10,000 Oil change interval.

[GregsFX2Ranger]

yep, I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee that I traded over five years ago and the Jeep dealer still sends me oil change reminders!

Unsubscribe. Those reminders come from their CRM software.

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[Tim H.]

I decided to test what I already knew to be true, that modern engines with modern oils can go much longer between oil changes than engines of the past.

Many on this site and on most other forums still claim the Ford recommended 10K oil change interval is foolish. Being a hardcore gearhead and a former Ford mechanic, I know that oil technology and engine technology has made great strides in the last few decades, and I feel the 3-5K mile oil changes are a waste of money and an environmental irresponsibility in my view.

The tolerances of todays engines and the great efforts made in friction reduction, emission and fuel controls have payed great dividends in oil life. I've noticed that the oil in my modern Ford's is cleaner at 10,000 miles than the oil was in my 70's and 80's Fords at 1000 miles.

As the oil analysis report shows, everything is A-okay after a 9800 mile oil change interval. The report says that potassium is higher than would be expected, which could indicate coolant consumption (or nothing at all). I'll go with "nothing at all" at this point, given I haven't added an ounce of coolant in to 40,000 miles I've driven the truck and it still indicated full.

Let the flaming commence.

What brand of oil are you using?

 

[db_tanker]

same here...10k for our civic as well as the ranger. both are turbo DI and have had no issues (knocking on wood of course lol)

IF I did live in Arizona, NM, or Nevada, high desert of Idaho or such...lots of mountain driving...then yeah I'd cut it down to 5k...but nah....mostly highway and fairly flat.

 

[AdamHarris]

There was a group of guys about 10 yrs ago who decided to pit Mobil 1 against Amsoil utilizing their own vehicles (chevy trucks, Camaros, Mustangs, etc). Half of them ran Mobil 1 and half Amsoil and sent oil samples to the lab every 1k miles. They let the lab tell them when to change the oil. The longest interval was a 2001 chevy truck (I believe) with Mobil 1 that went 18,500 miles before the lab said change it!! Mobil 1 won the test overall.

 

[Leftcoast]

they also carry enough oil to fill a bathtub

My last diesel was an 01 7.3 that had a 14 liter. oil capacity. IIRC 5k was the recommended interval for normal operation. A Detroit DD16 has a displacement of 15.6 liters with a 49 liter oil capacity. It has a 60k mile recommended oil service interval for long haul service. You're correct. It has over twice the displacement with over triple the oil capacity but it wil go over twelve times farther between oil changes.

 

[JohnnyO]

OP is correct, a used oil analysis is the only way to know for sure.

 

[AzScorpion]

same here...10k for our civic as well as the ranger. both are turbo DI and have had no issues (knocking on wood of course lol)

IF I did live in Arizona, NM, or Nevada, high desert of Idaho or such...lots of mountain driving...then yeah I'd cut it down to 5k...but nah....mostly highway and fairly flat.

I've always lived by the 5,000 mile rule and probably will never deviate from it. I don't put on a lot of miles but even if I did for me it's cheap insurance just like replacing the air filter every 10K.

 

[Floyd]

Mark;

A few points which should increase oil change frequency...
1] once a year even without high miles
2] consistent short trips (under 20miles)and frequent cold starts
3] some folks report fuel contamination of the oil
4] Operating under heavy loads or dirty conditions.
5] extreme heat or cold ambient temperatures


For longer oil change intervals...
1] If you drive consistently long distances (30+ miles) with light loads at steady speeds
2] Vehicle is in excellent mechanical condition and all filters are clean
3] consistently mild ambient temperatures
4] good quality fuel.

Even under ideal conditions I will continue with 1 year/5000mile intervals as a matter of choice.

Perhaps it was a waste of money and environmentally irresponsible to buy a new truck.
To meet those two virtue signalling goals, consider driving less and returning your used oil for recycle and stop wasting your money on oil analysis unless you sample for fleet purposes

 

[FX4Offroad]

I go by manufacturer recommendations for type of oil and when the computer tells me its time to change. That ranges from approx. 8,500 to 10,000 miles - depending on my driving conditions.

Truck runs like a top at just over 27k miles.

I consistently get 22 mpg average - running 87. I get between 24-27 highway speeds (65 mph)

Oh, I run in "Sport mode" most of the time around town. Drive mode on the highway.

Bottom line, I trust the engineers recommendations.

 

[FX4Offroad]

I have a question.

Why does driving in dirty/dusty conditions affect oil change intervals? Dirt shouldn't get in the oil. Of course, I'm assuming the air filter is changed as needed.

 

[Floyd]

I have a question.

Why does driving in dirty/dusty conditions affect oil change intervals? Dirt shouldn't get in the oil. Of course, I'm assuming the air filter is changed as needed.

You're right, it shouldn't.....

 

[t4thfavor]

My last diesel was an 01 7.3 that had a 14 liter. oil capacity. IIRC 5k was the recommended interval for normal operation. A Detroit DD16 has a displacement of 15.6 liters with a 49 liter oil capacity. It has a 60k mile recommended oil service interval for long haul service. You're correct. It has over twice the displacement with over triple the oil capacity but it wil go over twelve times farther between oil changes.

99.995% of heavy diesels are are using an oil bypass filter system from the factory which can extend the oil interval almost forever... It's further helped by the more relaxed EPA requirements around DPF, EGR and DEF on heavier diesel vehicles. I have a carbureted John Deere 3cyl mower that has an open crank case vent, and no other emissions systems where the oil stays see through like honey forever where the oil in my truck is dark and getting black within the first week after the change, those examples are worlds apart from our trucks engine.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

I'm also impressed with the extended oil change intervals of today's modern engines and oils , but I will still do mine at 5k. Because, turbo. In my locale, the brutal summer Fla heat and towing add additional stresses the vehicle's computer may not be factoring in. Changing the oil at more conservative intervals makes sense for my needs, and I don't view it as an environmentally wasteful as the oil is recycled.

Pretty much this for me as well, except that I'm in Houston.

 

[JeffWoodall]

To me, this is a common sense pragmatic issue. The engineers say you "can" go 10K miles before your oil needs to be changed. Any oil, in any engine will get dirty as times goes on, no matter how hard or easy you are on the engine; how many oil changes has anyone ever done with several thousand miles, where the oil wasn't black? Black=dirty oil, period. The engine will last longer with cleaner oil, period. I change mine every 5K miles and will continue doing so. As a side note, surely the Auto Executives would want our engines to last as long as they could so we wouldn't buy a new vehicle, right? They have our best interest in mind, right? 10K miles my arse..

 

[VAMike]

To me, this is a common sense pragmatic issue. The engineers say you "can" go 10K miles before your oil needs to be changed. Any oil, in any engine will get dirty as times goes on, no matter how hard or easy you are on the engine; how many oil changes has anyone ever done with several thousand miles, where the oil wasn't black? Black=dirty oil, period.

sorry, you're just wrong. a direct inject engine like the one in the ranger produces soot that will make the oil black very quickly. the oil is designed to handle that, as it is a normal condition. looking at the oil and deciding to change it because of its color is something people did 50 years ago, with different oil in different engines, and is simply not relevant today.

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