Community Forums

Bowser · 10-05-2012, 09:26 PM

I'm hoping someone knows how often one should change oil in order to maintain their engine as well as possible. Pre-RV, I had older vans and I changed it every 3,000 miles, maybe up to 4,000 on occasion, and used synthetic oil. Always changed the filter, too.

Now I have a 1987 Class B Intervec Falcon 190 with a Ford 351W engine, 60,000 miles. I've seen numbers as high as 15,000 miles with synthetic oil, which I find impossible to believe. That little engine works it's heart out.

Does anyone have any reliable information as to what is responsible maintenance with regular oil and synthetic oil? I'd sure appreciate it. http://www.irv2.com/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif

lonestarace · 10-05-2012, 09:47 PM

[QUOTE=Bowser;1331071]
Does anyone have any reliable information as to what is responsible maintenance with regular oil and synthetic oil? [QUOTE]
Take an oil sample and send it to a lab for analysis after 5k miles w/Dino or 8k miles w/Syn oil, or somethin like that, and let real scientific results tell ya what to do.

Mr_D · 10-05-2012, 10:00 PM

Follow the manufacturers recommendation for mileage/time and change going by that. The engineers worked that out before they printed the manuals.

LVJ58 · 10-05-2012, 10:21 PM

Hi Bowser, With our 2000 v10 powered coach, while under warranty, I changed oil & filter every 3,000 miles using standard 5w30 oil.

After warranty expired I switched to Mobil 1 full synthetic 5w30 oil now changing oil and filter between 5 & 7,000 miles.

Bowser · 10-05-2012, 11:46 PM

Thanks for the info, so far. My concern regarding the manufacturers recommendations is that the 351W was used in a lot of vehicles. A Class B on a F250 Econoline chassis is working under different conditions than a Mustang, for instance.

I'll have to Google for labs. I've never heard of sending oil off to be analyzed. If it doesn't cost more than a tank of gas it would be worth it. Probably worth it anyway.

I hope to leave on a 4 to 10 week trip, depending upon weather, in a month and a half. Since I just bought the thing, and don't know when the oil was changed last, I suspect I'll change it with a good synthetic just before I leave, and then see how it handles it. The trip should be about 8,000 miles, and it will burn a quart or two in that time. If I keep the same oil in it when I get back I could get it analyzed and have meaningful data.

Thanks a lot.

lonestarace · 10-06-2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

My concern regarding the manufacturers recommendations is that the 351W was used in a lot of vehicles. A Class B on a F250 Econoline chassis is working under different conditions than a Mustang, for instance..

Plus, the manufactures oil & filter change interval recommendation in your 1987 manual is based on what they knew and had available 25 yrs ago. Todays oils & filters are much improved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

I'll have to Google for labs. I've never heard of sending oil off to be analyzed. If it doesn't cost more than a tank of gas it would be worth it. Probably worth it anyway.

I've used the following labs. I prefer OAI. I've found their recommendations to be more conservative than Blackstones. And you get more info for less $. There are 100s of labs to choose from.
Oil Analyzers, Inc. - Oil Analysis, Oil Testing Services $25

Blackstone Labs $35 to get the same info you get for $25 from OAI.

Midniteoyl · 10-06-2012, 07:25 AM

Personally, I change oil every 6 months regardless of mileage using Mobil1 on my daily drivers.. I still switch from a winter weight to summer weight too..

clyon51 · 10-06-2012, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVJ58

Hi Bowser, With our 2000 v10 powered coach, while under warranty, I changed oil & filter every 3,000 miles using standard 5w30 oil.

No big deal, but Ford changed their oil specs for all the V10s years ago from 5w30 to 5w20.

I also use a full synthetic. Since we never (so far) travel over 7,000 mi a year, I just change it once per year.

TGR · 10-06-2012, 08:26 AM

I use Mobil 1 5w20 oil and filters in my cars and Motorhome. I change the oil at 5000 miles.

phatpony · 10-06-2012, 05:23 PM

If you really want information overload on oil and other fluids used in vehicles, checkout this site Bob Is The Oil Guy - Forums powered by UBB.threads™

The bottom line is that todays dino oils are exceptional and the only real reason to switch to synthetic is to extend the oil change interval. On an older engine such as yours, there may be some issues with oil leaks developing because synthetics tend to penetrate through old seals and gaskets more readily.

macantic · 10-06-2012, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clyon51

No big deal, but Ford changed their oil specs for all the V10s years ago from 5w30 to 5w20.

I also use a full synthetic. Since we never (so far) travel over 7,000 mi a year, I just change it once per year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TGR

I use Mobil 1 5w20 oil and filters in my cars and Motorhome. I change the oil at 5000 miles.

same here...i agree!!

Bowser · 10-10-2012, 11:03 PM

Thank you, all. I learned a lot, and I had no idea a lab would be so inexpensive. It would be nice to know what they would say.

Thanks again. What a resource!!

Old Coot · 10-11-2012, 07:51 PM

[QUOTE=lonestarace;1331091]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

Does anyone have any reliable information as to what is responsible maintenance with regular oil and synthetic oil? [QUOTE]
Take an oil sample and send it to a lab for analysis after 5k miles w/Dino or 8k miles w/Syn oil, or somethin like that, and let real scientific results tell ya what to do.

An oil analysis costs minimum of $25.00, just about pays for new oil. 5 qts of Mobil 1 @ Walmart is $28.97.

Mr_D · 10-11-2012, 08:01 PM

I took an oil sample last month, haven't taken time to send it in yet as my wife has been really sick and in the ER and hospital.
Anyway, I still plan on changing the oil before I store it (as per Cummins recommendations), but I want a report on the used sample to see if anything is wearing abnormally.