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oil changes

elle8
Explorer
Explorer
we are getting close ,,,, like a little kid at xmas , im telling you . im driving myself crazy never mind the people around me . okay ,for my 2011 36 ft winnie vista ,,, v10 ford gasser ,,,, being new to this , my question is are there many places near rv camps to have this done , we plan , and dealer said change every 3 thousand . i have always been true to that in all my chevy pickups ,,,last one had 211,064 miles on it . so that should tell you a little .
36 REPLIES 36

westend
Explorer
Explorer
CKNSLS wrote:
handsome51 wrote:
I thought I would add my 2 cents. I will agree that the oil today is way better then it use to be in the 60s and 70s. Back then when a engine had around 75.000 miles on it . You would see it smoking going down the road. Back then you had to change your oil every 2,000 miles if you wanted your engine to last. I am still a fanatic on changing my oil. If I use mineral oil, I change it every 3000 miles. If I use synthetic oil I change it every 5000 miles. I know I could go longer on the synthetic oil. In fact in my diesel I use amsoil heavy duty synthetic diesel and marine oil with the amsoil filter. According to amsoil using this oil and their filer I can go 20.000 miles or 1 year between oil change. As often as I change the oil I could use their cheaper synthetic oil and be just as well off. But this is what I go by besides humans are creatures of habit. Back in the 60s when my dad was changing oil every 2000 miles. He said son, a oil change is the cheapest motor overhaul your ever going to get.I said to myself, he is right.Like I said ,I do go overboard on the oil change intervals . But like my dad said it is the cheapest motor overhaul you are ever going to get. Plus when you do have to work on my engines. When you pull the valve covers or the intake. The block looks like brand new with fresh motor oil poured down it. Their is not sludge.


If you do it (change oil) based on habit-that is one thing. However, you could go longer on both conventional oil and synthetic oil without any issues whatsoever. There are plenty of UOAs over at bobistheoilguy.com that PROVES what I just suggested to you. Oils are a entirely different product today than they were when your dad was working on cars.
Yes, today's oils are better but are there less combustion byproducts or dirt in the crankcase? I would venture to say, yes, todays engines operate on closer tolerances and there are better materials, machined to a finer product. I'd also say that the difference is not 50%, 30%, or even 20% less contamination of the oil. Today's oils will have less friction over the duration but they don't do that much better of a job removing the products that cause engine wear.

Ask a SAAB owner about oil change intervals. SAAB made a huge error by putting the interval out to 15,000 mi. With the 9-5 warrantied to 100K mi, it hit their bankroll hard when all of the engines failed in the warranty period. They soon found their mistake and lowered the interval to 10,000 mi.
'03 F-250 4x4 CC
'71 Starcraft Wanderstar -- The Cowboy/Hilton

CKNSLS
Explorer
Explorer
handsome51 wrote:
I thought I would add my 2 cents. I will agree that the oil today is way better then it use to be in the 60s and 70s. Back then when a engine had around 75.000 miles on it . You would see it smoking going down the road. Back then you had to change your oil every 2,000 miles if you wanted your engine to last. I am still a fanatic on changing my oil. If I use mineral oil, I change it every 3000 miles. If I use synthetic oil I change it every 5000 miles. I know I could go longer on the synthetic oil. In fact in my diesel I use amsoil heavy duty synthetic diesel and marine oil with the amsoil filter. According to amsoil using this oil and their filer I can go 20.000 miles or 1 year between oil change. As often as I change the oil I could use their cheaper synthetic oil and be just as well off. But this is what I go by besides humans are creatures of habit. Back in the 60s when my dad was changing oil every 2000 miles. He said son, a oil change is the cheapest motor overhaul your ever going to get.I said to myself, he is right.Like I said ,I do go overboard on the oil change intervals . But like my dad said it is the cheapest motor overhaul you are ever going to get. Plus when you do have to work on my engines. When you pull the valve covers or the intake. The block looks like brand new with fresh motor oil poured down it. Their is not sludge.


