Hi,

I have a PSD with about 5K miles (and delivered last March): when would you change the oil?

Truck has not towed much (less than 500 miles probably) and had a mix on urban/hwy miles

 

I'd change the oil when the intelligent engine oil monitoring system tells you to.

 

You will get a million different opinions here.

If you are on a lease and plan on trading the truck in sooner and not owning it for the long haul then my opinion would be to follow the Oil Life Monitor. Again, my opinions but if you are owning for the long term then I would change now. The sooner you get the break in metals and other materials out of that engine the better.

 

When the light comes on. Any particles that would cause a problem in the engine is collected by the filter.

 

I disagree...look at my wifes Mercedes Benz...2015 GL Bluetech diesel. Family vehicle and not driven aggressively. I have followed the Mercedes oil change interval and actually changed the oil slightly early at each oil change. Basically running 10,000 oil change intervals here. I have only used super premium oil following the MB spec.

This engine never had a chance to flush it's break in metals.

All these metals are flowing right through the filter and getting more opportunity to create an abrasive environment for all the moving parts.

If the filter would capture these then you wouldn't see these in the oil.

Also, silicon is what indicates a dirty air filter. Much of that material is not captured by the oil filter.

Your big wear metals are Aluminum, Chromium, Iron, Copper, Lead and tin.

Today it's running just fine. Not burning oil. Everything seems A OK. It's on a lease and we turn it in at the end of November.

Under the surface something bad is going on with this engine. It will likley make it though the warranty period...but owning this engine long term is not anything I would want to deal with considering the repair cost on expensive diesel motors like this MB unit or the PSD.

Early oil changes are cheap insurance.

 

Here is my engine in my 2017 PSD. This was my second oil change. This engine is looking really good so far. I do tow a 10,000 LB travel trailer from time to time.

 

Soooooooo many threads on this....

go by the IOLM.. there is no reason to do it earlier, oil tests have proven so time and time again.

 

Well...in my first post I said a million opinions...maybe I should edit that and say only 2. LOL!

 

I changed mine at 1000. Will change again at 2000. Then 3000 mile intervals. I don’t tow at all and won’t put much on for mileage. My biggest issue is short 10 minute driving intervals and almost no highway. Normally I would go 5000 miles but not with my current driving habits.

Also I change the oil myself so it’s only about $35 for Mobil 1 and a motocraft filter.

 

The filter along is 19 dollars. Where are you getting 3+ gallons of Mobil 1 for 16 dollars?

 

The filter does not remove all the harmful particles in the oil. The size you are most worried about is the size that matches the oil film thickness in the journal bearings. That is around 10 microns and most filters only filter well down to 20 microns. Larger particles can't pass through the bearing clearance, and smaller particles pass through without touching much. It's the particle that is the same size as the oil film thickness that does the damage.

 

I'm using AMSOIL Ea oil filters...they filter 99% of the 20 micron size particles...Supposedly (according to them) quality competitive filters are only 51% efficient at 20 microns.

If someone uses quality oil and crappy filters you are probably wasting money on the oil.

 

OK. Either believe the oil filter is helpful or not. Change your oil every mile or not. It's up to you. I change it when the light comes on.

 

When changing my oil, after I drain it, I always pour a quart of kerosene or diesel fuel into the crankcase. It never comes out clear ,a cheap way to flush crud out of the system .

 

Is FORSCAN the only way possible to see your oil life %age? At 5000 miles I'd like to know what %age I have remaining.

I can't help that every time I see the word FORSCAN.....I think of foreskin.