Quick question about oil changes
I have 2015 Winnie on E350 chassis. We live in southern California and only use our RV 2-3 times a year. We drive a total of less than 500 miles a year. Question is: is it ok to replace oil every 3...
Forum Discussion
This is how I see it.
Unlike transmissions, engines are designed so that nearly all of the oil drains into the oil pan. In the case of the original poster, how much harm is 500 mile use, 1000 mile use, 1500 mile use, or 2000 mile use motor oil doing sitting in the bottom of the oil pan? While sitting inside the oil pan, how badly is it really depreciating?
It is with that same logic that I change our rig's engine oil just prior to leaving on a long 4000-6000 mile trip. This means the old oil could be in the oil pan for 9 months or longer. In preparing for a long trip like that, I drive the rig to church (a 24 mile round trip) to get the old oil hot and circulate it well about the engine to capture any accumulated moisture. Upon returning home, I immediately drain the old oil hot. I always visually inspect the old oil sitting in the drain pan and while pouring it into a jug for disposal. It never looks unusual or concerning, and there is not one drop of water or indication of moisture seen anywhere. Not in the oil, not in the drain pan, and not a hint of tan goo on the inside of the oil fill cap. If there was a lot of moisture in the engine, a light streak of tan goo could form on the oil fill cap.
This picture shows an extreme amount of tan goo, an indication of a head gasket failure. But a very light streak of tan goo can sometimes be found on the oil fill caps on vehicles that are driven so very little like the original poster. I have never seen a tan goo streak on my own vehicles. Only on vehicles donated where I volunteer. Some vehicles sit outside for a number of years before the owner decides to donate it. I can tell by the aging layers of pine needles accumulated at the base of the wind shield. Sometimes you can count them like tree rings.
Unlike transmissions, engines are designed so that nearly all of the oil drains into the oil pan. In the case of the original poster, how much harm is 500 mile use, 1000 mile use, 1500 mile use, or 2000 mile use motor oil doing sitting in the bottom of the oil pan? While sitting inside the oil pan, how badly is it really depreciating?
It is with that same logic that I change our rig's engine oil just prior to leaving on a long 4000-6000 mile trip. This means the old oil could be in the oil pan for 9 months or longer. In preparing for a long trip like that, I drive the rig to church (a 24 mile round trip) to get the old oil hot and circulate it well about the engine to capture any accumulated moisture. Upon returning home, I immediately drain the old oil hot. I always visually inspect the old oil sitting in the drain pan and while pouring it into a jug for disposal. It never looks unusual or concerning, and there is not one drop of water or indication of moisture seen anywhere. Not in the oil, not in the drain pan, and not a hint of tan goo on the inside of the oil fill cap. If there was a lot of moisture in the engine, a light streak of tan goo could form on the oil fill cap.
This picture shows an extreme amount of tan goo, an indication of a head gasket failure. But a very light streak of tan goo can sometimes be found on the oil fill caps on vehicles that are driven so very little like the original poster. I have never seen a tan goo streak on my own vehicles. Only on vehicles donated where I volunteer. Some vehicles sit outside for a number of years before the owner decides to donate it. I can tell by the aging layers of pine needles accumulated at the base of the wind shield. Sometimes you can count them like tree rings.
