One oil change in 11000 miles?

soren wrote:

afidel wrote:

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

For a motorhome, probably, but the wife's Grand caravan has gone 11-12k miles between oil changes. It has an oil quality sensor and we change it when indicated. The first time I was a bit sceptical but we sent a retain sample out for analysis and the oil at ~11,400 miles had 20-30% additives left and a fairly low breakdown percentage (was still redish when you looked through it, not blackened)

It's your money, but you might want to give this a bit more research. I've got a good friend who is a top notch independent mechanic. His shop gets at least one engine replacement job, and/or a $3-5K repair job to valve gear, timing chains, heads etc.... that they can directly attribute to changing oil at 10-15K intervals, at least once a week. Manufacturers, including GM and BMW and others, are quietly backing off the 10-15K intervals, by reprogramming software, and issuing TSBs. BMW made a very big deal of extended intervals, then discovered that it made for engines that self-destructing at the 100-125K mile range. I do DIY changes with Mobil 1 Synthetic and an OEM filter, every 5K on my vehicles. When looking for any used vehicles, I will not touch anything without documented changes at the 7K mark, or less. Subaru, GM and many euro luxury brands have all found that extended changes are less than optimal.

Yep, the Oil Life Monitor was designed to make it seem like the vehicle you bought requires very little maintenance. I too have seen the effects of following the oil life monitor. I wouldn't go beyond 6k miles. and that is pushing it. As a technician myself I don`t go over 5k miles on a vehicle with synthetic oil. and 4k max on traditional oil. $40 for a regular oil change is cheaper than any engine repair related to poor oil change schedule.

afidel wrote:

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

For a motorhome, probably, but the wife's Grand caravan has gone 11-12k miles between oil changes. It has an oil quality sensor and we change it when indicated. The first time I was a bit sceptical but we sent a retain sample out for analysis and the oil at ~11,400 miles had 20-30% additives left and a fairly low breakdown percentage (was still redish when you looked through it, not blackened)

It's your money, but you might want to give this a bit more research. I've got a good friend who is a top notch independent mechanic. His shop gets at least one engine replacement job, and/or a $3-5K repair job to valve gear, timing chains, heads etc.... that they can directly attribute to changing oil at 10-15K intervals, at least once a week. Manufacturers, including GM and BMW and others, are quietly backing off the 10-15K intervals, by reprogramming software, and issuing TSBs. BMW made a very big deal of extended intervals, then discovered that it made for engines that self-destructing at the 100-125K mile range. I do DIY changes with Mobil 1 Synthetic and an OEM filter, every 5K on my vehicles. When looking for any used vehicles, I will not touch anything without documented changes at the 7K mark, or less. Subaru, GM and many euro luxury brands have all found that extended changes are less than optimal.

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

For a motorhome, probably, but the wife's Grand caravan has gone 11-12k miles between oil changes. It has an oil quality sensor and we change it when indicated. The first time I was a bit sceptical but we sent a retain sample out for analysis and the oil at ~11,400 miles had 20-30% additives left and a fairly low breakdown percentage (was still redish when you looked through it, not blackened)

soren wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:

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.

Stunning to see how many fail to actual READ the OP's post. YES, changing the engine oil in a vehicle, ONCE IN A DOZEN YEARS is a big issue! It's a serious lack of proper care, and probably is indicative of how well the rest of the rig was (NOT) maintained. Failing to service the coolant is another issue. I wouldn't think of buying the thing without a full analysis of the engine oil, coolant, and trans. fluid. Use Blackstone labs, understand their sampling protocol, and give them detailed information about the vehicle's history. You will get a lot of valuable information from their reports and commentary. Rigs that sit for years can be a whole lot of trouble, since every seal, gasket and rubber part tends to dry out and potentially fail. Personally, I wouldn't touch the thing unless it was a huge bargain, and you had no issue throwing thousands, at getting it back into shape. Tires, belts, hoses, and a nose to tail, full deferred maintenance catch up, on the thing could easily hit $5-8K. Is this one worth it?

I was shocked at first too,,but if someone drives very litle every year one oil change in 11.000 miles doesnt seem so bad..

For example my 08 Silverado has around 120.000 km on..and I change oil once a year since I dont even drive 5000 km a year..
Oil intervals are recomended every 10.000 km..
Changed transmision oil and filter twice..
Changed Radiator Dexcool once its good for 100.000 klicks
And it still runs like new..

Lynnmor wrote:

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.

Stunning to see how many fail to actual READ the OP's post. YES, changing the engine oil in a vehicle, ONCE IN A DOZEN YEARS is a big issue! It's a serious lack of proper care, and probably is indicative of how well the rest of the rig was (NOT) maintained. Failing to service the coolant is another issue. I wouldn't think of buying the thing without a full analysis of the engine oil, coolant, and trans. fluid. Use Blackstone labs, understand their sampling protocol, and give them detailed information about the vehicle's history. You will get a lot of valuable information from their reports and commentary. Rigs that sit for years can be a whole lot of trouble, since every seal, gasket and rubber part tends to dry out and potentially fail. Personally, I wouldn't touch the thing unless it was a huge bargain, and you had no issue throwing thousands, at getting it back into shape. Tires, belts, hoses, and a nose to tail, full deferred maintenance catch up, on the thing could easily hit $5-8K. Is this one worth it?

Just so everyone gets a good handle on what an oil analysis can do for you, I just got this in an email. Might be good to put it in the reference file.Oil Testing

Thank you for all of the responses. I have decided to keep looking. I want to get something a little larger than our 36' diesel Journey, and after having owned 6 other motorhomes I prefer the simplicity of a gas unit over the diesel. I didn't realize until this morning that the passenger seat in this Adventurer floor plan has no space to recline, and that is a feature that we require. Anyway I'll just keep looking for now. Perhaps I'll just get another diesel.

Thanks again for all the help.

11K and on its second oil change in 11 years, I'd worry. As far as oil change intervals, read the SEVERE DUTY intervals and go by that for a MH. I can't imagine any MH that doesn't fit into the severe duty category.

Adam

I would be less concerned with mileage than time. One oil change in 11 years is simply not enough. Also, brake fluid should be changed every three years, and coolant is typically good for five years.

The mh may be nice and garage kept, but it certainly not been properly maintained.

That wouldn't scare me off at all.
All this industry propaganda about having to change oil at least every 12 mos. just doesn't ring true to me.
I've taken apart a couple of engines that sat for years in the same oil and never saw any of the degradation they describe and those were carb'd engines. EFI is much easier on oil.