Truck Maintenance Tips for long trip

CaptainVideo · 02-01-2020, 07:55 PM

This summer we're heading out for our first long RV trip - Indianapolis to Seattle and back. We'll take about a month and cover 8,000 to 9,000 miles. We have a 2106 Ford 150 3.5 Lariat with towing package. We're towing a Whitehawk 29'. Do we need to change oil more often? Whatelse?

**JFlightRisk** · 02-01-2020, 08:18 PM

Highway speed driving is better for an engine, than short trip, stop and go city driving. I would say to peek in the manual, and see if there's mention of towing/severe service oil change intervals. Do you use synthetic oil in it now? Our Tundra calls for changes at 5000 miles. Keep an eye on the oil level and color during your trip.

JaycoMLOK · 02-01-2020, 08:22 PM

How many miles on you truck? I would start out with a fresh oil change and in the middle of the trip get another one done. Also change the rest of the fluids if those haven't been done for a while. If you know a good mechanic have him go over the truck to see if there's any potential problem. Make sure your tires have plenty of tread life.

**Midnightmoon** · 02-01-2020, 08:27 PM

I need to check my manual for sure, but I think that the severe duty oil change interval on my 2018 is 7500 max.

Florida Ranger · 02-01-2020, 08:28 PM

Let us know what your mpg is when you get back please. My friend has your same truck and when he tows his 7,000 lbs trailer he only gets 7 mpg at 63 mph. But without the trailer he gets 18-20 mpg. He really disappointed,I can get 10 mpg with my V-10 31ft Greyhawk on the same trip...

skids · 02-01-2020, 09:47 PM

Get your truck and trailer brakes in good working shape.

Jolvi · 02-02-2020, 05:53 AM

We do our oil changes at 7,000 miles as on 2014 F150 and believe that is the severe mileage interval. Yes on last trip we did go about 1,000 miles past the mileage but had it done when we returned home. Had transmission, transfer case and both differental units fluids changed, but we have 60,000 miles on truck.

mokurt · 02-02-2020, 06:53 AM

How many miles on your truck?
Change the oil when it is due.Most likely this will mean a service stop somewhere.

Check or change your diff fluid.

Quantum · 02-07-2020, 07:48 PM

Go by the "severe duty" interval in the manual. Loved my 2016 F150, it was a great truck. Now have a 2019 and I love it even more. That 3.5 Eco really tows well.

TaftCoach · 02-08-2020, 03:10 PM

My gas mileage is 9 to 10 pulling a smaller trailer with my older F150 V8

vwprostock · 02-09-2020, 10:40 AM

Couple of thoughts and opinions:
Clean oil is a must and 5W-30 for the Ecoboost. I am partial to Motorcraft oil. Great quality, designed for the engine, and good value of blend for the $$$.
Same goes for the air and oil filter. Oil intervals mean nothing if you use a great oil and a crappy air filter or oil filter.

My 2019 3.5 will go 8,000 before the monitor gets to 10% oil life, and I am towing a 324 BHTS (9800lbs) on semi short trips, 65 miles one way, in TX heat. That truck lives with a trailer behind it 60% of its life. I think the oil will make the trip but will be very due upon return, if you have good oil and filters. (Motorcraft)

Tires aired up as mentioned. Depending on total miles on the truck, a rear diff fluid change wouldn't hurt if you have over 50K on it.

Bigger point for me is trailer tires. I don't care what they look like. If they are 3+ years old, replace them before you leave and save the side of your trailer and lots of headaches.

Also ensure you have good equipment to change a trailer tire. Jack that works and lifts high enough, wheel chocks, lug wrench, etc and proper stuff to get trailer spare, if held under the trailer.

Those are my thoughts.

Greg

travelingjw · 02-09-2020, 11:06 AM

Manufacturer states to change every 5,000 miles. Since oil is a critical componant I change my oil before every major trip (over 2,000 miles). I also check my brakes, all fluid levels, and the spare tire.

vwprostock · 02-09-2020, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelingjw

Manufacturer states to change every 5,000 miles. Since oil is a critical componant I change my oil before every major trip (over 2,000 miles). I also check my brakes, all fluid levels, and the spare tire.

Below is the 2016 owners manual from the Ford fleet site. I couldn't recall when the manuals went from mileage to "refer to monitor" but it was right around 2016:

Recommended maintenance for your vehicle
This vehicle is equipped with Intelligent Oil Life Monitor (IOLM). Based on driving condition, the IOLM will display a message when your vehicle needs an oil change. Every time the display reads 'Oil Change Required', the following maintenance is recommended.
EVERY IOLM OIL CHANGE
MEMO: Gas engine; Up to 6.0 quarts of oil (IOLM)
Change engine oil and replace oil filter when indicated on vehicle message center or every 12 months, whichever occurs first

CAG · 02-09-2020, 01:00 PM

Belts, hoses , fluids and tires. If your pulling you might want to change more often but one thing that should be done prior, and there is still time to do it, is when you drain this next oil, draw a sample (about half way through the drain) and send it off for testing. This tells you whether your are changing too late or too early.

