Low Mileage, Still Change the Oil?
We have a Jayco on the Ford 450, I put less than a 1000 miles on the last oil change five months ago. Geeze, maybe a dumb question, but with such low miles do I still need an oil change before our lon...
Forum Discussion
I consider the time period recommendations (variously 3 months, 6 months, annually) to be for vehicles that are driven regularly, but not very far. A lot of short trips will be harder on the oil than mileage built up with long trips.
Thus if I put a vehicle into storage for two years after an oil change, I will not be taking it out every six months for another oil change. The oil, nor addititives, will not deteriorate in storage conditions.
With today's 5000 mile interval recommendations (Ford's schedule for Ford spec semisynthetic), I would not worry too much about what happens to the oil on a long trip. If a change enroute at about 5000 miles is convenient, I would do it. If the trip is going to take me just over 5000, or maybe even 6000 or so, I'll let it wait until I get back. There is a lot of margin in that oil life estimate.
FWIW, the oil life estimator on my 2012 Honda Fit will push the change notification out to 8000-9000 miles when I was using the car mostly for long trips, highway driving. Honda's semisynthetic spec is the same as Ford's. Ford's calculator on my E-350 van, however, is watching the odometer, and says "oil change needed" right at 5000 miles after the reset.
Get the oil analyzed? Maybe to track potential problems, but not to save money on oil changes. My Ford dealer does an oil and filter change on my van for $10, the motorhome for $20, and I can get a $20 oil and filter change from Honda for the Fit. An analysis costs more than that. The oil costs more than that.
However, if you are worried about it, get the oil and filter changed before you go, or do it yourself. Even if your costs aren't as low as mine, usually going in before a trip it gets your tires, driveline, belts, hoses, and all fluid levels inspected. They do this with the hope of selling you something. My dealer even does a quick battery test when he does a $10 oil change.
Thus if I put a vehicle into storage for two years after an oil change, I will not be taking it out every six months for another oil change. The oil, nor addititives, will not deteriorate in storage conditions.
With today's 5000 mile interval recommendations (Ford's schedule for Ford spec semisynthetic), I would not worry too much about what happens to the oil on a long trip. If a change enroute at about 5000 miles is convenient, I would do it. If the trip is going to take me just over 5000, or maybe even 6000 or so, I'll let it wait until I get back. There is a lot of margin in that oil life estimate.
FWIW, the oil life estimator on my 2012 Honda Fit will push the change notification out to 8000-9000 miles when I was using the car mostly for long trips, highway driving. Honda's semisynthetic spec is the same as Ford's. Ford's calculator on my E-350 van, however, is watching the odometer, and says "oil change needed" right at 5000 miles after the reset.
Get the oil analyzed? Maybe to track potential problems, but not to save money on oil changes. My Ford dealer does an oil and filter change on my van for $10, the motorhome for $20, and I can get a $20 oil and filter change from Honda for the Fit. An analysis costs more than that. The oil costs more than that.
However, if you are worried about it, get the oil and filter changed before you go, or do it yourself. Even if your costs aren't as low as mine, usually going in before a trip it gets your tires, driveline, belts, hoses, and all fluid levels inspected. They do this with the hope of selling you something. My dealer even does a quick battery test when he does a $10 oil change.
