supercub
Modesto CA
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Joined: 04/24/2005
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I typically put about 6000 miles a year on my motorhome. I believe the mileage interval for oil change is 11,000 and/o4 1 year which ever comes first. Is it really necessary to change the oil at 1 year if you're way under the mileage? Is this just an over kill, like changing oil in cars at 3,000 miles......or is it a good idea to do it annually. By the way I have a Cat C-9 400hp
Thanks and Happy New Year
Brian
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wagonmaster2
northcentral oklahoma
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Joined: 02/18/2005
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I've read that if you have an oil analysis and it comes out fine then it's okay to go longer than 1 year. But if you're still under warranty or have any kind of extended service contract they will sure use the manufacturer's recommendation for oil changes as gospel and can deny claims due to that.
Wagonmaster2
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offthewall
New Jersey
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Joined: 08/19/2007
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supercub wrote:I typically put about 6000 miles a year on my motorhome. I believe the mileage interval for oil change is 11,000 and/o4 1 year which ever comes first. Is it really necessary to change the oil at 1 year if you're way under the mileage? Is this just an over kill, like changing oil in cars at 3,000 miles......or is it a good idea to do it annually. By the way I have a Cat C-9 400hp
Thanks and Happy New Year
Brian
IMHO, it's always a good idea to change engine oil every year. If you store your RV, do the change BEFORE storage. It's cheap insurance for a very expensive investment.
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rgatijnet1
Florida
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Like rubber items and oil are subject to outside conditions other than mileage. Oil tends to pick up moisture and acids that develop from the combustion process. Rubber items will deteriorate whether the coach is driven or not. Changing the oil removes the contaminants that accumulate over the course of the year, which is why the manufacturer recommends it. This is why it is recommended that when you start your engine you run it long enough to bring things up to a high operating temperature and keep it there for a long enough period of time to burn off the moisture inside an engine.
Actually this is not that different from changing tires based on their age/condition, regardless of the mileage. Things do deteriorate while your coach is in storage.
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rocmoc
AZ/Mexico
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Since we put 10,000 - 15,000 miles a year on our DP, we change our oil yearly in the summer when home during downtime. At that time all maintenance is performed for the year.
rocmoc n AZ
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
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grldst
Dallas, GA
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Joined: 12/10/2003
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Brian, If you are using your motor home regularly, every month, I don't think it would hurt a thing going over the year suggestion. Manufacturers suggested intervals, are always on the side of caution.
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The Texan
Home: Idaho - Location: Texas
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We have diesel equipment on the ranch that has set anywhere from 5 to 15 years with out an annual oil change and it still runs good. Do an oil analysis and if it is good, then decide what you want to do. We put close to 15K on ours most years, so it gets changed. But, I do have an oil analysis done PRIOR to each oil change and based on what that has shown, there was NO need for the change.
Bob & Betsy(FishNFanatic) - USN Aviation Ret'd '78 & FL LEO Ret'd '03 & "Oath Keeper Forever"
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Where the wheels are stopped
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Snomas
Arvada, CO
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I change oil,oil filter,fuel/water filter and do a chassis lube every year while only driving an average of 7k mi per yr. It's cheap insurance. New tires every 5-6 years and fix anything that breaks immediately thru out the year. Try to fix anything myself that I can handle.
2002 DutchStar 350 Cummins/Spartan Chassis, Toad 04 Odyssey
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Ivylog
Blairsville, Ga. USA
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Spend the little bit of money on a oil sample by a company like this at the end of the year. Not only will it show you DO NOT need to change it, you will have a base line for your future annual samplings which will detect a possible problem before it becomes a big problem. I would buy one of their advanced kits ($27) for the first sample and then their $20 one for future. (3 for $57.50) I like this company because they keep track of your results and will interpert them for you.
Now if you only drive the vehicle a few miles on every trip and the oil does not get hot enough to boild the water out, then YES you should follow their recomendations. Without moisture in the oil is there really any difference if you put those miles on in one year or two? A oil sample will answer this question plus tell you a whole lot more.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
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chastho
arkansas
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Joined: 07/27/2005
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I use JG Lubricants for test on the engine oil and transynd to tell me when to change. I don't believe in throwing away good oil along with good money. the same goes for the fuel filters and air filters, a few thousand miles a year when you use clean fuel the filters do not need changing every year. Same for the air filter, the manual says change it every two or three years but the manual does not know how many hours I put on the engine or in what conditions. I use the filter minder to tell me when to change it. JG Lubricants charges just a little more but they do more tests than the others.
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