My Duramax called for 12 months or 10K miles. I usually changed at 7K and my oil was always testing good. We over change here in the US. Most European vehicles call for changes at higher mileage. I am partial to Amsoil, and Wix filters but that is me. Others may like something else. It is what works for you not another person's vehicle.

With a good synthetic oil there is no reason you cannot go longer. Amsoil has extended change oils that go 25K and over the road trucks go much longer. Test the oil. If it is good at 7 and you are still at the full mark you probably can go longer but that is your choice.

cekkk · 02-09-2020, 06:23 PM

I check oil level every morning on trips. 8k miles should be doable. And look at a couple of YouTube vids on oil filters. There are some good ones. Fram usually comes in a step above toilet paper.

CAG · 02-09-2020, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cekkk

I check oil level every morning on trips. 8k miles should be doable. And look at a couple of YouTube vids on oil filters. There are some good ones. Fram usually comes in a step above toilet paper.

I used Fram for years and then in the 80's they outsourced their filters and from there on they have been trash. There was a fad for awhile where they sold a canister that would hold a roll of toilet paper and attach to your vehicle. They actually got pretty good results in tests.

Someone mentioned checking the color of your oil. That is not a good test of how good an oil may be. Anyone who owns a diesel will tell you that 100 miles after an oil change it is black again. The only way to be certain is a test. I use Blackstone.

If I lived in a part of the country with reasonable temps and clean air I would run the limit but I live in a very severe area with high dust and high temps. That is one reason that I test oil on a regular basis.

**Midnightmoon** · 02-09-2020, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAG

I used Fram for years and then in the 80's they outsourced their filters and from there on they have been trash. There was a fad for awhile where they sold a canister that would hold a roll of toilet paper and attach to your vehicle. They actually got pretty good results in tests.

Someone mentioned checking the color of your oil. That is not a good test of how good an oil may be. Anyone who owns a diesel will tell you that 100 miles after an oil change it is black again. The only way to be certain is a test. I use Blackstone.

If I lived in a part of the country with reasonable temps and clean air I would run the limit but I live in a very severe area with high dust and high temps. That is one reason that I test oil on a regular basis.

The old Frantz toilet paper filters. I have't thought about those for a long time.

Atlee · 02-10-2020, 03:47 AM

I have always changed the oil in my 2014 F150 w/ 3.5L EB engine every 5000 miles. That meant during my 2018 8,900 mile trip from Virginia to the Rockies and upper plains states, I had to stop and have the oil changed.

Just so happened, I turned 5K miles while in Utah, so stopped for a couple of nights in a camp ground in Salt Lake City. Ended up having it changed at a Jiffy Lube there.

To answer your question, I don't change it more or less often while on a long extended trip. Every 5K miles, whether home or on the road.

Indeed, this past fall, during a football road trip, I stopped in to visit my daughter in Michigan. While there, went to a stand alone Quick Lane store and had the oil changed there, again, at 5000 +/- miles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainVideo

This summer we're heading out for our first long RV trip - Indianapolis to Seattle and back. We'll take about a month and cover 8,000 to 9,000 miles. We have a 2106 Ford 150 3.5 Lariat with towing package. We're towing a Whitehawk 29'. Do we need to change oil more often? Whatelse?

curver900 · 02-10-2020, 03:37 PM

Just do the normal stuff due at 60k. new belts are a must. (bring your old ones along) battery how old? if more than 5 years old have it load tested.. probably due for a new one anyway. Tires should be on the newer side of 3 years. Check your spare tire how old? does it have the capacity to tow your rig 200 miles? new windshield wipers blades. check your brakes you should have more than 1/2 remaining life in them

trailer needs good shoes too how old are the tires? spare? grease all the bearings, comes in handy to have a set of bearings and grease seals ready to go. It is easier to do it with the parts then have to wait for them but you won't be out in the middle of nowhere either.

have fun!!!!

Jagiven · 02-10-2020, 05:35 PM

I dont do anything special. I always keep my vehicles well maintained. I will do a once over to check things, like oil leaks, tire conditions, air pressures including spares. Have just the right tools, I do not carry much. During the summer I change the TV oil every 3K miles instead of 5K. During the trip, I'll change the oil as needed, at a longer multi day stop.

That's about it.

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