oil change?
oil change?
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Manual calls for every 5000 miles or evey 2500 for sever service.
Sever service is described as extended idling, or operation at GCVW at freeway speeds for long periods of time (treating it like a diesel truck, in other words).
Not sure how much oils have improved over the years since the 6.9 first came out, but every 5000 is probably a good guide line.
Sever service is described as extended idling, or operation at GCVW at freeway speeds for long periods of time (treating it like a diesel truck, in other words).
Not sure how much oils have improved over the years since the 6.9 first came out, but every 5000 is probably a good guide line.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
Lots of short trips where the engine is not really up to operating temp also fits into the severe service category.
Make sure you use diesel rated oil, rated minumum is CD API service rating.
Make sure you use diesel rated oil, rated minumum is CD API service rating.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
ford considers short trips , operating in ambient temps above 100 degrees , dusty conditions , extended idling ,full load operation at highway speeds , i,m sure i have left a couple of things out but i can say this the 5000 mile recommendation is pretty much for laboratory eviroments if you know what i mean
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 559
Likes: 4
From: On a farm.
I've based my current oil change intervals on getting the 15W40 Shell Rotella-T analyzed (another oil might be worse or better) but found that over the past 20 years, 4,000 miles worked well. Now that I am ahaving my oil analyzed regularly, I find I can go up to 6,000 miles, which adds up to an oil change a year for me (boy was I wasting the oil at 4K. I think 4K/6-months is safe for any truck using a top mineral oil like the R-T (or better) in any but toughest and dirtiest duty-cycle. That has to be combined with a good filter (I use Wix/Napa Gold, but Motorcraft is also very good and there are others like Fleetgard, Donaldson, Amsoil, K&N, Baldwin... just avoid the orange). Most of my UOAs were witht he CI-4 or CI-4+ oil, but the last couple were with the new CJ oil, which seemed to be fine so far. It's a little less "robust" than the old CI designation (which you can still find if you look) but a little cleaner. You usually have to buy the CI oil in 5-gallon pails.
