Timely Oil Changes

gasguzler wrote:

jfkmk wrote:
The oil doesn't go bad, it collects contaminants the filter can't get rid of, including moisture. I change the oil in my tv once a year. It works out to be about 6000 miles.

What kind of TV? Plasma? ;)

TV = common abbreviation around here. Tow Vehicle.

wildtoad wrote:
One year or 7500 miles whichever comes first. Modern filters, modern oils go a long way. Some still stick to the 3k "standard" and that's OK too.

Used motor oil is recyclable if not mixed with other liquids (solvents, water, thinners, etc). Most newer vehicles have a computer tell you when you should change your oil. That is what I go by on our Toad, but I still have a older class C that I change once a year (about 3000-4500 miles).

I was a mechanic for 20 years, and told my customers that oil should be changed every 3000 miles. I no longer believe that, as the engines in modern vehicles and the fuel we are using now (unleaded) do not allow the contamination of oil that they did before. (Be aware: many short trips of less than 2-4 miles can require more frequent changes).

Used motor oil is rated as a "hazardous material". If you have a professional change it for you, they are required to recycle it. If you do it yourself, take the used oil to a Auto-zone or NAPA. They will accept it and recycle it for you.

Study your owners manual. There is really no reason to spend the money if the manufacturer doesn't think it is necessary.

The key to long interval oil changes, is throughly warming the engine and transmission to evaporate moisture from the oil, so acid doe not form. Yes, todays oil is much better than the 1960s, but it makes me a little afraid when rebuild flat tappet cams, as the oil is missing a key element for them to break-in properly.

Plasma TVs contain a lifetime oil, or 60,000 hours of operation, which ever comes first.

I have been using Amsoil for about as long as it has been out and change it once a year. I have never had an engine go bad the and Subaru #12 died at 300,000 miles and that was drive train.
I read a trade magazine for steel mills when I worked at North Star Steel concerning using synthetic oils and have been using them since they were available, and yes the additive package is important.

jfkmk wrote:
The oil doesn't go bad, it collects contaminants the filter can't get rid of, including moisture. I change the oil in my tv once a year. It works out to be about 6000 miles.

What kind of TV? Plasma? ;)

I own a 36' Winnebago, Workhorse Chassis with a 496 Chevy engine and my owners manual says change oil once a year or every 7,500 miles. I use Mobil 1 Synthetic Oil 5w-30w (with the gold cap on the bottle "Extended Performance") I've been doing this for 10 years with this coach!

Triker33 wrote:

Then you haven't read the section in your owners manual about maintenance. :S

Yup.
It amazes me that people don't read the manual for what is often one of the most expensive and maintenance-intensive things we own. The folks who built the thing give us a book on how to care for it...

Oil does not go bad it has been underground for millions of years! additives deteriorate and contaminants get into it. Oil can and has been recycled for years by being filtered and having new additives added.
If the rings on your pistons are not loose or worn allowing blow back, you should not get "soot" in your oil. Most contaminant in oil results from heat burning additives and residuals from engine wear and dust. At Husky we used to sell recycled oil at a lower price. Oil and antifreeze are recycled in Alberta, picked up regularly from service centers by recyclers.

Oil goes bad with time, assuming it has been run and then let sit. The soot that naturally builds up in the oil turns acidic over time, so you don't want to leave that in your engine. If you have an off season when you don't drive the RV much, you should change the oil right after your last trip, that way there isn't any soot in it to change state. Conversely, pure oil its self does not really have a shelf life, it is only the soot contaminant that causes it to have a shelf life.

As far as mileage, that really depends on the type of oil. You get longer time with synthetics. Conventional oil has an interval target of about 6 to 7000 miles, depending on how it is used and the condition of the engine. This assumes that you have a newer engine with a large capacity oil pan. Older engines that have smaller pans and flat tappet lifters not only should use additional additives, but should be changed more often.

One year or 7500 miles whichever comes first. Modern filters, modern oils go a long way. Some still stick to the 3k "standard" and that's OK too.