Filter Change Timing For Low Mileage Use

[RobC100]

2011 RAM 2500 with 6.7L Cummins and 6-spd manual. 124K miles. It has been over 34 months (!) since the oil, filter and fuel and air filters were changed but have only put on about 5500 miles. I was planning on changing the oil and filter now but I’m looking for comments and recommendations regarding how best to manage the overall service schedule, given the low rate of miles driven per year. Btw, normally towing is not done but this year I did haul a 24 ft enclosed trailer to pick up a vehicle - about 1700 mi round trip. Thanks.

 

[LouM]

I do annual on oil and filters for my trucks, tractors and other equipent. Fuel filters I do when they act up. I do always keep a set on hand to be able to change when needed.

 

[huntergreen]

Once yearly.

 

[RobC100]

I get the suggestion for annually, but discounting the one-off towing trip, over the last 3 years we’ve averaged less than 1500 miles per year.

 

[mb33458]

I put less than 5k on my truck every year, but I do a complete oil change annually. I was told that moisture and debris can settle in your oil.

 

[huntergreen]

I get the suggestion for annually, but discounting the one-off towing trip, over the last 3 years we’ve averaged less than 1500 miles per year.

Still have to deal with moisture from the air getting into oil. Temp changes. Personally, I believe once a month you should get out on the hwy and drive it like you stole it . Get all fluids circulating and burn off contamination on fluids and metal. Just my opine. Also keep an eye on tires for rot from sitting,

 

[Dean2]

There must be at least 50 threads on this subject, there was one less than a week ago.

Same two schools of thought, change at least once a year vs the time does not affect fuel filters at all (which is the camp I fall in). The change by miles of use camp generally sides with: Changing the oil annually depends on storage, local humidity levels and how often the vehicle is run at full operating temp versus how long it sits.

Here it is very dry, vehicles are stored in a heated shop, I change them by miles driven only. I have a 1996 V10 with 165,000 miles on it. The first 80,000 miles went on in the first 3 years. For the last 26 years it averages about 3,000 miles a year. It still uses zero oil between 10,000 mile changes, and since 1999 it has got an oil change every 3 or 4 years using Mobil 1 0W-30.

I have a couple of cars that follow the same pattern, one has 300,000 miles on it now and averages about 7,000 a year for the past 30 years.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

 

[truck2014]

There must be at least 50 threads on this subject, there was one less than a week ago.

Same two schools of thought, change at least once a year vs the time does not affect fuel filters at all (which is the camp I fall in). The change by miles of use camp generally sides with: Changing the oil annually depends on storage, local humidity levels and how often the vehicle is run at full operating temp versus how long it sits.

Here it is very dry, vehicles are stored in a heated shop, I change them by miles driven only. I have a 1996 V10 with 165,000 miles on it. The first 80,000 miles went on in the first 3 years. For the last 26 years it averages about 3,000 miles a year. It still uses zero oil between 10,000 mile changes, and since 2020 it has got an oil change every 3 or 4 years using Mobil 1 0W-30.

I have a couple of cars that follow the same pattern, one has 300,000 miles on it now and averages about 7,000 a year for the past 30 years.

I think we can go back , and forth on the time versus mileage . I average 7k per year , a lot of those miles towing a heavy fifth wheel on my 2014 6.7 Cummins . Every April I change the oil , and filter plus both fuel filters ,and air filter . I ask why not ? The expense is minimal considering it’s once a year . I’m not interested in seeing how many miles I can get out these maintenance items , for the sake of what ?

 

[RobC100]

There must be at least 50 threads on this subject, there was one less than a week ago.

Same two schools of thought, change at least once a year vs the time does not affect fuel filters at all (which is the camp I fall in). The change by miles of use camp generally sides with: Changing the oil annually depends on storage, local humidity levels and how often the vehicle is run at full operating temp versus how long it sits.

Here it is very dry, vehicles are stored in a heated shop, I change them by miles driven only. I have a 1996 V10 with 165,000 miles on it. The first 80,000 miles went on in the first 3 years. For the last 26 years it averages about 3,000 miles a year. It still uses zero oil between 10,000 mile changes, and since 2020 it has got an oil change every 3 or 4 years using Mobil 1 0W-30.

I have a couple of cars that follow the same pattern, one has 300,000 miles on it now and averages about 7,000 a year for the past 30 years.

I did a search prior to posting but didn’t see anything related to a very low annual mileage truck. Next time I’ll search more thoroughly.

 

[Dean2]

I think we can go back , and forth on the time versus mileage . I average 7k per year , a lot of those miles towing a heavy fifth wheel on my 2014 6.7 Cummins . Every April I change the oil , and filter plus both fuel filters ,and air filter . I ask why not ? The expense is minimal considering it’s once a year . I’m not interested in seeing how many miles I can get out these maintenance items , for the sake of what ?

