I just looked at my records and I've only driven 1300 miles since my last oil change 6 months ago. Would you change the oil now or go to yearly intervals at this rate? I'm running John Deere +50. I do some short drives but it always gets warmed up and used before sitting overnight. Thanks.

 

I would just change it once a year.

 

Same here, once a year.

MikeyB

 

I use oil analysis and judge from there .
With out many mods , I've seen reports say keep going with Rottella 15/40 , at 12,000 .
You just are guessing without testing .

 

I always thought that if a truck did not get many miles over a longer period of time that the acid/condensation can build up? If it were me, I would change it for peace of mind, but thats just me and the other posters are likely to have more knowledge than me.

 

Oil analysis. Since you don't put anymore miles than you do on he truck It'd be worth the $25 or so dollars to know what's going on with it.

 

First, as was mentioned, oil analysis IS you friend in oil change decisions. I do not go by oil analysis to determine my change timing, I use it to have that picture of what condition the oil was in at the time I change as I do an oil sample with every oil change. That sampling also takes place when I change out the diffs, tranny, transfer case, power steering fluid and brake fluids. I maintain ALL those records as the peace of mind stuff roperteacher is going to, plus, it also gives me information that could lead to shortening intervals if the oil is not holding up to my specific use/conditions rather than following the recommended timeframes that may be a little 'too out there' for my use.

I average 12K or so miles per year, I use the Valvoline recommended 15w40 oil, and do my changes at roughly 6K intervals. That gives me twice a year oil changes. I added an oil bypass filter, theoretically that would give me extended oil change opportunities. Instead of taking advantage of the extended drain/changes I still change out my oil at 6K intervals, change the stock filter every change and the bypass every other. That system takes into consideration what roperteacher brought up - acid/condensation, etc.

With the low mileage you are putting on your truck, in theory if all the negatives about time periods and acids were put aside, you could be changing your oil every other year and still barely get to the average mileage I do in my twice-year changes.

It might be that you would benefit from installing a bypass filter and just follow the recommended 'mileage' intervals rather than looking at your oil changes in a 'timeframe' manner. The end results of 'timely' oil changes in 'mileage' would certainly justify the installation of a bypass filter.

You could also just 'refresh' the filter and top off the oil needed in a filter change. It all depends on how you see the financial side of things. I see oil and filters as a cheap expense vrs what repairs expenses could be. Changing out filters and oil is a LOT less work than wrenching and parts costs.

CD

 

I would just change at once a year. I put about 7K miles per year on mine, and it gets an oil change once a year.

 

Once a yr is good enough, IMO. And change it in the spring, to remove all the winter time condensation. This may not be critical in your area.
Your bigger job is to get it on the hwy for 10-15 min at least once a month!
If mine, I'd high idle it 5 min once a week (when not been used)... just to keep everything lubed up.

Also, keep tank filled and treat diesel fuel with something good...like Stanadynes treatment.

RJ

 

I would change it. Oil is about as cheap of insurance as you can get. Instead of spending 25 bucks on an analysis, spend 30 bucks on 3 gallons of new oil from walmart and be done with it.

 

Come on. Just change it out. $33 bucks and no more worrying. You'll feel good about doing it.

 

Wow so many opinions! Thanks everyone but I'm more confused now.

To the last two responses: Are you telling me to change the oil and leave the old filter on because it has so little use? Never thought of this option if that is in fact what you are suggesting.

 

Sorry didnt mean for it to come off like that. 30 bucks plus 10 for the filter. I agree to some extent with the posts above about oil analysis being a valuable tool, but only in some circumstances. Extending intervals for the guys running expensive synthetic oil, bypass systems, or just out of curiousity to check for engine wear would warrant the analysis imo. The way I see it, you can spend 25 bucks and have the oil checked and it might be just fine. But here in approximately 4300 miles or 6 months, you will be chaning your oil no matter what. Or just change it now, be certain the oil and filter is brand new and squeaky clean.

I would be curious though, are there many people that change the oil and leave the filter? The stock oil filtering system that is.

 

I bet some folks do more oil tests on their trucks ,than blood test on themselves.

 

I'm with you! I see no real benefit to an oil analysis being done on 6 month old oil w/ 1,300 miles on it!
What will the analysis tell you that you don't already know....
-Lots of beneficial additives left
-Plenty of ZDDP remaining
-Viscosity is still ok
-Not a lot of soot buildup
-Iron, copper, etc are at low levels
The only advantage I can see is getting a reading on H20 in the oil (% by wt). With '00Dog' living in southern Calif. that's probably minimal.
If he lived in an area w/ four full seasons, I would change it @ spring and @ fall. But where he is....seems overkill, IMO.

I once went 10,000 miles on Amsoils Marine Diesel 15-40, w/o changing the filter....as a test.
Did the same with the synthetic oil I normally use.
Using the Fleetgard Stratopore filter (essential, IMO)... everything looked excellent on both oil analysis'.

Changing the filter requires dis-assemblying my twin turbo piping.
Because of this fact, and the above test, I have occasionally changed only my oil at 5,000 miles... during drag racing season. (I use Synthetic, 15-40, CI-4 oil made by my company.)
Oil analysis show about the same results after 10,000 miles on a filter (5,000 on oil) as they do w/ only 5,000 miles on both.

RJ