I'm considering a beautiful, garage kept 2007 Winnie Adventurer with the W24 Workhorse chassis. Unfortunately, it has only had one oil change, and that was at 6000 miles. I also wonder about the engine coolant and the potential for corrosion.Should I pass?

6000 miles is not that bad , your heading says 11000, that is 2 many

Take an oil sample and have it completely analyzed. They should be able to give you a handle on how much acid and other contaminates are present. Be sure to tell them the situation you are in and ask for their recommendations based on what they find. Blackstone Lab or JG Lubricant Services are a couple of good ones.

With today's kinds of HI-Tec oils I wouldn't think it would be a problem. Do you know the kind of oil the owner was using?

If it already had an oil change at 6K miles and the moho now has 11K miles, it tells me it's due for another change right now. I won't be too concerned.

You could go the lab route, but how does the oil look? Milky at all? First concern would be if there had been any moisture buildup due to long term storage. Did they excercise the engine at all? What types of trips did they make? If they took the unit 20 miles to a local lake a dozen or more times a year, I would think it was fine, all the fluids were warmed up and circulated frequently. Or was it one or two 3000 mile trips in all those years, meaning those fluids sat dormant for long spells. And that same concern would go for the tranny too.

One oil change in 11000 miles? | Good Sam Community

47 Replies

time2roll
Nomad
May 15, 2018
Yes change it every 6,000 so you can get a few short trips in before the RV hits 12,000 and needs the second oil change. As long as you put it away hot I would change on mileage only, not time. Do check the oil level and top off as needed.
ksg5000
Explorer
May 15, 2018
If it were me I would change out all the fluids (don't forget the brake fluid) and likely give it a new set of batteries as well. Might have a tire expert examine the tires as well. Age creates problems regardless of miles.
DRTDEVL
Explorer
May 15, 2018
No problem. I ran my Ford van on a 20,000 mile drain interval, with filters every 5,000 miles. It is still running perfectly for the new owner, and I surrendered it to the ex in the divorce at 302,000 miles (she promptly sold it to spite me).
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
May 15, 2018
Captain_Happy wrote:
With today's kinds of HI-Tec oils I wouldn't think it would be a problem.

Concur ! Coolant and other fluids should be good.
larry_barnhart
Explorer
May 15, 2018
Ro646a wrote:
JimK-NY wrote:
My Honda CRV came with "break in" oil and instructions not to do an oil change before 6000 miles. My Dodge Ram with Cummins diesel specifies a 7000 mile change. I follow that guideline.

In the past engines had poor tolerances and oils were not very good. Change intervals were about 3000 miles. There has not been any reason for doing that with an engine built in the last 30 years or so.

Because this is a 2007 model I would have like to see another change or two, but there are other issues that are probably more important. I am sure the tires need to be replaced, maybe hoses and belts, all the fluids including brake fluid. I would also be concerned about stale fuel and plugged injectors. Engine oil and engine wear are way down on the list of concerns.

I agree but would also do new antifreeze.
chevman

Good point about the tires. A new set of tires is the first thing I would buy. Hoses and belts would also be high on my list.
Thanks
mike-uswest
Explorer III
May 15, 2018
I have a friend that is a logger, he changes the oil when it gets so thick he can't pull the dip stick out. He just sold his favorite truck with 450 thousand miles on it. He has had several new trucks during this time for he or his workers to drive, but he just liked the old truck.

Mike
Ro646a
Explorer II
May 15, 2018
JimK-NY wrote:
My Honda CRV came with "break in" oil and instructions not to do an oil change before 6000 miles. My Dodge Ram with Cummins diesel specifies a 7000 mile change. I follow that guideline.

In the past engines had poor tolerances and oils were not very good. Change intervals were about 3000 miles. There has not been any reason for doing that with an engine built in the last 30 years or so.

Because this is a 2007 model I would have like to see another change or two, but there are other issues that are probably more important. I am sure the tires need to be replaced, maybe hoses and belts, all the fluids including brake fluid. I would also be concerned about stale fuel and plugged injectors. Engine oil and engine wear are way down on the list of concerns.

Good point about the tires. A new set of tires is the first thing I would buy. Hoses and belts would also be high on my list.
Thanks
Lynnmor
Explorer II
May 15, 2018
Bobbo wrote:
My new 2017 F-150 recommends oil changes every 10,000 miles or 1 year. The first oil change at 6,000 miles with a second at 11,000 miles wouldn't worry me at all.

The RV in question is 11 years old, going by your figures it is 10 oil changes too few.

The oil should be lab tested as stated above. With luck it will be fine, but why trust to luck. There is too much at stake to take a chance, and Blackstone Labs exists for just this kind of thing.
JimK-NY
Explorer II
May 15, 2018
My Honda CRV came with "break in" oil and instructions not to do an oil change before 6000 miles. My Dodge Ram with Cummins diesel specifies a 7000 mile change. I follow that guideline.

In the past engines had poor tolerances and oils were not very good. Change intervals were about 3000 miles. There has not been any reason for doing that with an engine built in the last 30 years or so.

Because this is a 2007 model I would have like to see another change or two, but there are other issues that are probably more important. I am sure the tires need to be replaced, maybe hoses and belts, all the fluids including brake fluid. I would also be concerned about stale fuel and plugged injectors. Engine oil and engine wear are way down on the list of concerns.
Ro646a
Explorer II
May 15, 2018
Busdriver wrote:
6000 miles is not that bad , your heading says 11000, that is 2 many

I'll change my wording to make it more clear.
Thanks. :-)

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One oil change in 11000 miles?

47 Replies

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