Oil change miles -- how often do you change oil?

[djthumper]

I just change my oil when the oil life meter tells me it is time. If I am doing a long trip I may change it if it is close.

Sponsored

 

[Volt0]

I change ours between 45% remaining and 30% remaining, and I’m still $$$ ahead compared to paying the dealership to do it, and I don’t have to worry about some careless worker creating an issue. Perhaps more important than ‘when’, is that you do it yourself. rotate the tires yourself. Torque them properly, and get to know your equipment. The $$$ that you save can pay for some tools, and/or bigger repairs/upgrades ( when needed ).

 

[smlobx]

I try and keep my life simple (haha) so I just change it every 5000 miles. Makes it easy to remember.

 

[Blade1668]

I pull and send a oil sample in normally when I change the oil and filter. It's normally in the 7000-8500 mile range or so then reset oil life and 2nd trip odometer. Somewhere before oil life monitoring hits 10% left, I'll probably be doing a oil change when I get some good weather, hopefully in next week or two. Especially since I'm averaging a little less than 30,000 miles a year. Towing will drop the oil life monitoring fast.

 

[aevgladitorrubi]

how often does everyone change their miles , I thought synthetic was good for 7k miles ?

I change every 5K-- and rotate tires, fuel filter (diesel), every 10K...

 

[Camaroboi13]

I go by the oil life indicator. Around 50% is when I think about changing it.

Around 8% is when I actually get around to changing it. That’s generally 8k miles, give or take.

 

[MCATDT]

I really haven't put a lot of thought into this prior to the post....Before oil life monitors I was pretty set on 5k changes. For the TJ with no monitor I stick to that. On all of our vehicles with monitors including the JT I wait for the first warning (I believe its at 10%) and I do the change pretty quickly at that point. Boy, technology has made me lazy

 

[PuddleJumper]

I may have the only one in existence....

don't tell anybody, {checks room and leans in}, I got 3 of em.?

 

[PuddleJumper]

I go by the oil life indicator. Around 50% is when I think about changing it.

Around 8% is when I actually get around to changing it. That’s generally 8k miles, give or take.

diesel i imagine can run a bit longer. and i would too seeing the cost of Rotella T6. that shit is liquid gold. i always buy it when i see it for my buddy with his 7.3 bronco.

 

[PuddleJumper]

So much for those who love to keep the RPM down LOL.
It's not a good thing. Run it, work it.

hell yeah, 7k a day keeps the tick away.

 

[GrubbyBaja]

Driving profile: Rural highway miles, approximately 10,000 miles/yr.
Oil change frequency: 7,500 miles (it's an easy calculation for me).
On-board oil monitor usually indicates ~20+% remaining at oil change.
FWIW, I also perform 5-tire rotation at oil change.
Location: SE Alabama with somewhat moderate temperatures year round.

This is the same oil change profile I used on my Subaru Baja turbo (sold at 140,000 miles) and on my wife's Edge ST 2.7L twin turbo (80,000 miles and climbing). Never had an issue even with the turbos...but I also wasn't boosting all the time.

 

[Sweetums]

how often does everyone change their miles , I thought synthetic was good for 7k miles ?

Automakers have been pushing their service intervals because it's a selling point to some people. "Oil changes only every 10,000 miles?! Imagine how much money we will save!" Automakers only care about the car until the end of the warranty period, then it's in their interest for you to buy a new car. That super-long oil change interval is also based on ideal driving: sea level, temperate weather, flat ground, consistent 55-65 mph, no load, no towing, in clean air. If you are doing "harsh driving" then your oil change interval is sooner - yes, even in most owners manuals.

I drive at altitude, up and down mountains, in stop-and-go traffic, while towing/hauling, in dusty conditions, and in temperatures ranging from the ten degrees to 120+ degrees.

5,000 miles is where I change my oil for synthetic. 3,000 for conventional. If I've spent a lot of time off road in the dirt, running 4-low in hot conditions, doing water crossings, etc, then the oil gets changed immediately after the trip regardless of mileage (along with diff oil). Oil is cheap, engines are expensive.

And before anyone starts in on me about the environment, motor oil is re-refined and processed to become... motor oil. How many resources are needed to make a new engine or a new car?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Towing will drop the oil life monitoring fast.

Yes, it does. Have witnessed that.

I drive at altitude, up and down mountains, in stop-and-go traffic, while towing/hauling, in dusty conditions, and in temperatures ranging from the ten degrees to 120+ degrees.

5,000-6,000 miles is where I change my oil. Oil is cheap, engines are expensive.

Key words right there........ do people think about their driving conditions, or do they assume "it's all normal, everyone does it"?
10K is ideal driving. Always longer drives, always unladen, always up to temp for a period of time, who the heck ever drives like the ideal conditions that 10K is based on? Not me.

If I drove in your conditions, I suspect those would be my max numbers for sure, no doubt.
I am sort of guessing, but then it's based on observations as well, that if you checked your oil life display - it's not sitting at any 50% left, either.

I can't see how it's even remotely possible to argue against your quote I just put here.

 

[Sweetums]

The oil life monitor on a lot of cars is just an odometer function with a pre-programmed "countdown" displayed as a percentage. The car isn't actually testing the oil for particulate or viscosity, it's a good idea to send an oil sample out to a lab once in a while to make sure you aren't pushing things too far. I've seen oil that looked dreadful come back from a lab with a report showing excellent health, I've seen oil the color and clarity of honey come back with reports that it's not meeting spec.

 

[Hootbro]

The oil life monitor on a lot of cars is just an odometer function with a pre-programmed "countdown" displayed as a percentage. The car isn't actually testing the oil for particulate or viscosity, it's a good idea to send an oil sample out to a lab once in a while to make sure you aren't pushing things too far. I've seen oil that looked dreadful come back from a lab with a report showing excellent health, I've seen oil the color and clarity of honey come back with reports that it's not meeting spec.

OLM on our Jeeps is algorithm based and not just a mileage counter. You are right, it does not analyze the oil directly but takes in other engine parameters for a guesstimate calculation.

Sponsored