If you do it (change oil) based on habit-that is one thing. However, you could go longer on both conventional oil and synthetic oil without any issues whatsoever. There are plenty of UOAs over at bobistheoilguy.com that PROVES what I just suggested to you. Oils are a entirely different product today than they were when your dad was working on cars.

handsome51
Explorer
Explorer
I thought I would add my 2 cents. I will agree that the oil today is way better then it use to be in the 60s and 70s. Back then when a engine had around 75.000 miles on it . You would see it smoking going down the road. Back then you had to change your oil every 2,000 miles if you wanted your engine to last. I am still a fanatic on changing my oil. If I use mineral oil, I change it every 3000 miles. If I use synthetic oil I change it every 5000 miles. I know I could go longer on the synthetic oil. In fact in my diesel I use amsoil heavy duty synthetic diesel and marine oil with the amsoil filter. According to amsoil using this oil and their filer I can go 20.000 miles or 1 year between oil change. As often as I change the oil I could use their cheaper synthetic oil and be just as well off. But this is what I go by besides humans are creatures of habit. Back in the 60s when my dad was changing oil every 2000 miles. He said son, a oil change is the cheapest motor overhaul your ever going to get.I said to myself, he is right.Like I said ,I do go overboard on the oil change intervals . But like my dad said it is the cheapest motor overhaul you are ever going to get. Plus when you do have to work on my engines. When you pull the valve covers or the intake. The block looks like brand new with fresh motor oil poured down it. Their is not sludge.

CKNSLS
Explorer
Explorer
wny_pat wrote:
MattINW wrote:
And yet from what I understand in general US oil change recommendations are more frequent than Europe. Makes you wonder...

Yep, But their oil is a higher quality. But I still marvel that VW can get 30,000 miles between oil changes in their little diesel!



True....the quality of oil is different.

wny_pat1
Explorer
Explorer
MattINW wrote:
And yet from what I understand in general US oil change recommendations are more frequent than Europe. Makes you wonder...

Yep, But their oil is a higher quality. But I still marvel that VW can get 30,000 miles between oil changes in their little diesel!
“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”

dsurette
Explorer
Explorer
Elle8, I think your original question was how and not when to get your oil changed. The suggestion to check with the CG manager was right on. I don't full time but I have needed an oil change while on the road several times and have had no problem making arrangements to have it done on site at the CG.
As for when, what ever interval makes you comfortable.

CKNSLS
Explorer
Explorer
dodge guy wrote:
CKNSLS wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
Wow! You guys must own an oil analysis company. No I don't bother with an oil analysis because I maintain my vehicles on a regular basis. It takes 10 minutes and $15-50 (depending on amount and brand). Well worth it to know my vehicles will last a very long time!

And unless you see first hand what an extended oil change interval can do you don't know! I've seen failures from Hondas to Mercedes Benzes because of people that think 7k and up miles oil changes are all that is required! If you go by the schedule/OLM or even an oil analysis you're playing with fire and it's only a matter of time before you have issues. Sometimes you get lucky!



Your mistaken-motors don't fail due to an oil related issue. Hardly ever! The manufacturers have spent alot of research on their OLMs. Again-OLMs have been checked by UOAs and have been determined to be accurate.

You sir-don't know what your talking about.


I think some people need to research the various manuf. that have changed oil change intervals and updated the OLM in the computers. if they new so much there wouldn`t be any need to update the intervals!

I`m done here. not arguing with people that haven`t seen first hand what damage can be done by extended oil changes!:R


Yea-me too. Somebody who is stil doing the same thing they were doing 20 years ago.....They have updated the intervals because it has been PROVEN the new oils can take it.

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Explorer II
CKNSLS wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
Wow! You guys must own an oil analysis company. No I don't bother with an oil analysis because I maintain my vehicles on a regular basis. It takes 10 minutes and $15-50 (depending on amount and brand). Well worth it to know my vehicles will last a very long time!

And unless you see first hand what an extended oil change interval can do you don't know! I've seen failures from Hondas to Mercedes Benzes because of people that think 7k and up miles oil changes are all that is required! If you go by the schedule/OLM or even an oil analysis you're playing with fire and it's only a matter of time before you have issues. Sometimes you get lucky!



Your mistaken-motors don't fail due to an oil related issue. Hardly ever! The manufacturers have spent alot of research on their OLMs. Again-OLMs have been checked by UOAs and have been determined to be accurate.

You sir-don't know what your talking about.


I think some people need to research the various manuf. that have changed oil change intervals and updated the OLM in the computers. if they new so much there wouldn`t be any need to update the intervals!

I`m done here. not arguing with people that haven`t seen first hand what damage can be done by extended oil changes!:R
Wife Kim
Son Brandon 17yrs
Daughter Marissa 16yrs
Dog Bailey

12 Forest River Georgetown 350TS Hellwig sway bars, BlueOx TrueCenter stabilizer

13 Ford Explorer Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000, VIP Tow>
A bad day camping is
better than a good day at work!

