Timely Oil Changes
With manufactures of gas engines upping the mileage between oil changes, ( use to be 3000 then it went to 7000 and I have heard as high as 10,000 miles) I am wondering if the rule of changing the oil ...
Forum Discussion
I have just read this whole thread and find a lot of information on oil testing that is not correct. I ran an oil test lab when I was in the Air Force. Doing only one test will only give you a snap shot of what the conditions are right now. The best way is to do more than one sample say every 5000 miles. You have to have several samples that will establish a trend. I am using JG Lubricant services to do my analysis. On my report it does give a report on additives. They are mostly different metals. The main ones are Magnesium, Calcium, Barium, and Phosphorous.
The lab can flag the additives that are getting low.
When I got my RV I did an oil change because I had no records. I went on a 1200 mile trip before I sent in the first sample. This October after completing an 8439 mile trip I sent in a second sample. My oil still tested good. My wear metals Iron was 29 now 58 parts per million. That is an increase of 30 ppm. I think that is well within the normal wear pattern. The other wear metals tested Chromium went from 1-2 ppm. Aluminum 3-5 ppm Copper 0-2 ppm. Silver0-1 ppm the rest were 0.
You will also get a report on contamination.
I am running Mobil 1 Turbo diesel truck. 5-40. For my engine Cummins the recommended oil change is 15,000 miles or yearly. I could go longer but will change my oil before heading out on a long trip this spring.
You can also sample your transmission I have done a fluid and filter change on my Allison 300MH and Allison says I can go 250,000 before change but if it is sampled and found good you can extend the mileage/time.
The best advise to the gas engine owners are to change at the recommended interval. I do recommend the use of a synthetic oil. Mobil one is my go to oil. I use the same oil in the genarater as the main engine.
The lab can flag the additives that are getting low.
When I got my RV I did an oil change because I had no records. I went on a 1200 mile trip before I sent in the first sample. This October after completing an 8439 mile trip I sent in a second sample. My oil still tested good. My wear metals Iron was 29 now 58 parts per million. That is an increase of 30 ppm. I think that is well within the normal wear pattern. The other wear metals tested Chromium went from 1-2 ppm. Aluminum 3-5 ppm Copper 0-2 ppm. Silver0-1 ppm the rest were 0.
You will also get a report on contamination.
I am running Mobil 1 Turbo diesel truck. 5-40. For my engine Cummins the recommended oil change is 15,000 miles or yearly. I could go longer but will change my oil before heading out on a long trip this spring.
You can also sample your transmission I have done a fluid and filter change on my Allison 300MH and Allison says I can go 250,000 before change but if it is sampled and found good you can extend the mileage/time.
The best advise to the gas engine owners are to change at the recommended interval. I do recommend the use of a synthetic oil. Mobil one is my go to oil. I use the same oil in the genarater as the main engine.
