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Oil Change Reminder

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Some of our fleet oil changes are up from 6,000 and now at 12,000 miles. These are gasoline rigs. Diesel is still at 6,000. Regular oil, no synthetic.

I do mine every +- 5,000. If I go 500 over because of a trip or just being busy, no big deal. I'll change it at 15,500 and again at 20,000.
 
I do mine every 3,000 miles because that's also every 6 months. I'm not comfortable letting it go longer than that (don't want to run in to any warranty issues considering how expensive the engine in my car is). The mileage is too short, but the time is in the maintenance schedule's "absolutely no longer than 6 months" wording. There are also tighter tolerances on the oil for the cylinder deactivation as well.
 
phucheneh said:
You're saying if you went 500 miles too far on a few oil changes, you would then just change the oil early one time to catch up? Like a 1500 mile oil change? That's a bit silly.

And if I don't change my oil at nice, round numbers, I shouldn't be driving? LOL.
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If you can't keep track, you are obviously lacking discipline.
nickbits said:
I think he's saying he never goes over.

But I agree, change your oil on time or quit driving. We don't need lazy undiciplined people on the road.
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I go over all the time, but 200-500 or even 1000 extra on an OCI is nothing to worry about. One will get donw at 6k, the next at 4k, it all averages out in the end.
basslover1 said:
I think he's saying that if you went to like 15,540 miles and it should have been done at 15k, the next change is still going to be done at 20k, even though you haven't driven a full 5k miles on the oil.

It's what I usually do as well. I change mine every 5k on the ODO, but I'm about 300 miles over right now. I'm going to change it tomorrow, and the next change will still be at 135k instead of 135,300.
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Exactly, it's just easier that way. Plus every other or 3rd oil change for a tire rotation (10-15k) as well. Nice and easy and I don't even need someone to hold my hand to do it!
WilliamM2 said:
Not really. But if I were to change my oil 500 miles late, I would still wait 5000 miles for the next change. Can't think of a single reason not to. It's not really that hard to check the window sticker or write it down, so you can know when it's time to change again.
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Most people get bent out of shape about wasting oil..... The irony here is that to determine your true interval you need to have the oil tested. MOST decent oils will last much more than 5000 miles and synthetics much longer BUT to know for sure it needs to be tested.

OH FOR SHAME if I change it at 4500 or 5500...... FFS.
 
Gillbot said:
If you can't keep track, you are obviously lacking discipline.
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Um, I don't have a problem keeping track of it. I just said I don't change my oil at specific round numbers. It gets changed within 4-5k of the previous oil change.

...it sounds more like you have trouble keeping track, since you feel the need to do oil changes at arbitrary (relative to the need for an oil change) fixed mileages.
 
phucheneh said:
Um, I don't have a problem keeping track of it. I just said I don't change my oil at specific round numbers. It gets changed within 4-5k of the previous oil change.

...it sounds more like you have trouble keeping track, since you feel the need to do oil changes at arbitrary (relative to the need for an oil change) fixed mileages.
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I'm sorry, but this has me baffled.

Need? If you're changing oil when it NEEDS to be changed, you're waiting a bit long. Generally speaking, you want to change the oil while there are still some good properties left in the oil. Additives and what have you. Ultimately, every oil change you perform is before it is actually "needed," if that weren't the case, your engine would be getting additional wear in the last few hundred miles.

So if you're changing every 5k, 4500 vs. 5500 makes no difference whatsoever. At one point, oil quality might be at 20%, and the other at 15%. Both are still good times to change it.

I dunno, my take is that changing oil should be done at a good round interval. The better the state your oil is in, the better it will protect your engine. And so long as a guy's "round" number isn't 2500-3000 miles, he's not wasting that much. Like it or not, most people use round numbers. It wasn't that long ago that oil life sensors became mainstream. And for quite some time, everyone followed the 3000 rule.

Meh, you can give a guy crap for nice round numbers, but the reality is, so long as he's getting it done at some sort of routine interval, he's doing a good job of maintaining his engine.
 
I used to change my oil every 3000 miles. I've started "trusting" my engine's oil change monitor to indicate when it should be changed. I'll let it go up to 12k on this oil change for the system to remind me, but will change it then even if the light doesn't come on. Trust only goes so far.
 
I just follow the oil life monitor on my main vehicle. Usually runs anywhere between 10k-12k on synthetic. The system has been tested many times by many people in many of these vehicles and been shown to be pretty darn accurate. Nearly 165k miles on it now and not a hint of any issues at all.

My fun car also has a "change oil" light but I'm not sure yet if it does simply by miles or by actual monitoring. I have only put 6k miles on it since I got it and did an oil change a couple thousand into owning it, so I haven't figured out how it works yet.
 
mvbighead said:
I'm sorry, but this has me baffled.

Need? If you're changing oil when it NEEDS to be changed, you're waiting a bit long. Generally speaking, you want to change the oil while there are still some good properties left in the oil. Additives and what have you. Ultimately, every oil change you perform is before it is actually "needed," if that weren't the case, your engine would be getting additional wear in the last few hundred miles.

