Bank of Dad wrote:
I have a new 2013 Suburban Truck with 4200 miles on it over the past 5 months. I am going to do about 1000 miles this upcoming week, not towing. My oil life indicator says 43% and "oil change not indicated". My significant other says get it done tomorrow before the trip.
Experts--when do I change the oil?
The only 'one size fits all' here is to follow the manual and note
that there are two or more conditions...."normal" all the way up to
"severe" duty {edit}....also follow the manual requirements for the
engine oil and filter...note that is the MINIMUM spec for your oil
Notice that one has longer periods vs the shorter periods both in time
and milage
So much depends...on how you drive, where you drive, what you tow and
in part what you use as far as materials for your maintenance
For my vehicles...Before the divorce...the two lux sedans followed the
manual's 'normal' (mud hen, as the ex drove it like an old lady...even
when she was in her twenties)
For 'my' vehicles, it depends on how the oil PSI gauge acts and if
the engine starts to consume engine oil
NOTE that I'm anal about this kind of stuff. I concoct my own engine
oil mixture and have several formulas dependent on which vehicle and
where/what am going to do
Synthetics all the way for me. Molybdenum the norm and am in self
trials testing Tungsten Disulfide. Cost and availability married with
the right max particulate size (<3 microns 'cuz I use the best can
afford filters)
My 1996 7.4L big block at +160,000 VERY, VERY hard miles does NOT consume
engine oil. Never did, but with that said it will occasionally and
know that the engine oil needs to be changed. OR when the engine oil
PSI drops a bit and the biggie on that when the PSI fluctuates...even
a tiny bit.
The engine oil PSI gauge no longer pegs on start up and when up to
temp, no longer as high a PSI as before. That is telling me to start
noodling a rebuild or crate. On that, there are no performance crate
engines that I've found to date (SMOG testing so a key requirement here in Calif)
I do NOT believe in having my engine oil tested on a regular basis for "ME"
Some test each charge, but for me again, that $28 or so bucks pays for
most of an engine oil/filter change.
Bottom line is that you need to decide, as you are the only one who
knows your driving style, terrain, setup, etc. Would I recommend my
schedule and materials? Nope, not many even under stand that a slight
drop in PSI, or a slight consumption means it is past time to change...
