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Your opinions on oil change duration

NARDA1

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NARDA1 Enthusiast

NARDA1

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I have an 06 Silverado with 5.3 I drive about 7000 miles per year, my daily commute is 20 miles round trip. I currently run Mobil 1 with an AC Delco filter and change oil twice a year at about 3500 miles. I am considering only changing the oil once a year to take advantage of extended mileage of the synthetic oil. Do you think there is any problem with doing this?

txab Senior Enthusiast

txab

Posted
Posted

Should be no problem. But, for peace of mind, why not have an oil sample tested to find out. Cost is about $25 and it will give valuable info about what your asking.

 

 

Blackstone labs

 

 

They'll send you a free sample container to mail back to them, then provide you with a report. Tell them your interested in oil change interval info

NARDA1 Enthusiast

NARDA1

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Thanks, I ordered a kit from Blackstone.

Cowpie Senior Enthusiast

Cowpie

Posted
Posted

The Blackstone sample kit, you need to pay a little extra and make sure you also get TBN as part of the analysis. Otherwise, all you get is wear metals and such. TBN is most important if looking at oil holding up over a long period. TBN, or Total Base Number, is the additive package in the oil that protects against sludge, corrosion, condensation, acids, etc. And since it makes up almost 40% of a quart of oil, it is very important that it is doing the job. TBN depletes in effectiveness over time and one needs to track it to see how the oil is holding up.

 

7K/1 yr is not unreasonable by any stretch for oil change. There is hardly an oil that meets modern specs that will not carry thru that length of time, especially Mobil 1 like the OP is using. The OLM is a good reference, and with a daily commute of 20 miles, the engine is warming up properly and getting rid of condensation out of the oil. Some motor oils are good for twice the miles the OP is talking about. My OLM doesn't even get down to 10% left until well after 7000 miles.

 

But many are "old school" and find it difficult to go those kind of lengths to change their oil. Nothing wrong with that. I had the same problem for a few years, but following trends on hundreds of oil samples in my commercial and personal equipment, I have outgrown the old ways. And when you add this to the mix, diesels are considerably "dirtier" and harder on oil than our gasser pickup engines, and folks like Detroit Diesel now have recommendations of 50K mile oil changes! There is not a late model commercial diesel that doesn't have at least a 25K oil change recommendation. Even my 2006 Jeep Liberty 2.8L Diesel had a 11,000 mile OCI recommendation. Still running strong! Anyone still thinking that a relatively easy on the oil gasoline engine couldn't go the distance the OP is talking about just isn't up to speed on oils and engines.

 

But, we're only talking about a few quarts here, so really isn't that big of a deal. There is no set rule. I suppose folks could change their oil every 1000 miles and it really wouldn't be a bad thing. I often wonder, sometimes, folk's reasoning for picking the interval they do. If it is "cheap insurance" to change at 2000 or 3000, then why wouldn't it be even better to change at 1000, or even weekly? And where did they come up with the 2000 or 3000 or 5000 mile interval at? Not from their owner's manual on any fairly late model vehicle. But they got that number somewhere. It is just one of those curious things in life.

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
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Back in the 90s we used Amsoil I went extended on everything. Example 91 dodge Cummings total 300,000 miles, change oil every 25000 miles. 94 z 28 13000 miles change every 25000 miles. 95 dodge gas 150,000 change twice had bypass filters on it. I could go on never loss an engine due to oil. All oils are good nowdays extended drains are common.

white1500 Senior Enthusiast

white1500

Posted
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On my truck we've always changed every 4-5k miles or every 6 months. Although the previous oil interval did go up to 6k because the majority of those miles were highway. But now with more street driving I won't let it go that long.

 

I'm running castrol 10W-30 with an acdelco filter.

  • 2 weeks later...
sourdough44 Enthusiast

sourdough44

Posted
Posted

When our 2003 wasn't being driven a whole lot I would use synthetic and change the oil once a year. When it was used it was usually on trips that would get it up to full temp for a while. I may vary the oil change interval some depending on type of driving, conditions, length of trips, etc..

 

If I have a lot of easy hwy miles in a short period I'd go longer than shorter trips under more adverse conditions spread out over more calendar time. Since there is no one right answer, just do what works for you. I average in the 5-7000 mile range, for the most part.

Bassboats Enthusiast

Bassboats

Posted
Posted

I agree with Joe DD on the 5K-7K range for oil changes with your use/mileage. I put about 12K a year on my Sierra 1500 and change the oil around 5K.

 

Oil analysis could show those periods being extended. But at $20-$25/test, it'd make sense to just spend the money on oil/filter. Good article on pickup oil analysis here if you want to read: http://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/engine-oil-analysis/

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