So if you're changing every 5k, 4500 vs. 5500 makes no difference whatsoever. At one point, oil quality might be at 20%, and the other at 15%. Both are still good times to change it.

I dunno, my take is that changing oil should be done at a good round interval. The better the state your oil is in, the better it will protect your engine. And so long as a guy's "round" number isn't 2500-3000 miles, he's not wasting that much. Like it or not, most people use round numbers. It wasn't that long ago that oil life sensors became mainstream. And for quite some time, everyone followed the 3000 rule.

Meh, you can give a guy crap for nice round numbers, but the reality is, so long as he's getting it done at some sort of routine interval, he's doing a good job of maintaining his engine.
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You're getting into semantics a bit too much here. By my definition, yes, the car is in need of an oil change after driving 5k miles. By saying 'I change it in this range,' I'm simply saying that is the point at which I know/want to change the oil, and I won't let it go over the top of that range. If it's a LITTLE earlier, that's fine.

You have to look at what I was replying to- he decided to insult me and say that I essentially don't deserve to be driving because I can't 'keep track' of my oil change mileages...when his own system's purpose seems to be to allow him to not keep track of his oil change mileages. That is some severely broken logic.

I won't get back into telling people about the sludged up engines I've seen with 7500 mile oil changes (conventional). Do as you wish. But don't harass people who want to actually follow the manufacturer's recommendation (in many cases) and do 3750 changes.

Oil doesn't just go from 'good' to 'bad' like flipping a switch. It is constantly degrading and being contaminated by combustion gases. Enough infrequent changes, and it WILL add up. What qualifies as 'infrequent' is up to you. But 'sooner' is always going to result in less engine wear (wear, not damage) than 'later.'
 
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phucheneh said:
Um, I don't have a problem keeping track of it. I just said I don't change my oil at specific round numbers. It gets changed within 4-5k of the previous oil change.

...it sounds more like you have trouble keeping track, since you feel the need to do oil changes at arbitrary (relative to the need for an oil change) fixed mileages.
Click to expand...
I actually follow the oil life indicator, which happens to be set at 5k intervals per the manufacturer. It's a company truck and THEY tell me whan to change it. On my personal car I have the oil tested by a lab and change it as it is NEEDED.
phucheneh said:
You're getting into semantics a bit too much here. By my definition, yes, the car is in need of an oil change after driving 5k miles. By saying 'I change it in this range,' I'm simply saying that is the point at which I know/want to change the oil, and I won't let it go over the top of that range. If it's a LITTLE earlier, that's fine.

You have to look at what I was replying to- he decided to insult me and say that I essentially don't deserve to be driving because I can't 'keep track' of my oil change mileages...when his own system's purpose seems to be to allow him to not keep track of his oil change mileages. That is some severely broken logic.

I won't get back into telling people about the sludged up engines I've seen with 7500 mile oil changes (conventional). Do as you wish. But don't harass people who want to actually follow the manufacturer's recommendation (in many cases) and do 3750 changes.

Oil doesn't just go from 'good' to 'bad' like flipping a switch. It is constantly degrading and being contaminated by combustion gases. Enough infrequent changes, and it WILL add up. What qualifies as 'infrequent' is up to you. But 'sooner' is always going to result in less engine wear (wear, not damage) than 'later.'
Click to expand...
He's getting into semantics? Pot/kettle? Seriously, it was a ribbing not an insult. Learn to take a joke, get off you high horse and get over yourself dude. My 5k works for me, your magnetic stickers work for you. I just find it ironic that you come back at me for not adhering to a strict 5k interval and continually "rounding up"?
 
Gillbot said:
I actually follow the oil life indicator, which happens to be set at 5k intervals per the manufacturer. It's a company truck and THEY tell me whan to change it. On my personal car I have the oil tested by a lab and change it as it is NEEDED.

He's getting into semantics? Pot/kettle? Seriously, it was a ribbing not an insult. Learn to take a joke, get off you high horse and get over yourself dude. My 5k works for me, your magnetic stickers work for you. I just find it ironic that you come back at me for not adhering to a strict 5k interval and continually "rounding up"?
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'Coming back' is the important part of that. You threw out insults that in no way appeared to be a 'joke.' I'm not psychic and cannot read text with the particular emphasis you may have intended, nor can I see you winking as you type it.

The only reason I called your method silly was because of the nonsensical thought process involved in being deprecating toward me for what essentially appears to be your issue with writing down specific oil change mileage.

And I'm not sure you know what 'semantics' means. I don't bitch at people over their choice of a single word, especially when the meaning is pretty clear. Did it seem like I really meant I don't change it until the engine ceases to work due to lack of oil changes (either sludging or because all the oil has been consumed)? Is that when it's 'needed?' 🙄

Two certain people in this forum need to get off their 'high horses' and quit trying to nitpick posts to make themselves feel superior/aggravate the poster.

Hint: I'm involved in the above statement, but I'm not one of the 'two certain people.'
 
