View Full Version : Oil Change - How long can I go?
We have a 1989 S10 truck that we keep as a third vehicle for projects around the house and as a backup since our other 2 cars are both almost 20 years old each, one of them with almost 200k miles. But we don't drive the truck much beyond local errands a few times a week to keep it in shape. It runs great.
I just noticed that the oil change on it was due in Dec 2014, but the oil gauge shows it's still full and the miles are nowhere near what would require an oil change. The only thing is the time lapse. It looks like the last oil change was about a year ago.
I'm wondering how often I should get the oil changes done on it to keep it in good working order. Is once a year enough?
The two components of oil change intervals are time and mileage. Oil will begin to lose its effectiveness over time and will, at some point, fail to do its job. I think one year with low mileage is probably fine, but I don't think I'd go much longer.
The two components of oil change intervals are time and mileage. Oil will begin to lose its effectiveness over time and will, at some point, fail to do its job. I think one year with low mileage is probably fine, but I don't think I'd go much longer.
Thank you, Alan!
I will put the truck on a summer schedule.
One thing I've noticed is that oil changes at shops used to be spaced out 6 months apart. Now they are 3 months. Why is this? Is this a money grab? Because I barley put LESS than a thousand a miles a year on.
I think it depends on the type of oil too. I used to go every 3 or 4 months when I first got my vehicle, but then they started using a synthetic oil and now it's something like once or twice a year. (I go every 6 months whether it really needs it or not so not sure of the actual recommendation.)
I had my Honda Odyssey oil changed every 3500 miles. I don't know why they said to do this, since most cars are 5,000 miles, right? Well, now that my car is on its last leg and I'm waiting to go buy a new one, it's been 2000 miles since my last change.
I just want to make it to where I'm going to buy a new one. Actually.....I'm seeing how many warning lights on the dash I can get lit up. :~)
Just make sure your oil isn't low.
ToomuchStuff
8-13-15, 7:11pm
The two components of oil change intervals are time and mileage. Oil will begin to lose its effectiveness over time and will, at some point, fail to do its job. I think one year with low mileage is probably fine, but I don't think I'd go much longer.
Agreed. One test for vehicles that sit long periods (like my sold backup vehicle), is to pull the dipstick and if the oil isn't sticking to it, your losing the adhesive qualities it uses during startup to keep the engine lubricated.
Oil has a film/stickiness to keep to cylinder walls, crankshaft, etc. to keep things lubricated, as well as a fluid/flushing effect to take gunk to the filter.
One thing I've noticed is that oil changes at shops used to be spaced out 6 months apart. Now they are 3 months. Why is this? Is this a money grab? Because I barley put LESS than a thousand a miles a year on.
I think it depends on the type of oil too. I used to go every 3 or 4 months when I first got my vehicle, but then they started using a synthetic oil and now it's something like once or twice a year. (I go every 6 months whether it really needs it or not so not sure of the actual recommendation.)
I had my Honda Odyssey oil changed every 3500 miles. I don't know why they said to do this, since most cars are 5,000 miles, right? Well, now that my car is on its last leg and I'm waiting to go buy a new one, it's been 2000 miles since my last change.
I just want to make it to where I'm going to buy a new one. Actually.....I'm seeing how many warning lights on the dash I can get lit up. :~)
Just make sure your oil isn't low.
Differs from vehicle to vehicle on recommendations, as well as use, driving conditions (driving through a gravely/dusty area, gets more stuff in the oil, through the air filter and will need to be changed more often), towing or not, etc. Some of the GM vehicles in the last decade, have a sensor that tells you what percentage of life your oil has left. A friend has a newer truck, that he puts less then 1K miles on a year, and he still does an annual oil change, ignoring that percent. (GM truck, family discount but who knows for how long due to age of family member)
As a wrencher, I have yet to see one of those sensors changed, and would like to know what the recommended time frame on it is (sensors go bad, how to determine it is dying).
My old 71 Superbeetle, has no oil filter, but is oil bath/screen. The recommendation on it is 1000 miles between. When I was 16, it was rare to see vehicles hit 100K miles. Now it is common to see them much closer to 300k. This is due to improvements in several areas, oil and filtration being two of them. The reason for the recommendation of 3 months, verses 6 months is multifold. People drive more, and for those that don't, it is a bigger profit center for them.
