Changing oil annually irrespective of miles accumulated is wasteful & irresponsible

[hone eagle]

my manual states
5 MPG -20,000
6 MPG -30,000
7 MPG -40,000
(kms)
no where is a time stated
IMHO a better indicator then hours or miles and most certainly time.

[dpinvidic]

For those that make a big deal out of what the manual says, I think there is a big difference between average motorhome use, and commercial use.

Most of us drive out coaches once a month, but whatever we do, very few of us drive all day long every day, and don't have a lot of idling time.
The manuals are directed more at the OTR trucks. So we need to adjust for our type of use.

Here is a oil report from my coach for those that are interested in what the report contains.

Regards,
Dan

[Rickeoni]

Oil is hydroscopic and the less you drive the more water is absorbed, good read here....

MOISTURE -- The Second Most Destructive Lubricant Contaminate, and Its Effects on Bearing Life

[hone eagle]

Agree water is a problem - potentially .Park it fully warmed /hot , and only used it if it will be fully warmed again ,just like farm equipment which is parked for months .Its the acid concern that is old school and really how much water gets into a closed and shut down system? My oil pan is plastic, bearings are lead/alloy, cast iron bathed in oil is not going to corrode ,coolant passages are by far a bigger concern,and how often is coolant changed ?every 3000 miles?
Tractor and combines all over the planet do just fine parked for long periods,oil formulations account for this.

[Cat320]

Originally Posted by dpinvidic

For those that make a big deal out of what the manual says, I think there is a big difference between average motorhome use, and commercial use.

Most of us drive out coaches once a month, but whatever we do, very few of us drive all day long every day, and don't have a lot of idling time.
The manuals are directed more at the OTR trucks. So we need to adjust for our type of use.

Here is a oil report from my coach for those that are interested in what the report contains.

Regards,
Dan

These days a diesel engine manual will have a section for OTR use and a section for MH use, with directions for both. Same with the Allison trans, sections for both.

[Rich-n-Linda]

It never ceases to amaze me how some people will spend 10s or 100s of thousands of dollars on a motor home, then cheap out on a few dollars worth of oil. And then condemn those of us who choose to properly maintain our engines according to the manufacturer's maintenance program as being wasteful and irresponsible. Wow.

Like the Fram guy used to say...pay me now or pay me later.

[C&SL]

Originally Posted by Rich-n-Linda

It never ceases to amaze me how some people will spend 10s or 100s of thousands of dollars on a motor home, then cheap out on a few dollars worth of oil. And then condemn those of us who choose to properly maintain our engines according to the manufacturer's maintenance program as being wasteful and irresponsible. Wow.

Like the Fram guy used to say...pay me now or pay me later.

So true,
I will change my 52 Qt of oil and a filter, At least one a year or more if mileage requires it to be. Oil and filter is cheap compared to a engine failure !!!!

[rgvtexan]

Originally Posted by Rich-n-Linda

It never ceases to amaze me how some people will spend 10s or 100s of thousands of dollars on a motor home, then cheap out on a few dollars worth of oil. And then condemn those of us who choose to properly maintain our engines according to the manufacturer's maintenance program as being wasteful and irresponsible. Wow.

Like the Fram guy used to say...pay me now or pay me later.

Mine is changed on schedule.

But unlike RICH & Linda we are Poor & Broke.

[DriVer]

Originally Posted by barmcd

Yeah, some of the new vehicles have oil change intervals out to 15,000 miles or 1 year so a 3000 mile oil change is a waste of money.

I really believe that the 3,000 miles that was quoted was for a gasoline engine. If I am not mistaken, I do not believe that there exists a recommendation from Cummins or CAT to change oil at 3K miles. Most folks will say that they'll change annually and not worry so much about the miles unless your doing over 15K per year. Even if you drove from the southeast of the USA to Alaska and back you would have only rolled over about 7500 miles.

I think if you're putting on 15K miles a year on an RV .... You're not living this lifestyle properly.

[barmcd]

Originally Posted by DriVer

I really believe that the 3,000 miles that was quoted was for a gasoline engine. If I am not mistaken, I do not believe that there exists a recommendation from Cummins or CAT to change oil at 3K miles. Most folks will say that they'll change annually and not worry so much about the miles unless your doing over 15K per year. Even if you drove from the southeast of the USA to Alaska and back you would have only rolled over about 7500 miles.

I think if you're putting on 15K miles a year on an RV .... You're not living this lifestyle properly.

I don't remember anyone but Jiffy Lube saying you needed to change oil at 3000 miles gas or diesel engine.

[MnTom]

Many years ago the standard for changing oil was 3000 miles, but back then the quality of the oil was not even close to what it is now. Oils used to have a lot of paraffin (wax) in the oil and it would build up in the engine. That was also the time when if you got 70,000 miles on a car you had better dump it because it wasn't going to last much longer.

[DMTTRANSPORT]

Originally Posted by GGC

8.5 gallons, must be a BIG oil pan.

My C15 Acert holds 11 gallons including retarder....plus the gallon+ you never get out of the Oil Cooler.....

[DMTTRANSPORT]

Originally Posted by Rich-n-Linda

It never ceases to amaze me how some people will spend 10s or 100s of thousands of dollars on a motor home, then cheap out on a few dollars worth of oil. And then condemn those of us who choose to properly maintain our engines according to the manufacturer's maintenance program as being wasteful and irresponsible. Wow.

Like the Fram guy used to say...pay me now or pay me later.

X2

[mel s]

Originally Posted by DriVer

I think if you're putting on 15K miles a year on an RV .... You're not living this lifestyle properly.

DriVer
What is the proper way to live the lifestyle?
Maybe it's you who is not living it properly?
Mel
'96 Safari