You have one vehicle, so maybe you consider $600 a year to change it out yourself, no big deal. If you owned 20 or 30 vehicles, all of a sudden cost and more importantly the time start to enter into the equation. So does the fact that changing by the calendar produces no improvement in the longevity of the vehicle. I figure 70 years and 3 to 400,000 miles with no major repairs is about the most I can reasonably expect out of any vehicle.

 

[Dennis Shellito]

I don't put very many miles on my 2011 CTD (94K with 9K put on the first 2 months) and I change oil every 5,000 miles. The fuel filter gets replaced every 15,000.

 

[truck2014]

You have one vehicle, so maybe you consider $600 a year to change it out yourself, no big deal. If you owned 20 or 30 vehicles, all of a sudden cost and more importantly the time start to enter into the equation. So does the fact that changing by the calendar produces no improvement in the longevity of the vehicle. I figure 70 years and 3 to 400,000 miles with no major repairs is about the most I can reasonably expect out of any vehicle.

Totally understandable ,but you are comparing apples to oranges . This discussion is about an average guy ,as you say ,this is one vehicle , we are not talking about a fleet here . The question from the OP is how frequently do you service your truck . I like yearly @ approximately 7K , If I go the recommended 15k , that would be two years . Personally I don't want to go that long .

If I was running a fleet of vehicles ,then I would probably be doing oil analysis , and whatever to get the max out of my service intervals , but as said this discussion is for a single vehicle . For the average household , kids not driving yet ,or kids that are raised I would imagine it's a two vehicle household .

I am not sure where you get $600 for a service ? Maybe you are referring having it done ? . My cost is right at $250 . $180 with shipping for Genos service kit , includes both fuel filters ,oil ,and air filter . I run Rotella T6 , 3 gallons $70 . I have 6 gallons of T6 that I bought ,and got a $40 rebate per 3 gallons , good for two purchase of 3 . So my yearly service for the next two years will be $230 , provide Genos does not raise their prices . That is hardly breaking the bank .

 

[truck2014]

I did a search prior to posting but didn’t see anything related to a very low annual mileage truck. Next time I’ll search more thoroughly.

I think talking one vehicle here is personal preference on how long to go on a service interval with low mileage . As said in my previous posts , I see no reason financially or anything else to go longer than a year . If I went by my manual , thats 6 months or 15K . You want to stretch it to 2-3 years certainly your choice .

 

[06 Dodge]

2011 RAM 2500 with 6.7L Cummins and 6-spd manual. 124K miles. It has been over 34 months (!) since the oil, filter and fuel and air filters were changed but have only put on about 5500 miles. I was planning on changing the oil and filter now but I’m looking for comments and recommendations regarding how best to manage the overall service schedule, given the low rate of miles driven per year. Btw, normally towing is not done but this year I did haul a 24 ft enclosed trailer to pick up a vehicle - about 1700 mi round trip. Thanks.

Being you don't say what type of oil your using so if its not synthetic every I would change it every 12 months based on you seeing both hot and cold temps in NV, I have gone as far as 18 months on my old my 2006 5.9 Cummins running on Rotella T-6, I did not like the sounds of the lifters after it warmed up so for me 18 months would be the max time I would go between oil changes if your using a quality synthetic oil & a oil filter like a Fleetguard Stratapore or Donaldson DBL 7349, these 2 are the only 2 filters I use on my diesel engine... As for fuel filters the longest I have ever used on was on my 5.9 at 32 months only because of me not keeping up on it, for my 22 the front fuel filter will go 2 years between changes, for the rear fuel filter its changed every year as I have a warranty to keep happy. BTW be careful where you buy your fuel filters as a lot of cheap & fake China filters are sold on Amazon, IMO the best place to buy your front fuel filter Fleetguard FS43255 is from Genos garage https://www.genosgarage.com/product/fs43255/fuel-system-fuel-filters

 

[Gr8bawana]

I do annual on oil and filters for my trucks, tractors and other equipent. Fuel filters I do when they act up. I do always keep a set on hand to be able to change when needed.

Just out of curiosity, about how many miles do you get out of your fuel filters before they start to act up?

Personally I just change them when the 15k mile count down is up.

 

[LouM]

On the pickup for the warranty I go with the meter or annual.
On my tractors when the power starts to drop off or every two-three years, my generator tractor is going on five years. I do plan on getting those this fall.

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

Just out of curiosity, about how many miles do you get out of your fuel filters before they start to act up?

Personally I just change them when the 15k mile count down is up.

I go 30k between fuel filter changes on all my vehicles.

 

[truck2014]

I go 30k between fuel filter changes on all my vehicles.

What is the reasoning for 30k fuel filter changes ?

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

I’ve always done that, since my first car.