Depends on the engine imho
CK5
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Oil change: 3,000 miles or 5,000 miles?
- Thread starter beags86
- Start date
Doesn't matter as long as you use a BG MOA additive, get the cheap chit.
At least that is what I do. Good filter, cheap oil, and an MOA.
I watched a BG demo once. 350 in a permanent free standing cradle (no trans, just a flywheel), wired and plumbed to run. The oil pan wasn't bolted on, it was held up by a scissor jack that was welded to the sump. Before the Rep fired the engine, he put 4 qts of off the shelf cheapo oil and a can of MOA. He let it get to temp, and showed every person there that the oil pressure guage was functional by running through the RPM range and observing the pressure changes. He then set the engine to approximately 2K RPMs, and lowered the Jack holding the pan up. Oil pressure hit zero, and the guy would just let it run. 5-6 minutes at a time, not worried about a thing. Coolant temps never rose, and the engine never knocked.
Granted, it never had any significant load, it was just a motor in a cradle. It sold me though.
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A buddy of mine just turned 500k on an 03 cummins. Oil regimen is every 3k drain a gallon and fill with a new gallon. filter change every other or so. Rotella regular white jug.
Myself I drain and fill every 3k because I am terrified of the engine failure cost.
Myself I drain and fill every 3k because I am terrified of the engine failure cost.
79bonanza
1/2 ton status
3K on everything I own, no diesels
Why would a manufacturer recommend more frequent oil changes when they want you to buy a new car every 4 years. Keep in mind manufacturers want to sell cars not make them last forever.
Why would a manufacturer recommend more frequent oil changes when they want you to buy a new car every 4 years. Keep in mind manufacturers want to sell cars not make them last forever.
Most manufacturers are bound by a warranty on mileage and/or years. Most people dispose of vehicles in 5 years. 5-10 years IMO is the "norm" for warranties. If all manufacturers were colluding to get you to buy new vehicles, it would make sense, but they aren't. If they want a reputation for dependable vehicles, they would be shooting themselves in the foot to intentionally wear engines out by recommending poor intervals. At least one person here indicates they have run oil analysis that backs up their change interval, and at 5K depending on usage, is right in line with most manufacturers recommendations today.
I would like to see a chemistry comparison between 1980's oil and todays oils. Obviously the zinc removal is not real good for flat tappet cams, but outside of that, I have a strong feeling today's oils are far better than they were 30-40 years ago, when the 3K mileage interval was actually recommended. If someone wanted to do some research, I bet they could find manufacturer recommendations that show an increase in interval, even with the same engine.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Oil life is completely dependant on driving style and engine design. My 08 truck told me to change my oil at 8 - 9k intervals both times since I've bought it and that's with loads of highway, some mountains, and some towing.
I would never waste my money changing the oil on a modern fuel injected vehicle every 3k. I changed the oil in my wife's 04 impala early once because I was convinced it should need it with 6400 miles on it and guess what, came out clean hardly tainted and by no means "needed" it. The GM oil life system just plain works.
I would never waste my money changing the oil on a modern fuel injected vehicle every 3k. I changed the oil in my wife's 04 impala early once because I was convinced it should need it with 6400 miles on it and guess what, came out clean hardly tainted and by no means "needed" it. The GM oil life system just plain works.
This/\.. heck some oils haven't done their job in 3k.. just wasting the oil changing it early..
5K for the silver Dodge and the Blazer, both with full synthetic Pennzoil.
When the Cummins was on the road, it got it changed every 8K, with normal Rotella T
When the Cummins was on the road, it got it changed every 8K, with normal Rotella T
My Schaeffer oil rep did one test so far with his new Toyota . He ran 17K on with Schaeffer oil in it, changed it , pulled a sample then. The results came back good.
He does a lot of highway driving , but he's going to see how much more it will go.
He does a lot of highway driving , but he's going to see how much more it will go.
Sorry about jumping in your post but I had a question about you no pulse TBI problem was wondering if you ever came up with a fix I have a 92 K1500 doing the same thing. Please email me at [email protected]
My '12 Silverado goes about 8k miles before it hits 20% mark. Since I bought it GM certified pre-owned it came with free oil changes for 2 years however you have to wait until it hits 20% to get the freebie. After these 2 years are up I'll change it at 30%
My K10 doesn't usually see 3000 miles in a year so I just change the oil once a year before I put it away for the winter.
My K10 doesn't usually see 3000 miles in a year so I just change the oil once a year before I put it away for the winter.
5K for everything but the DD 5-8k
Orange_roc
1/2 ton status
3000 miles using semi synthetics. 5000 full synthetic. My nova, once or twice a summer depending on how bad I beat on it. It doesn't get 500 miles a year, but a workout each time it drive it.
Orange_roc
1/2 ton status
A couple more snaps of it.
If you need a scientific answer, pay for oil analysis. Everything else is kind of anecdotal. In a leaky square body, just wait until the oil gets low - it's probably time to change it by then 
. Or for a limited-use toy, just do it once a year. Miles is not the main driving factor of oil life, it's just easily measured. More important are the number of cold starts, how the engine is running and TO NOT USE A FRAM! I would put my old WIX back on before using a new Wal-Mart filter.
. Or for a limited-use toy, just do it once a year. Miles is not the main driving factor of oil life, it's just easily measured. More important are the number of cold starts, how the engine is running and TO NOT USE A FRAM! I would put my old WIX back on before using a new Wal-Mart filter.
454Sub
5/8 ton status
I have been testing this very phenomenon in my DD 2.2 s10. I bought it for 800$ with 280k on it, and it now has 340k on it and not a single oil change. Just adding quarts and changing filters maybe once in 10k miles. Oddly so far the engine is clean inside as I had to do the valve cover gasket last night. So grain of salt.
3K is a joke, is a waste of money, and a waste of a natural resource.
8-10K on wife's 6.2 Escalade
7-9K (I change annually) on my 2 7.3 Powerstrokes
7-10K ( I change annually) on my 2 5.9 Cummins trucks
All of my diesels come into my shop for service and inspection on the same schedule of my heavy equipment, which is annually before the growing season. I would go longer on oil changes if the miles were put on within 12months.
My dad goes 20K with his Cummins Dodges.
Oil is continually improving in quality and engines are continuing to have tighter clearances and cleaner combustion. The old 3K or 6 months rule is an absolute joke. Follow your vehicle's manu rec!
8-10K on wife's 6.2 Escalade
7-9K (I change annually) on my 2 7.3 Powerstrokes
7-10K ( I change annually) on my 2 5.9 Cummins trucks
All of my diesels come into my shop for service and inspection on the same schedule of my heavy equipment, which is annually before the growing season. I would go longer on oil changes if the miles were put on within 12months.
My dad goes 20K with his Cummins Dodges.
Oil is continually improving in quality and engines are continuing to have tighter clearances and cleaner combustion. The old 3K or 6 months rule is an absolute joke. Follow your vehicle's manu rec!
I don't think the 6 month change interval recommendation is a joke. Quick search shows mobil recommending 5K+ (whatever is longest, OEM recommendation or their 5K) OR a 6 month change: https://mobiloil.com/en/article/warranties/limited-warranty/mobil-super-oil-warranty
The 6 month change interval is (AFAIK) based on the assumption that a vehicle that doesn't reach the mileage interval in that period is taking short trips, which doesn't warm the oil enough.
As with everything else, it goes back to actual conditions, the manufacturers are playing it safe in recommendation because they have no control over what people do with their product.
Love the white! So clean. you don't see white often, I feel like 90% of Novas are red
