Oil change frequency

[thechubbsdub]

Just gone through a mountain of receipts that came with my recently purchased van and noticed that the previous owner seems to have changed the oil and filter about every 1500 miles. This seems a bit excessive to me and certainly more than the haynes manual suggests. I realise that it can't have done it any harm but is there any benefit to changing oil/filter that often?

Adrian

[Fritz]

If you can afford to change the oil quite often then do it, it is one of those jobs which can only benefit an engine,,,,,,,,,I suppose 25 years ago when multigrade was the thing to use it had tendancies to create sludge/gum and other nasty shyte if it was left unchanged year after year,,,,,,,,,,,,,, so changing the oil often helped prevent it getting to that stage.

Modern day semi synthetic oils are much more stable and have little in common with Castrol GTX........


Regards


Fritz,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[tonytech]

You dont say what engine is in your van.
Air cooled are a lot less happy with dirty oil.

Even so every 1500 is a bit excessive.

T

[thechubbsdub]

Sorry tony, it's a 1900 diesel watercooled recon engine changed 13000 miles ago.

Thanks Fritz. I will probably do it every 5 - 6K miles. I just thought I might have been missing something as the previous owner seemed to know what he was doing.
Regards

Adrian

[ermie571]

He was looking after his engine! A bit OTT perhaps. But not costly (in the scheme of T25 ownership). Average seems to be every 3,000 miles. For me that equates to annually......


Em
x

[Aidan]

change oil every six months regardless of mileage as it degrades and becomes contaminated in use, (or every 5-6k miles petrol, maybe less for diesel, whichever comes first), bog standard 80's mineral oils and genuine (MAN) filters
less than a quid a week to keep it well lubricated and prolong it's life, it's like eating and drinking good clean food rather than carp (not the fish), eat carp be ill and die young, same with engines.

You'll see the benefit of previous owners maintenance, but most of us have paid the bill for previous owners parsimony

[maxstu]

You'll see the benefit of previous owners maintenance, but most of us have paid the bill for previous owners parsimony

Amen brother, Amen!

[ermie571]

Aiden, thanks.....I really didn't know that! Its just over the winter months, with low mileage to share between two vans, they might not even complete the 1500 each... Just have to drive them more I guess


Em
x

[Red Westie]

Quote: "change oil every six months regardless of mileage as it degrades and becomes contaminated in use, (or every 5-6k miles petrol, maybe less for diesel, whichever comes first)"
I agree with the second half of your statement....every 5/6K with mineral based oil but I'm not sure what you are saying at first:
Change every six months regardless....hmmm don't think so....oil is very stable and will last considerably more than six months when not used.
Distributors often have oils on display for several years....and I certainly wouldn't have any quarms buying and using it. Gearbox oil for instance, is filled for life on most vehicles. I agree that a low mileage stop/start runner may need more regular oil changes because of condensation (engine never reaching full running temp for very long) but if the 1500 anual miles are made up of long trips ie; 50miles or over then the oil is having plenty of heat to get rid of this.
My opinion would be you could stretch this safely to 18 monthly (with such low miles)
PS. And if anyone quotes VW.. then they of course recommend annual services regardless of mileage.. this is primarily to keep their dealerships in business and cars safe (so brakes/steering and suspension are being checked) I remember seeing vehicles like this from time to time and have to admit feeling a bit of a fraud changing lube and filters when the oil was obviously spotlessly clean (Volkswagen main Dealership in Nottingham for 6 years)
Martin