Oil change time or mileage?

On Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:27:06 -0400, Kurt Ullman
wrote Re Oil change time or mileage?:

> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
>changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
>according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
>to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
>It is for an 00 Explorer

Mileage. Actually, total cumulative engine revolutions since last oil
change is what is important. But mileage is a close enough
approximation.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message

> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
> changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
> according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
> to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
> It is for an 00 Explorer

It's getting on for 10 years old, so service history is less of an issue
than condition. A few months isn't going to make a huge difference. But
don't let it go for much longer than 18 months.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

unless you live in a climate with severe temperature changes.
if the car sees constant hot cold cycles, the oil should be changed every 6
months or so regardless of the mileage to get rid of the condensation that
will accumulate in the oil.
"Caesar Romano" wrote in message

> On Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:27:06 -0400, Kurt Ullman
> wrote Re Oil change time or mileage?:
>
>> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
>>changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
>>according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
>>to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>>
>>It is for an 00 Explorer
>
> Mileage. Actually, total cumulative engine revolutions since last oil
> change is what is important. But mileage is a close enough
> approximation.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

unless you live in a climate with severe temperature changes.
if the car sees constant hot cold cycles, the oil should be changed every 6
months or so regardless of the mileage to get rid of the condensation that
will accumulate in the oil.
"Caesar Romano" wrote in message

> On Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:27:06 -0400, Kurt Ullman
> wrote Re Oil change time or mileage?:
>
>> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
>>changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
>>according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
>>to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>>
>>It is for an 00 Explorer
>
> Mileage. Actually, total cumulative engine revolutions since last oil
> change is what is important. But mileage is a close enough
> approximation.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

On Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:27:06 -0400, Kurt Ullman
wrote:

> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
>changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
>according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
>to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
>It is for an 00 Explorer

Both. If you are racking up lots of miles, you go on miles.

If it sits a lot but gets a long trip and properly warmed up every
few weeks, go on time, within reason. 12 to 18 months.

If it rarely gets used and all the uses are very short trips where
it barely warms up and keeps the battery charged (two miles to the
train station, to the supermarket, to Church...) then you stay with
time for the oil changes and drop the intervals to six months.

--<< Bruce >>--
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

In article ,
Bruce L. Bergman wrote:

>
> If it sits a lot but gets a long trip and properly warmed up every
> few weeks, go on time, within reason. 12 to 18 months.
Most of its 2-3 miles to work, although she usually does trips of 10
or more (like to the lake or downtown to her favorite haunts) on
weekends. Then of course the occasional hundred miler to her
grandparents or the 500 mile run to see her bud in Chicago. That sound
like a 12 month pattern?

BTW: Thanks to all for the help, it was MOST appreciated.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

i eould go with a 12 month change instead of the 3000 mile change.
"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message

> Most of its 2-3 miles to work, although she usually does trips of 10
> or more (like to the lake or downtown to her favorite haunts) on
> weekends. Then of course the occasional hundred miler to her
> grandparents or the 500 mile run to see her bud in Chicago. That sound
> like a 12 month pattern?
>
> BTW: Thanks to all for the help, it was MOST appreciated.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

On Oct 3, 1:27 pm, Kurt Ullman wrote:
>      Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
> changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
> according to the sticker.   Going forward should she pay more attention
> to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
> It is for an 00 Explorer

Best thing to do is check the oil periodically, when it's dirty change
it out. Usually you would judge oil changes by mileage but the best
way is to just look and see for yourself what condition the oil is in.
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

On Sat, 4 Oct 2008 08:12:54 -0500, "Tom"
wrote:
>"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message
>

>> Most of its 2-3 miles to work, although she usually does trips of 10
>> or more (like to the lake or downtown to her favorite haunts) on
>> weekends. Then of course the occasional hundred miler to her
>> grandparents or the 500 mile run to see her bud in Chicago. That sound
>> like a 12 month pattern?
>>
>> BTW: Thanks to all for the help, it was MOST appreciated.
>
>i eould go with a 12 month change instead of the 3000 mile change.

