Community Forums

1ciderdog · 10-01-2010, 06:41 AM

I like the idea about using a hole to drain the oil filter. In the past once I broke loose the filter I'd put a zip lock type bag over it and screw the filter off so most of hte oil went into the bag. That worked well on verticle filters but poorly on horizontal filters.

PlayItForwrd · 10-01-2010, 05:25 PM

If an RV park won't let you change your oil, do it in a big parking lot. Just buy a small bag of oil absorber for any drips or spills, and sweep it up before you go.

phranc · 10-01-2010, 07:09 PM

a Fumoto oil drain plug will help on future oil changes .
link FUMOTO ENGINEERING

Shellback1 · 10-06-2010, 10:16 AM

For the last 4 years I have been driving from NH to CA and back to FL to wait till the snow is gone. I change my oil (Motorcraft 5-20 Blend) every 3K miles. This year I am putting in Amsoil (5-20, full Synethic) that allows oil change up to 15K miles. I plan to change the oil when I get home in April after about 7.5K miles.

jojolou · 10-11-2010, 07:27 AM

I change ours once a year and use Mobil 1 5w/30 and a Wix one quart filter, I also do the same with my cars.

a k · 10-11-2010, 07:40 AM

Can't you get an oil change on a V10 for about $30?

OneRVer · 10-11-2010, 08:29 AM

I have a hard time understanding why most of you are wasting your money with the 3,000 mile oil change. With the advancement of filters and Synthetic oil you should go at least 12,000 miles. I change my oil filter once a year and change the oil every two years. I do analyze the oil before each filter change and filter oil change a have not failed one yet. With that being said I am lucky if I put over 5,000 miles per year on my motor home.

Your transmission is the hardest worked equipment on your rig. When you use the Allision synthetic in the Allision transmission you change the oil every four years, per Allision. No miles stated. So if the Synthetic is good for your tranny why not the engine.

Also the comment on the Fumoto valve is an excellent point. I am a slob when it comes time to change the oil. With the Fumoto valve, no more mess. Love it.

OneRVer · 10-11-2010, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shellback1

For the last 4 years I have been driving from NH to CA and back to FL to wait till the snow is gone. I change my oil (Motorcraft 5-20 Blend) every 3K miles. This year I am putting in Amsoil (5-20, full Synthetic) that allows oil change up to 15K miles. I plan to change the oil when I get home in April after about 7.5K miles.

Not sure why you are planning on using 5-20 in your V-10. I would use the Amsoil 0W - 30W, Signature Series. JMHO

puttin · 10-11-2010, 12:12 PM

If you frequent rv-friendly cities like Lake Havasu, Kingman, Prescott, etc. they have many garages that have big serv. bays for rv's.

Kodydog · 10-11-2010, 10:05 PM

I don't think that there is a simple guideline to changing oil. Meaning that it is not only mileage but it is also time, operating and environmental conditions. Oil provides lubrication to the internal components of the motor and in the process picks up contaminates that are potential harmful to the motor if not removed periodically. Moisture from condensation also contributes. So the rule of thumb to change your oil every 3K or 3.5K miles does not always apply. IMHO, filtering takes out particles but does not remove the acids. Changing the oil removes the chemical contaminates.

Synthetic oil will provide better lubrication and can extend service intervals. But I don't extend them significantly. I run synthetic between 5K and 7.5K miles but I also change oil at least 2 times per year. Primarily to remove contaminates from the oil. I run synthetic in my Silverado Duramax and other passenger cars and have done so for the last 10 years plus.

With a diesel pusher this becomes cost equation that sometimes does not make sense. Meaning with a 20+ quart sump it is a little cost prohibitive to use synthetic. With synthetic costing $6 to $7 per quarter or more this means a DIY cost of well over $150 with the filter. I cannot imagine the cost of having this done with a service centre. Camping World I believe wants $200 for a DP oil change with conventional oil. I am not convinced that the pleasure is worth the price of using synthetic in a large sump DP. I use conventional oil in my DP and change it myself.

In the case that you are on a long distance trip I believe that you can safely extend the change intervals beyond the rule of thumb 3.5K miles. This is because the motor obviously is kept hot and the moisture is driven from the motor. Less acids tend to form without the moisture in the crankcase.

Just my opinion

OneRVer · 10-11-2010, 10:47 PM

Kodydog, I spend $122.00 for 5 gallons of synthetic oil every two years, $40.00 on a filter every year and $25.00 per year on a S.O.S., CAT's terminology for their engine oil analysis. I have never failed a test yet. You are correct about the moisture and acid build up. To prevent this when I am not traveling, winter months, I will start the engine and let it run at high idle for 2 hours at 160 degrees.

This is an average cost $126.00 per year. Not bad for a diesel pusher. Western Cat does my oil samples and they say to "keep doing whatever you are doing".

Also per my CAT engine manual for medium duty use recommended oil change is 10,000 miles so I am not sure where people come up with 3000 mile oil change unless they are talking gas engine.

Anyway not trying to start something.

I just thought I would pass my story along.

I guess my main beef is that you always here, keep this place clean, watch out for the environment, do not waste energy, the oil companies are stealing from us,,,, but,,,,, lets dump our oil every 3000 miles.