How many miles do you change your oil?

[Hootbro]

I agree. The post was aimed the 3 month 3 k crowd. That is a big waste of money.

Copy.

FWIW, I actually bought a former parts store (Advance Auto) parts runner truck a 2009 Ford Ranger 2WD regular cab a few years back. The wear points on it were interesting and expected. At 75K when I bought it, shift column bushings worn out, front wheel bears going out, shocks toasted, drivers seat bottom bolster about gone and the drivers door hinges needing replaced. Engine was probably the best thing about it. All was easily fixable though.

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[Boston Bill]

Don’t be a willful neglecter and run forever over on the mileage without the blessing of an oil analysis lab isn’t flexing your muscles. It’s just being neglectful. Anyone can run thousands of miles over and it only impresses the same type of crowd. If we want to run forever without changing, let a lab say the oil is good.

Otherwise, change the first one early, maybe go half way on the next and then go what your book tells you.

I agree. I have no control over getting the oil changed. Not my truck. I report it. Best I can do.

 

[rr11]

On my JT first change 5000, after that around 7000. when the oil life gets around 70%. My TJ and the F250 get yearly changes. TJ around 7000 the 250 5000.

 

[ScottBeach]

Said before. Your mileage may vary. Here in Fl. Change Often due to high temps. Summer time = 5k. Winter i might go 7k. More off road time = More often. I am not trying to impress Jeep or Fed Cafe. I want the engine to last. Better oil helps (full syn) but nothing beats fresh oil. We should all get a scope done at 250k and compare pics.

 

[Rocksalt]

every 5k coincides with my tire rotation

 

[JTR178]

Yearly or 5,000 miles.

 

[Minty JL]

Every 5k

 

[ATL_Rubi]

Every 5k

Bingo.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Bingo.

When oil life gets to around 15%, or higher if it’s a convenient time to change it. This varies depending on driving style. Meaning it’s way sooner if I’m doing heavy off roading. Typically it averages around 5k. Regardless, I do 5 way rotations every 5k.

 

[ATL_Rubi]

When oil life gets to around 15%, or higher if it’s a convenient time to change it. This varies depending on driving style. Meaning it’s way sooner if I’m doing heavy off roading. Typically it averages around 5k. Regardless, I do 5 way rotations every 5k.

Fair point, I've noticed that this stint, my oil life is lower than prior even though my driving route has not changed. Maybe its the 10-15 Degree higher temps, but at this point in my 1st stine (2500 miles on oil) I was at 80ish percent life, now I'm at 65. Just an observation.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Fair point, I've noticed that this stint, my oil life is lower than prior even though my driving route has not changed. Maybe its the 10-15 Degree higher temps, but at this point in my 1st stine (2500 miles on oil) I was at 80ish percent life, now I'm at 65. Just an observation.

I do think the computer is pretty good at recommending change intervals. It’s not that tough. RPMs, long road trips, off roading, etc. are all easy to track in comparison to “normal” driving. Mine will likely always be a shorter interval than some people, as I’m in the mountains. Frequent steep climbs on the highway at higher rpm’s. Lots of town driving, a decent amount of off heavy road use.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I do think the computer is pretty good at recommending change intervals. It’s not that tough. RPMs, long road trips, off roading, etc. are all easy to track in comparison to “normal” driving.

Heat, torque output, start/stop cycles, time idling, etc. - all things most people never consider.
A lot of short runs - like those who say they commute 5 or even 10 miles to work - that's almost borderline abusive of an ICE. You never even get it warm, let alone hot. Ignore the coolant temperature - that gets to 195 faster than the oil or other areas so the crankcase keeps all those byproducts of combustion down in there - forming water and acids.
The PCM can track everything that matters far better than ANY human driver or owner would or could.
It's not rocket science, and yet even though all of these situations have been known for many decades, longer than many members have been alive, it's still not considered by most owners.

Yeah - from the early 1970s when oil was really not that great ->

 

[WILDHOBO]

Heat, torque output, start/stop cycles, time idling, etc. - all things most people never consider.
A lot of short runs - like those who say they commute 5 or even 10 miles to work - that's almost borderline abusive of an ICE. You never even get it warm, let alone hot. Ignore the coolant temperature - that gets to 195 faster than the oil or other areas so the crankcase keeps all those byproducts of combustion down in there - forming water and acids.
The PCM can track everything that matters far better than ANY human driver or owner would or could.
It's not rocket science, and yet even though all of these situations have been known for many decades, longer than many members have been alive, it's still not considered by most owners.

Yeah - from the early 1970s when oil was really not that great ->

At my elevation and around 50 degrees ambient, it takes 2 miles of driving at 60mph to get my oil temp to 195. I only know that because I drive a mile north and back to warm up the oil before I change it. .

 

[Minty JL]

So I did my last oil change March 12th @ 5,944 miles, current mileage is 8,049 miles with a oil life percentage is currently 67%.

8,049 - 5,944 = 2,105 miles (so used 33% of my oil life in that distance)

2,105 x 3 = 6,315 miles at 99% oil life

So I think sticking to every 5,000 miles is a safe range I don't like running fluids to their ragged edge.

 

[WILDHOBO]

So I did my last oil change March 12th @ 5,944 miles, current mileage is 8,049 miles with a oil life percentage is currently 67%.

8,049 - 5,944 = 2,105 miles (so used 33% of my oil life in that distance)

2,105 x 3 = 6,315 miles at 99% oil life

So I think sticking to every 5,000 miles is a safe range I don't like running fluids to their ragged edge.

Depending on driving type, I’ve had my oil life get below 10% in 4,000 miles. I’ve also had it go to almost 6,000. I change it when it’s ready instead of creating a schedule that doesn’t necessarily match the oil life.

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