yours should be a synthetic blend

Ask for and use engine oils that meet the dexos1™ specification. Engine oils that have been approved by GM as meeting the dexos1 specification are marked with the dexos1 approved logo. See dexosÂ®.

Object ID: 2398375Click here for detailed picture of the image.
Caution: Failure to use the recommended engine oil or equivalent can result in engine damage not covered by the vehicle warranty.

Viscosity Grade

Use SAE 0W-20 viscosity grade for the 5.3L and 6.2L V8 engines. Use SAE 5W-30 viscosity grade for the 4.3L V6, and 6.0L V8 engines.

Cold Temperature Operation: In an area of extreme cold, where the temperature falls below −29 °C (−20 °F), an SAE 0W-30 oil may be used in the 4.3L or 6.0L engine. An oil of this viscosity grade will provide easier cold starting for the engine at extremely low temperatures.

When selecting an oil of the appropriate viscosity grade, it is recommended to select an oil of the correct specification. See “Specification” earlier in this section.

Oil Life Monitor Calculation Pathways:

Engine revolutions – Oil life starts with a fixed number of revolutions and will decrease with each revolution. Cold / hot coolant temperature readings have multipliers that reduce engine revolutions pathway quicker depending on how far from the normal oil temperature the vehicle is operating.
Note: If the engine coolant temperature gets above 260°F (126°C), engine overheat condition, the oil life will go to 0%.

Mileage from last reset – Starting with MY 2013, the OLM is capped at 7,500 miles (12,070 km) for all GM powertrains except the Volt. In perfect conditions, a vehicle would reach 7500 miles (12,070 km) from the last reset and the oil life left would be 0%.
Note: For the 2016-2018 MY Camaro, 2014-2018 MY CTS and 2015-2018 MY ATS equipped with the 2.0L LTG sold in Europe, the OLM is capped at 30,000 km / 1 year.

Time – This pathway is a liner function, a fixed decrease in oil life for a given time after the oil life is reset. The oil life will drop to 0% after 1 year regardless of the amount of engine revolutions or how many miles since the reset.
Note: The Volt uses a 2 year timer instead of 1 year. It also uses the engine revolution counter. It does not use the mileage pathway to cou

LabMan · 03-12-2019, 08:28 PM

Being a retiree form a major oil company, my stock dividends appreciate everyone doing short duration oil changes. Only wish the transport company's that run millions of miles with long duration changes had that attitude. LOL. I personally use the oil life monitors, but see no harm, other than a few dollars, if it makes one feel better to do low mileage change. In 55 years of driving many miles with 29 different personal vehicles, I have never had a oil related failure, and I used to use reclaimed oil in the 60's in my cars!

Jagiven · 03-12-2019, 08:54 PM

OP, what is missing, is what are you driving, and how are you using it? All the manufactures have their recommendations, so I would start with your owners manual. Diesels are a lot different than gassers, and each engine manufacture is different. An example, my 12 year old Dakota, says change the oil every 3000-5000 miles, based on type of usage. A friend's diesel PU, says every 20K miles.

Riverman · 03-12-2019, 09:02 PM

As I said I change my dino oil every 5000 miles in my diesel and won't change.

20,000 miles would be around 4 trips to CA and back without changing oil..... no way.

I'd change it before every trip.

cariboocreek · 03-12-2019, 09:50 PM

Oil changes are cheap insurance on expensive vehicles.

Atlee · 03-13-2019, 12:09 AM

The owners manual for my 2014 F150, SCAB, 4x4, Max Tow, and HDPP gives 3 different mileage change points.

Normal driving is 7500 to 10,000 mi. Normal Commuting w/ highway driving. No or moderate load or towing.

Severe driving is 5000 to 7499 mi. Moderate to heavy load or towing.

Extreme driving is 3000 to 4999 mi. Maximum load or towing.

50% or more of my miles are towing, and I usually have a load in the bed of the truck, so I opt for 5000 mi oil changes of MotorCraft 5W-30 Synthetic Blend.

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