At first i was like the OP, i was doing 5k mile oil changes, then i creeped up to 7500. Then i talked to my uncle that has a auto service shop and he said with 4 gallons of oil in your sump you should be good for 10k miles, so i did that for a while. Then i learned about bypass filtration and started using blackstone labs. Ive been averaging 13-15k mile intervals for the past few years and each time my analysis says to go further. But its just the way i was raised that makes me uneasy to go further. Attached is my most recent report from last month when i went 17,000. Not on purpose, just thats the way it worked out. I will shoot for the 20,000 this next time and see what that does. I am all about postponing the dropping of a goggle-eye for an oil change.

 

my oil changes cost me 56$ 6 qts castrol sentac s820 motorcraft filter at last change blackstone labs told me all looks good run it to 7500 on this change like this oil

 

In the past Blackstone was very biased on their reports, after reading this one maybe the lab tech has been switched, I really don't like the personal letter to client using the name and all but hey some people like that.

What is so good about this report is the "TRENDING" with this info you get accurate readings and a better idea of the condition of the engine and lube.

With this info you can feel confident your practices are heading in the right direction and saving you much time and money.

This is a good report and the sign of a engine in good tune.

Also what this tells you is you took too many oil samples cause they were all good! So that is were I am at I just take a sample when I feel something is up.

Years ago I waited 5 years and 40,000 miles before I took my first sample and when it came back I was so nervous but when I saw it I was floored, still good to go!

 

yea, at first i was taking sample with every oil change cuz i wasnt all that confident with the longer intervals despite what the reports said. Recently i switched to every other oil change. After this history and trending as you say, im getting more confident for the longer intervals. They have suggested to go for 20k miles several times now and i just couldnt make myself do it but i think this will be the first time that i follow thru with it. I think if i can get it out to 25k miles between intervals i will be more than satisfied.

 

It's interesting to read everyone's opinions on this. My opinion pretty much mirrors kd0axs; I've done used oil analyses on a few cars and trucks over the years and they definitely back up the manufacturer's recommendations.

I definitely think those who change their oil early are doing it based on mythology that's perpetuated by the automotive service industry. I've read lots of UOAs on BITOG and other sites, as well as my own, and I have never seen one showing oil anywhere close to worn out at 3,000 miles. But whatever makes you happy I guess. I don't have one handy on a Super Duty, but here's one after 10,000 miles on my wife's minivan:



Yeah it's not a truck, but this thing's 3.5L engine is used to push a 4,500 lb AWD minivan around as well as tow our 3,500 lb boat. It requires full synthetic oil, but it looked just fine at 10,000 miles.

 

You sample does not show the TBN total base number, this will tell you how much life is left on your lubricant, Do blackstone still charge an extra $20 for that field?

 

Its an extra $10 for the TBN.

 

I pay $17 for mine it comes with the TBN reading along with Nitration/Oxidation as well.

I use Oil Analyzers.

When I use Kelly Tractor they charge $14 but no TBN or N/O report either,

 

Was this ever addressed or commented on by idiabuse? This post is exactly why I don't use a by-pass system anymore with in between filter changes and oil analysis. To each his own though.

If I remember correctly, that '69 is red isn't it?

 

I change mine every 5000k miles on my 04 f250 5.4. I have 275000 miles on it and it runs like brand new. This thread reminds me of my not so intelligent father.... He had a 97 gmc 350 1500 truck he got for free from the company he works for and put 200,000 miles on the truck (300,000 miles total)....and never changed the oil once and it never had one problem with it....till the tranny went and he traded up...

 

Evidently not. I'm a non DIY'er, and I frequent the Quick Lubes. I have a hard time going more than 5500 miles with the same filter and oil. Wife's 07' Edge has 96,000 miles and my 08' Ranger has 82k. Just for giggles, I'm tempted to do a used oil analysis, but from these threads I'd be wasting money because my oil should be used at least another 2K. But, to me, it is cheap insurance and peace of mind.

 

There is a lot of misinformation and wives tales in this thread. Oil changes are like coffee. Everyone likes theirs a specific way.

To answer the OPs question, the reason OEM drain intervals are so long is because oil technology is well beyond what it used to be. For most users of Superdutys a 3000 mile interval would be every month more less.I'm talking about fleets. Even I would be changing every month in my 7.3L and thats expensive.

Conventional oil and synthetic oil has come a long was and now remains stable for much longer than before. Its not uncommon to extend oil 3-5x OEM spec. I personally run to 15,000 miles and change. Of course used oil analysis is a part of that.

 

Yeah, I just don't buy that. Especially because fleets have maintenance programs to make sure stuff like that gets done. He probably has never done it, but someone most certainly has.

Our fleet vehicles at work get their oil changed every 7,500 miles.

 

Interesting read.
With the now gone '06 F350 with V10, I would try to do oil changes between 5-7000 miles. Since I live in the Northeast, and with big variations in temperatures plus a fair amount of stop and go driving along with hauling an 11-12000 pound 5th wheel trailer, felt that this was the optimum for the best engine life for MY $50K+ truck and was a good chance to drain condensation and any other contaminants. Was it right? For me, I felt it was. I considered sending samples off to Blackstone, but that $25 bucks (plus the cost of mailing the kit back?) was not far off of what it cost for an FL820s and 7 quarts of Motorcraft Semi-Syn 5W-20 (~$30 with tax at Walmart). Now, I have a 6.7 diesel, 13 quarts and a couple of filters. I still have a 11-12,000 pound 5er, still do the same kind of driving - and might just do a Blackstone analysis since I did purchase the truck used with a few more miles then I normally would just to get a base number but still expect to change the oil at about 5-7K miles.

As far as worrying about wasting natural resources - not when I'm driving an 8300 pound vehicle that uses lots of $4/gallon fuel that when burned is gone forever .... and that 'waste' oil - isn't gone. It's recycled by either my town if I do it myself or by the dealer into something useful from more lube oil to plastics. As far as long change intervals, i.e. 20,30, 80,000 miles is IMO, false economics

 

You paid $50k for an 06 V10?

Or were you talking about your 6.7?