They all still push every 3000 miles around here. I wait till somewhere between 5000-6000 and I drive a lot. Oil changes use to be under $20 and now it seems it's $45 so I don't mind pushing it at all. I know how to check my oil for good color and stickiness.
Agreed. One test for vehicles that sit long periods (like my sold backup vehicle), is to pull the dipstick and if the oil isn't sticking to it, your losing the adhesive qualities it uses during startup to keep the engine lubricated.
Oil has a film/stickiness to keep to cylinder walls, crankshaft, etc. to keep things lubricated, as well as a fluid/flushing effect to take gunk to the filter.
Differs from vehicle to vehicle on recommendations, as well as use, driving conditions (driving through a gravely/dusty area, gets more stuff in the oil, through the air filter and will need to be changed more often), towing or not, etc. Some of the GM vehicles in the last decade, have a sensor that tells you what percentage of life your oil has left. A friend has a newer truck, that he puts less then 1K miles on a year, and he still does an annual oil change, ignoring that percent. (GM truck, family discount but who knows for how long due to age of family member)
As a wrencher, I have yet to see one of those sensors changed, and would like to know what the recommended time frame on it is (sensors go bad, how to determine it is dying).
My old 71 Superbeetle, has no oil filter, but is oil bath/screen. The recommendation on it is 1000 miles between. When I was 16, it was rare to see vehicles hit 100K miles. Now it is common to see them much closer to 300k. This is due to improvements in several areas, oil and filtration being two of them. The reason for the recommendation of 3 months, verses 6 months is multifold. People drive more, and for those that don't, it is a bigger profit center for them.
I usually go to an oil place. Regardless of the vehicle, they just put a sticker in the window three months out.
I have a very trusted old-style mechanic, a throwback from the 60s;). My car is 16yo and I just hit 100000 miles. He strongly encouraged me to change oil every 6 months even though that's barely 2000miles for me. He says oil is time and/or mileage.
My newest car has came with 3 yrs maintenance included but it is done on the schedule calculated by the onboard computer. It looks like the computer is concluding 12,000 miles or so is the right interval. I drive about 60% highway, the rest is average suburban with periodic bouts of excessive acceleration.
My car requires synthetic oil and the manufacturer's recommended service interval is 10,000 miles under pretty much any conditions. Last year I didn't even drive the 10,000 miles, but I'm still doing an oil change every fall. That's cheap insurance, being so close to the recommended interval.
Changing every 3,000 miles nowadays, though, seems pretty much like throwing away money. Engines and oils are much better built and, unless you're living in a dust bowl or towing all the time, even pizza-delivery service is not such rough duty on a car -- probably better for the drivetrain than starting it up, driving 3 miles, switching it off for hours, and driving another 3 miles home on a cold engine.
ToomuchStuff
8-15-15, 7:33pm
Changing every 3,000 miles nowadays, though, seems pretty much like throwing away money. Engines and oils are much better built and, unless you're living in a dust bowl or towing all the time, even pizza-delivery service is not such rough duty on a car -- probably better for the drivetrain than starting it up, driving 3 miles, switching it off for hours, and driving another 3 miles home on a cold engine.
Going to disagree a bit. My primary vehicle has 140K on it and the prior owner was not good at changing the oil at the recommended 3K. (programmed into the light) When I rebuilt it this summer (head gasket leak), I saw the sludge build up on the engine and cleaned it as best as I could. Also some engines are known to be more sludge producing engines, so I don't see it as a waste.
I saw the sludge build up on the engine and cleaned it as best as I could. Also some engines are known to be more sludge producing engines, so I don't see it as a waste.
True, some engines do have a rep for generating sludge. The other X factor here is whether an appropriate oil was used and how the car was cared for. The cheapest thing the folks at Qui-Key-Loob can shove down the hole may not be the best type of oil for that particular car/driving. Unfortunately, some people (not you) don't think about specs; they think about $$.
Similarly, I'm a bug about making sure my car warms up fully when I take it out; there are very few 2-mile trips and cooling cycles for my car.
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