How do you know when to change your oil?

[ramdriver2018]

Usually around the same time the ashtray gets full.

 

[gixxer]

It should depend on the oil you use as well. The amsoil outlasted the OLM based on UOA but the Royal purple definitely got close to the point I wouldn’t risk it.

 

[huntergreen]

It should depend on the oil you use as well. The amsoil outlasted the OLM based on UOA but the Royal purple definitely got close to the point I wouldn’t risk it.

I would error on the side of caution. Especially with the 4.7. it's a long lived engine but only with frequent overzealous maintenance to prevent sludge.

 

[gixxer]

I would error on the side of caution. Especially with the 4.7. it's a long lived engine but only with frequent overzealous maintenance to prevent sludge.

I appreciate the advice. She is rather spoiled. I give her engine flushes every oil change because of the longer intervals. I do notice she is hard on oil. I might do a couple of shorter intervals and might throw in Kreen now and again.

 

[craigsez]

Mileage is a starting point for me. After about 4k I rely more on other inputs such as oil "feel", smell, color. Sometimes I change it right away if those things tell me to. Other times I wait, but never longer than 6k miles. This is based on PUP 0W-40 and RP filter. I do not use EVIC, I'm old school trained. I know somebody's gonna say that's not necessary or I'm wasting money. Well, it's my money. Oil is the lifeblood of my truck. I do what the oil tells me to, not what some ******** computer that can't even figure out how many mpg I'm getting tells me. If you still had 8% more ice melting to go before you crash through into the lake's freezing water, would you keep walking?
.

Dude you must have 1 up on all the oil analyzers and master mechanics past present and future to be able to tell as you say you can..My bs meter is pegged..

 

[Dark Knight 500]

That's what the ecodiesel calls for.

Ecodiesels call for 5w40, NOT 15w40!! I work for a Chrysler dealership and have read every vehicle requirement


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[huntergreen]

Ecodiesels call for 5w40, NOT 15w40!! I work for a Chrysler dealership and have read every vehicle requirement


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See post 18.

 

[RoadRamblerNJ]

Dude you must have 1 up on all the oil analyzers and master mechanics past present and future to be able to tell as you say you can..My bs meter is pegged..

Whatever. Built my share of motors. Have maintained 2 cars, 2 trucks and 3 motorcycles for many years. Countless oil changes and never once have I ever had an oil related problem.
It's not BS if you can back it up.
If you can't feel metal particles in used oil or if you can't smell a motor oil and know it's burnt, you shouldn't be doing your own oil changes. That's all I'm saying. No, I can't analyze friggin oil. It's an oil change, don't make it into something it's not.

 

[HammerHead]

Whatever. Built my share of motors. Have maintained 2 cars, 2 trucks and 3 motorcycles for many years. Countless oil changes and never once have I ever had an oil related problem.
It's not BS if you can back it up.
If you can't feel metal particles in used oil or if you can't smell a motor oil and know it's burnt, you shouldn't be doing your own oil changes. That's all I'm saying. No, I can't analyze friggin oil. It's an oil change, don't make it into something it's not.

My dad still does the same thing; rub the oil between his fingers, smells it and looks at it closely. He can determine the condition fairly well.

 

[RoadRamblerNJ]

My dad still does the same thing; rub the oil between his fingers, smells it and looks at it closely. He can determine the condition fairly well.

That is exactly what I do. Color, feel, smell. Still can't figure out how to HEAR it so, I guess this method is not acceptable to some. Works for me and I was taught this over 45 years ago.