If it gets thoroughly warmed up at least once every week or two,
then the 12-month stretch before you hit 3,000 miles is valid. They
have made oils SO much better in the last 10 years that even the cheap
stuff (that meets the current API standards) can do this.

To be really 100% sure whether or not it needs servicing you draw
off an oil sample after a year and send it in for an analysis, and see
what the lab says - but since an oil change on a car costs $25 for 5
quarts and a filter, and the oil analysis service costs $40 or more
last I looked, it doesn't make any sense. Just change the oil and
filter, and be done with it.

The time for having a full oil analysis done is when you run a huge
marine diesel prime mover (for container ships and the like) that has
a few thousand gallons of lube oil, or a megawatt stationary
powerplant engine or railroad locomotive that holds 50 to 250 gallons
of oil in the sump, or just a Class 8 Semi that holds 10 gallons plus.

Because you also have to consider the substantial costs of the
maintenance downtime of the prime mover, materials, and labor. And
the hazardous materials disposal of the waste oil - when you start
talking thousands of gallons at a time it becomes a problem, unless
you can filter out the big chunks and heavy metals and meter it into
the fuel.

--<< Bruce >>--
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message

> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
> changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
> according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
> to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
> It is for an 00 Explorer

Similar question came up recently here. I purchased an 01 pickup (not a
Ford) from my daughter. Immediately, I changed the oil using Mobil 1, and
the oil filter. A 1000 miles and 3 months later, my son needed
transportation, so I lent him the pickup. He put 3K miles on it in less
than a month. 1 month and 500 miles later, my daughter's Expedition was
having problems and she borrowed the pickup. She had it a week and put 400
miles on it. Upon returning the pickup to me, she said she was concerned as
more than 3K miles had elapsed since the last oil change per the sticker on
the windshield. She said she normally used the Express Lube center to do
that when she owned it, and let them use their choice oil/filter. I told
her not to worry as the Mobil 1 is good for at least 5000 miles, and
promptly changed the oil and filter as it was due per mileage.

Meanwhile, I got a new 08 Focus for primary transportation recently. The
pickup is more or less parked since, drive it once a week about 10 miles
to/from town. I don't expect to use it much. So, I will be looking at a 6
month oil change on it, I suspect.
--
Dave
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

some say ... 6 months or 7K miles ... which ever comes first.

for most engines I agree .. time is an issue as the oils get rancid and
break down in the engine ... losing their protective film over time.

have to keep things fresh and clean to last ... see BMW maintance schedule
for an example ... down side is that your back yard mechanic days are over
with a machine like that.

BIG CAVEAT here .. with a turbo ... it is 3000 miles or 3 months ... have to
be more carefull with those expensive race car parts like that as they burn
easily.

sumbuddie hopes that helps



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in article kurtullman-DFE8BA.16270603102008 RemoveThis @70-3-168-216.area5.spcsdns.net,
Kurt Ullman at wrote on 10/3/08 1:27 PM:

> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
> changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
> according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
> to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
> It is for an 00 Explorer
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

wrote in message
> You may want to give your head a firm shake.... the colour of the oil is a
> poor indicator of the need for a change.


Usually you would judge oil changes by mileage but the best
> way is to just look and see for yourself what condition the oil is in.

Care to elaborate as to what yoiu look for in determining the condition of
the oil if you are not using colour?
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage? 

Recommended oil change intervals are ALWAYS "X" number of miles OR six month
WOF.


"Kurt Ullman" wrote in message

> Which is more important. My kid just informed me that she hasn't
> changed the oil in roughly a year, yet she hasn't put enough miles on it
> according to the sticker. Going forward should she pay more attention
> to time (and how long) or the mileage?
>
> It is for an 00 Explorer
 >> Stay informed about: Oil change time or mileage?