I'm thinking of going to 5,000 - I usually baby the engine and change at 3,000.

With my short mod list, you think I'm safe?

Before I put the 10 plate on my truck, that oil was NEVER dirty.

Now its black the next day.

I'm running Rotella-T 15w-40.

And do any of you run 10w-30 in the winter?

 

I go every 5000-6000 miles in my '97. I've been using Rotella-T 15w-40 with Fleetguard Stratapore oil filters year round without probem. I'll be using Valvoline Premium Blue 15w-40 for my next oil change, but, that won't be for a while. It went on sale about week after I did my last oil change, so, for $9/gal I bought what they had left (5 gal) and put it on a shelf at home until then.

 

3000 miles is really low in my opinion. I go at least 5000, and since I installed the Frantz bypass, I've been thinking about going closer to 8000 miles but, like you, I'm kinda scared. lol. Everyone knows their truck best though.

 

Over the road semi's now go upto & some even go over 25K.

 

The mileage will vary depending on how you use your truck,some people drive 10-30 mi to work every day & others drive 5-600 pr day naturally the ones driving less should change more often.
I try to just use my truck for longer runs & towing but I still change it every 5000

 

The 1st thing about oil change millage is getting an oil analysis , if you think you can look at your oil & tell something , you can't , unless its extream , then its too late .
The mods & how you drive can make a difference , and quality oil & filters .
I was running Rotella 15/40wt and the last analysis said that at 13,000 miles I should go an other 2,000 .
Then I switch to Amsoil 15/40wt HD Marine and the dual by pass filter system , then the 1st report came back with high [ oxidation - 30 , past 2-3 ] also low TBN [ 6.2 new its 12 ] , at 14,000 miles , so changed the oil & filters , to see what the next report is .

 

We had oil analysis equipment at work so I did tests every 1k starting at 5k on my Delo 15w40 with Napa Gold filters.
Oil was still good to go at 12k when I stopped testing. This was on both trucks, the 3500 tows 20k lb loads all day long, the 2500 goes empty at least 30 miles every time I start it.
I decided oil changes every 8-10K were safe for me.
On the 3500 if I changed at the recommended 3k I would have to change it 2-3 times a month.
Sorry but that just doesn't fly.
At the same time I did analysis on three farm tractors and found I could extend their Delo changes by 100 hours over the recommendations.

One has to consider that oil quality and characteristics have changed drastically since the service intervals were written up and there's no way they're going to go back and rewrite them for the folks like me who have 10 year old plus trucks. That's the main reason the new Cummins Rams have a interval of 15k, it's more the oil, not the engine.

 

My manual states every 8000mi- I change mine btwn 13000 and 15000. The big trucks are running upwards of 30000

 

Long change intervals are fine for you guys that drive quite a bit, but my old 96 just tipped 62K miles so obviously I don't drive it much. I change mine twice a year, usually not even with 3K on the odometer.

 

When i am hauling full time with my truck, I would average 25,000 kms a month. I changed my oil once a month, and roughly in the middle of the month i would change the filter and add 1 litre of oil. Been doing that for over 2 years now and no problems.

 

they also hold 11 gallons not 3

 

Most that have oil analysis done can easily go over 10,000 miles, why waste oil and change any sooner?
I change every 10k or at least once a year. Old truck has over 280k and runs like new, even had a Comp box and now Adrenaline most of its life.

 

Now for you guys that go 14k or so - how often do you add oil?

 

Longest I've gone is 12k, didn't have to add any oil but the level was down a little from full.
No big deal since I use 12 qts every change instead of 11.

 

I change oil annually which is around 15k. Analysis says I can go longer.

My engine sees extreme conditions. Cold winter starts, excessive idling, short trips, heavy hauling, towing, high speed highway.

I use Delvac 1 5W-40 synthetic primariy for the cold temps in winter

If I can pass analysis at 15k with my abuse?

I have to add over a gallon in 15k, but that includes 2 filter changes at around 5k & 10k