Oil change time?

[max49]

I've got the 04 P-32 chassis. It has the Actia instument panel. Does this tell you when you're due for an oil change. I have 6300 miles on mine and have not seen this message yet. I changed the oil at 5000 miles but did not reset anything. If I do have this 'change oil' feature, how does it work, mileage, time, or does it sense the type of driving I do, and the actual quality of the oil? Maybe it's not working right?
I think I had the instrument panel recall about 2 or 3 thousand miles ago. May be this reset it?
Thanks

[max49]

I've got the 04 P-32 chassis. It has the Actia instument panel. Does this tell you when you're due for an oil change. I have 6300 miles on mine and have not seen this message yet. I changed the oil at 5000 miles but did not reset anything. If I do have this 'change oil' feature, how does it work, mileage, time, or does it sense the type of driving I do, and the actual quality of the oil? Maybe it's not working right?
I think I had the instrument panel recall about 2 or 3 thousand miles ago. May be this reset it?
Thanks

[rogueii]

I had a 2003 P-32, I think it had the same Re-set as the w-22/8.1 has.

Regardles, Dino oil breaks down in 3 months, no matter how much driving you do. (according to all the Lit. I have read). I would change oil every 3 months at least. It is a cheap investment. I just switch to Syn, @ 20K miles and will use 5500 to 6,000 mile intervals.
I use a quick change plug and change my oil, on time, either milage or 3 months interval. Small hose and collect into a 2.5 gal gas can, take to Autozone and dump. I let the engine cool a little and put paper towels and a plastic bag over the filter and change it--fill up the oil and I am ready to go.

[Clay L]

Mine comes on at around 7000 miles as I recall.
I have been reseting it at 3000 miles when I change oil and haven't seen it since the first time it came on. (before I knew to reset it).

There has been some discussion about Chevy having a calculated oil change interval rather than a simple mileage alert, but I don't know if this is true for the 8.1 liter/Ativa IP or not.

[Fred and Bonnie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Clay L:
There has been some discussion about Chevy having a calculated oil change interval rather than a simple mileage alert, but I don't know if this is true for the 8.1 liter/Ativa IP or not. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The information contained in the Workhorse Owners Manual leads me to believe the "Oil Life Remaining" accessed through the main menu of the IP is condition driven not bases solely on miles driven. The "stock" oil change interval indicated in the manual is 7,500 miles or annually. I keep an eye on the oil life remaining to see just how hard the coach has been driven.

Fred

[Tom N]

Workhorse recommends/requires changing your oil every 3000 miles.

To reset the oil reminder, turn on ignition and press gas pedal 3 times. I think. But change every 3000 miles and forget the reminder.

Tom

[Fred and Bonnie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom N:
Workhorse recommends/requires changing your oil every 3000 miles.

To reset the oil reminder, turn on ignition and press gas pedal 3 times. I think. But change every 3000 miles and forget the reminder.

Tom </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Tom what is your Workhorse reference for the 3000 mile oil change?

Fred

[Tom N]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I just switch to Syn, @ 20K miles and will use 5500 to 6,000 mile intervals. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Interesting. Can you cite a Workhorse reference for extending your oil change past 3000 miles if using synthetic?

As someone stated 3000 mile changes, as required by Workhorse is cheap insurance and it'll keep you current if you have a major problem that requires your Workhorse warranty.

[Tom N]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Tom what is your Workhorse reference for the 3000 mile oil change? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Page 90 "recommended Fluids and Lubricants", Workhorse Gas Motor Home Chassis Guide, Feb, 2004.

[Tom N]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> Dino oil breaks down in 3 months, no matter how much driving you do. (according to all the Lit. I have read). </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have never seen any reference stating oil breaks down in 3 months.

[DriVer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom N:
Interesting. Can you cite a Workhorse reference for extending your oil change past 3000 miles if using synthetic? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Tom, No there certainly isn't any reference to that. On the other hand the manufacturer of the synthetic fluid can put whatever warranty they want on their product and they will have to provide a warranty or recommend a method whereby they will extend the warranty on their product until the cows come home.

Accomplishing a Blackstone quarterly sample analysis, the report may come back and indicate that the oil can be retained for another quarter. You can be assured that the synthetic oil is still doing its job and it can be used until Blackstone recommends a change.

People who religiously change their oil every 3000 miles and 3 months give themselves a high degree of confidence that the engine will perform at near its peak efficiency.

People who incur the cost of the synthetic and test their oil every quarter come away with 2 things, a high degree of confidence and a complete chemical and wear analysis report certified by a laboratory. Equipped with said report Workhorse will honor it's 3 year 36,000 mile warranty. When you have eclipsed 100,000 miles while using the synthetic and test method, you can rest assured that your engine will perform superbly for the next 100,000 miles en route to that 200,000 engine longevity claim that we've been promised.

I have pursued a strategy of using synthetic oil and filters however I will change the oil at every 6000 miles or twice a year which ever comes first. This is a sane and prudent path in the event an owner does not want to incur the additional expense for a Blackstone lab test every 3 months however doing a lab test every year may be a pretty good idea.

Synthetic fluids are here to stay and they are the fluids of choice for all lubricating tasks on all the Workhorse motorhome automotive components. As delivered form the factory the engine is still the only system using conventional or dino oil and for good reason. The engine needs to completely break in. Once the engine is considered broken in the transition to synthetic oil is both desirable and beneficial however the Chassis Guide isn't affording us that type on incite at this time.

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Accomplishing a Blackstone quarterly sample analysis, </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Say Mike, can you gives us an idea of the info contained in these reports and the approximate cost? Thanks, ED

[max49]

My WH book says every 7500 miles for highway driving. I used to change oil on everything I own at 3000 miles. I found that I never had a engine problem but every thing else was wearing out and I traded it anyway. I think every 5000 miles is plenty safe .
I wonder how many miles most people keep their MH anyway. I doubt if I'll have mine for more than may 40,000 mile tops.
I still think the engine internals will outlast the rest of the vehicle, even with dino oil.

[Fred and Bonnie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Tom N:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Tom what is your Workhorse reference for the 3000 mile oil change? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Page 90 "recommended Fluids and Lubricants", Workhorse Gas Motor Home Chassis Guide, Feb, 2004. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Tom, I agree with the information provided in the "Workhorse Guide" however it is just a "guide" and the "Official" information is in the Owners Manaual as mentioned by Max49. Mikes' info is more in line with where everyones "Comfort Level" is. It would be an interesting test case to see if Workhorse would honor an engine failure warranty claim if the customer presented maintenance records that showed oil change intervals that exceeded 7,500 miles

Fred