Vehicle Oil Change Interval ??

I change my oil around 5000 miles or in the fall whichever comes later. The newer ones I change when the oil change light comes on. Usually write the mileage down and it comes out around 7000 miles. My corvette and the plow truck haven't had oil changes in 5 years. I had been changing the Corvette yearly but it only gets a couple hundered miles a year. I just don't have time to drive it so it takes up valuable space in my small heated shop.

Kansas99 wrote: Tbone95 wrote: Well, feels like I'm messing with the universe or teasing the gods, but I also have never had engine troubles on a vehicle (well, 'cept that Pontiac, but that wasn't an oil issue in any way) and go by 5000 miles, or the oil life monitor if it has one, or on the turbo gasoline car I had, 3000.  Oil has come a long long way over the years.  Suit yourself and do what you want, just gotta say I don't think I've ever heard of that short of an interval. To freedguy's comment, I think tractors should and my tractors do get oil changed at least annually.  Most of my tractors reach hours before a year, but the one that gets lower hours still gets annually.  Collectors that get a couple hours a year, well, that's a whole 'nother discussion.  I likely won't ever be a collector. "I likely won't ever be a collector." Oh now don't say that, you know if you farm with them long enough you'll be a collector. My neighbor farmed with a 99 Oliver 3-71 and a 1900 Oliver 4-71 till he retired, then he became a avid Oliver collector and sold his 2 Olivers to a couple other tractor collectors.  He just happened to farm........ oops, I mean collect Olivers that other people wanted.

Well, feels like I'm messing with the universe or teasing the gods, but I also have never had engine troubles on a vehicle (well, 'cept that Pontiac, but that wasn't an oil issue in any way) and go by 5000 miles, or the oil life monitor if it has one, or on the turbo gasoline car I had, 3000.  Oil has come a long long way over the years.  Suit yourself and do what you want, just gotta say I don't think I've ever heard of that short of an interval.

it's something i always did, taught to me by my Dad. i've never had to do an engine overhaul on anything. used to drive 50+ miles a day, and never had engine problems. my old Dodge van has just short of 1 million miles on it before i retired it, not from any engine problem, but from rust! when things start falling out the sides, it's time for retirement! when i had my vending company, i'd put on 100,000 (-/+) miles a year. never sat along the road with engine problems. Dad always said: that is the cheapest overhaul you can give to an engine, changing the oil and filter. 

shameless dude wrote: my tractors had oil and filter changes every 100 hours, my vehicles get both changed every 2000 miles.

 

my tractors had oil and filter changes every 100 hours, my vehicles get both changed every 2000 miles. 

Leon, ask your son about the Toyota program.  Our Highlander is changed at the 10K or one year interval, and that is with a lifetime power train warranty. 

Thanks for the reply Stan, makes sense on the multiple vehicle oil changes .

I change both my T/C's at 3,ooo M. My son who is an ace mechanic recommends the 3,000 m, intervals and use the oil that is is recommended by the car company. And the better oil filter you use is very important.       Leon

fixer1958 wrote: 02 Chevy 6.0 synthetic blend every 3-4K

Nephews mother in law had an early 90’s? Bonneville. They stopped changing oil at 180k, hood seized at 240k so no fluids added or checked and drove til about 340k. (All miles)
I change diesel 7.3 trucks at 5k or spring and fall if not enough miles.
180 and 185’s annually, not regular use anymore.

The thing to look for when going over on oil changes intervals is how thin the oil actually gets - the manufactures have there specs along with oil, everyone bitches when the auto transmisions go out, but  because no one pays attention to the manufacture specs on oil changes,,  just my experince

Edited by DougG - 06 Feb 2021 at 12:15pm

I had access years ago to oil sample analysis so used it, My '99 F250 7.3 diesel ended up at 5k intervals Religiously to when slowed usage became twice a year REGARDLESS spring and fall.  Oil looked great as drained as may have only had 1800-3000 miles but acids build up and filtration does NOT remove or stabilize.  Moisture buildup from sitting is the WORST for production of acidity on oils.  My later autos have a built in miles against driving aspect calculators, our Exploder runs on average 4800 miles between as get to 30% remainder oil life, my Pimpala goes closer to 5500.  Tractors are still generally twice per year both the last 7G and the 180 as well the little Deere Diesel mower.

02 Chevy 6.0 synthetic blend every 3-4K