CKNSLS
Explorer
Explorer
dodge guy wrote:
Wow! You guys must own an oil analysis company. No I don't bother with an oil analysis because I maintain my vehicles on a regular basis. It takes 10 minutes and $15-50 (depending on amount and brand). Well worth it to know my vehicles will last a very long time!

And unless you see first hand what an extended oil change interval can do you don't know! I've seen failures from Hondas to Mercedes Benzes because of people that think 7k and up miles oil changes are all that is required! If you go by the schedule/OLM or even an oil analysis you're playing with fire and it's only a matter of time before you have issues. Sometimes you get lucky!



Your mistaken-motors don't fail due to an oil related issue. Hardly ever! The manufacturers have spent alot of research on their OLMs. Again-OLMs have been checked by UOAs and have been determined to be accurate.

You sir-don't know what your talking about.

campigloo
Explorer
Explorer
Back to the original question, any shop with a ceiling height high enough to get the thing in and on the rack should be able to do an oil change. I would look around while roaming and try to remember that shop and call them. If they don't want to or can't do it, they would probably know someone that can.

Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Explorer
No I don't bother with an oil analysis


Just what I thought. You have no idea what shape your oil is in.

And why 3 to 4K? Who picked that number? Ouija board? Tarot cards? Coin flip? Why not 1000 miles or even 500 miles? After all, you can never be too careful. :R

I change my oil right around 10K. Why? Because that is what the OLM says to do. You know, the people that engineered and build my engine also designed the OLM system. And then it was backed up with lab analysis. Know what the lab said at 10K? "Your close, but you still have a little time on your oil." So even the OLM system is conservative.

BTW, I'm not suggesting you change your schedule. The economy is still bad in the US and people with your oil change schedule keep the economy going. :B Thank you for your contribution!
~ Too many freaks & not enough circuses ~


"Life is not tried ~ it is merely survived ~ if you're standing
outside the fire"

"The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly."- Abraham Lincoln

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Explorer II
Wow! You guys must own an oil analysis company. No I don't bother with an oil analysis because I maintain my vehicles on a regular basis. It takes 10 minutes and $15-50 (depending on amount and brand). Well worth it to know my vehicles will last a very long time!

And unless you see first hand what an extended oil change interval can do you don't know! I've seen failures from Hondas to Mercedes Benzes because of people that think 7k and up miles oil changes are all that is required! If you go by the schedule/OLM or even an oil analysis you're playing with fire and it's only a matter of time before you have issues. Sometimes you get lucky!
Wife Kim
Son Brandon 17yrs
Daughter Marissa 16yrs
Dog Bailey

12 Forest River Georgetown 350TS Hellwig sway bars, BlueOx TrueCenter stabilizer

13 Ford Explorer Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000, VIP Tow>
A bad day camping is
better than a good day at work!

Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Explorer
dodge guy wrote:
3-4k mile oil change intetvals are the best preventative maintanance! I would never recomend 7k+ mile oil changes to anyone, regardless of what an oil analysis says! I've seen far to many engine problems related to extended oil changes or following what the manuf. recomends or what a programmed oil life monitor tells you! It's cheap insurance to change the oil and the life of the motor is extended far beyond what the manuf. expects out of one following there schedule. The manuf. likes to sell you a car that requires minimal to zero maint to make ownership look less costly. All they care about is getting the vehicle through the warranty period, after that any repairs are on the owner!


Have you ever done an oil analysis in your life? If not, how do you know how good your oil is?
~ Too many freaks & not enough circuses ~


"Life is not tried ~ it is merely survived ~ if you're standing
outside the fire"

"The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly."- Abraham Lincoln

CKNSLS
Explorer
Explorer
dodge guy wrote:
3-4k mile oil change intetvals are the best preventative maintanance! I would never recomend 7k+ mile oil changes to anyone, regardless of what an oil analysis says! I've seen far to many engine problems related to extended oil changes or following what the manuf. recomends or what a programmed oil life monitor tells you! It's cheap insurance to change the oil and the life of the motor is extended far beyond what the manuf. expects out of one following there schedule. The manuf. likes to sell you a car that requires minimal to zero maint to make ownership look less costly. All they care about is getting the vehicle through the warranty period, after that any repairs are on the owner!



Ok-I get it.......the oil is fine-but change it anyway. You must have a very special garage. Because statistically speaking a motor hardly ever fails due to an oil related failure-you should know that.

There is plenty of info here to debunk what you just stated-

real oil facts

UOAs-
UOAs here