Oil Change Procedures?
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Sula, MT
Historically I have changed at 3,000. Repeated oil analysis at Blackstone labs shows everything is doing very well. They always comment that I could go a lot longer between changes. So this time I have gone 5000 and will see what they say. They'll probably still say I could go longer. And I'm sure they are right, but as Dan mentions...oil is alot cheaper than engines. I should also add that these are EASY miles in rural Montana. 60 relatively flat miles to work and back at 70 mph with no stops. Chevron Delo 400 oil looked almost new on the dipstick @ 4,000. New filters everytime of course. My truck now has 202,722 miles on it and it runs and tests out great.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 26
From: Mesa AZ
Originally Posted by BigRed350
Having changed my own oil exclusively since I've owned my truck, I can tell you that the actual amount used to refill the crankcase to full varies by as much as 2 or 3 quarts. I'm not exactly sure where it "hides", but I've used as little as 12 quarts total and as much as 15 to bring it back up to full. .................
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati usa
I have also picked up some great tips here, including Quadzilla's gallon ziplock bag under the filter. I do break the filter free and then punch the hole. I also take a quart of fresh oil and pour it in the engine after the initial drain, and "rinse" the bottom of the drain pan out. Probably just psychologically comforting, but I see some dark oil coming out. I also started to do oil analysis from Blackstone Labs, and with 210,000 miles on my truck, I want no more than 3000 on an oil change.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 368
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Originally Posted by gchavez
That is interesting, my truck takes about 14 quarts every time. Over 100,000 miles so far and I change my oil every 4500-5000 miles. I think may not be getting all the old oil out of your truck, do you sometimes park the nose of the truck downhill?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,332
Likes: 4
From: Baltimore
The high pressure oil pump reservoir tank has about a quart of oil that doesn't drain into the crankcase. I don't normally suck the oil out of the reservoir, but I think next oil change I will just to see if the oil looks any cleaner after start up. After the last oil change, the oil seemed to have a black tint.