I use the OLM. For things that don't have such a convenient timer, I send myself an email and collect those emails in the relevant email folders. That way I know how many miles left before I need to rotate tires, or perhaps how much gas I use in the long run. Better than saving receipts.
 
if one waits till 10k+ isn't it really black at that point? seems to me if its solid black its time to change
 
Gillbot said:
Learn to take a joke, get off you high horse and get over yourself dude.
Click to expand...


Probably the most insightful part of your post, Gilbot. Unfortunately, it's probably the most ignored by the intended recepient, because, as you know, he's the newest resident expert on all things automotive.



😉 😛




Sorry....had to take time to laugh at that last statement. Probably should have said he's the reincarnation of fleabag............
 
phucheneh said:
You're getting into semantics a bit too much here. By my definition, yes, the car is in need of an oil change after driving 5k miles. By saying 'I change it in this range,' I'm simply saying that is the point at which I know/want to change the oil, and I won't let it go over the top of that range. If it's a LITTLE earlier, that's fine.

You have to look at what I was replying to- he decided to insult me and say that I essentially don't deserve to be driving because I can't 'keep track' of my oil change mileages...when his own system's purpose seems to be to allow him to not keep track of his oil change mileages. That is some severely broken logic.

I won't get back into telling people about the sludged up engines I've seen with 7500 mile oil changes (conventional). Do as you wish. But don't harass people who want to actually follow the manufacturer's recommendation (in many cases) and do 3750 changes.

Oil doesn't just go from 'good' to 'bad' like flipping a switch. It is constantly degrading and being contaminated by combustion gases. Enough infrequent changes, and it WILL add up. What qualifies as 'infrequent' is up to you. But 'sooner' is always going to result in less engine wear (wear, not damage) than 'later.'
Click to expand...

So he doesn't keep track when using his system? Color me confused because it seems to me that he is changing it on average every 5000 miles. It's a system, and while it isn't perfect, it does work.

As for the high horse bit in your next post, if you're referring to me, again, color me confused. I was simply stating that his system albeit not perfect is an effective one. When his vehicle hits a 5k mile interval, he is aware that he is in the rough time frame due for an oil change. I was only agreeing that his approach was an effective one.

Look, not every vehicle has a an OLM. While writing it down is likely the best method, it can also be forgotten (IE - you forget to write down the number). It also isn't something many want to do when they are getting under a vehicle.

To me, 5k miles is a pretty good spot from the sounds of most opinions that float about regarding oil changes. So whether it winds up being 4500 or 5500, it still is roughly in the right range. His point was that, often times, something comes up that dictates he should do it sooner.

For me, I have been going by the OLM, but my wife had an upcoming 300 mile (one way) trip a bit before the OLM was going to dictate that a change was needed. Rather than wait for it to tell me to perform the change, I just went ahead and did it before her trip. To me, that was the point he was making. You're not going to do it on the nose at 5k every time. So if you just do it when the odometer reads around a 5k mile interval, you should be in very good shape.
 
Meghan54 said:
Probably the most insightful part of your post, Gilbot. Unfortunately, it's probably the most ignored by the intended recepient, because, as you know, he's the newest resident expert on all things automotive.



😉 😛




Sorry....had to take time to laugh at that last statement. Probably should have said he's the second account of brblx............
Click to expand...

fixed that for you.


http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/waffleironhead/hmm3.jpg
 
phucheneh said:
'Coming back' is the important part of that. You threw out insults that in no way appeared to be a 'joke.' I'm not psychic and cannot read text with the particular emphasis you may have intended, nor can I see you winking as you type it.

The only reason I called your method silly was because of the nonsensical thought process involved in being deprecating toward me for what essentially appears to be your issue with writing down specific oil change mileage.

And I'm not sure you know what 'semantics' means. I don't bitch at people over their choice of a single word, especially when the meaning is pretty clear. Did it seem like I really meant I don't change it until the engine ceases to work due to lack of oil changes (either sludging or because all the oil has been consumed)? Is that when it's 'needed?' 🙄

Two certain people in this forum need to get off their 'high horses' and quit trying to nitpick posts to make themselves feel superior/aggravate the poster.

Hint: I'm involved in the above statement, but I'm not one of the 'two certain people.'
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I love my high horse, it's fun up here honestly. :biggrin:
Meghan54 said:
Probably the most insightful part of your post, Gilbot. Unfortunately, it's probably the most ignored by the intended recepient, because, as you know, he's the newest resident expert on all things automotive.



😉 😛




Sorry....had to take time to laugh at that last statement. Probably should have said he's the reincarnation of fleabag............
Click to expand...

You spelled my name wrong.
 
I would imagine your car has sun visors, yes? If said sun visors have mirror on the back side, do what I do and move the sticker there. I never had a problem with sight restriction but I work at a place with a shop and my lube-buddies seem to have a list of unsavory things they can put in the date field. Gave the mom a ride in my car a while back and she noticed one of them. Hence the move. I'm ugly and never need to use the mirrors anyways so there ya go.

That said, I remember numbers for whatever reason and generally know whento change my oil regardless. The sticker just keeps me from 'forgetting' when the next change comes around.
 
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