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Al2024's avatar
Al2024
Explorer
Aug 26, 2014

Never changed the oil.

I'm thinking of buying a used 2012 motorhome with 5000 miles on the Ford E450 engine that has never had the oil changed.
If I purchase it I plan on getting the engine flushed & new oil added.
My question is has no oil changes degraded the engine? Has it been badly damaged or should it be OK?
Thank you,
  • Just put in fresh oil & filter and don't worry about it!
  • Manufacturers of the newer vehicles have set the intervals at 5000, 7500 or 10000 mile oil change depending on the vehicle and use.

    My 2001 Toyota is at 7500 miles.

    You'll be OK.
  • I change the oil in my V10 at about every 7000 miles. It has 171,??? now and it's good so far. I wouldn't worry about it.
    We just got home sat, your pots maid me think. I just went and hope.ed the hood. It's been almost 10,000 miles and it's not down a qt yet. Time to change it this week sometime.
  • I doubt it with that few miles . You'll never drive it enough to see the effects. With these heavy duty engines designed for at least a quarter million I doubt if you never changed the oil and brought the life down to 100000 miles you'd know it at 5-7 grand a year average .. But that's just my opinion :-) a lot of people rightly worry about keeping their engine good for that 250,000 and will never see 50,000 !
  • If those miles were highway miles, probably no harm.

    If started and not driven enough to get the OIL (not just coolant) up to temperature, it could be a real issue. Particularly true if in Florida or other humid area.

    I would pull and oil sample and have it analyzed. Also, remove the oil filler cap and check for signs of moisture.