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Oil % usage

2013avalanche

Full Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2014
Messages
138
At 5000 miles my ford edge has only 4-5% left on its oil life, but my avalanche with big 8 cylinder has 35-37% after 5000 miles. Both vehicles are baby miles, NOT hauling anything , all blacktop driving. Just seems like 5% after 5000 baby miles, is inaccurate. Any opinions
 
What does the owner manual say about oil change schedule? Maybe the Ford has a smaller motor running at higher rpms and in effect working harder at higher temps which will have a negative effect on oil life due to it breaking down.....
 
I change my oil soon after hitting 5%.

That is usually between 7500 and 7800 miles, on average.
 
Call me crazy, but I waited until it told me to change on my '03 (seemed to be every 7k or so) ... which eventually had low oil pressure issues after 15 years...  I'll admit, sometimes I needed to top off oil before changing since it burned a bit...


On my '13 I'm now changing when it hits 30%...    If you can afford it, I would recommend changing at 4k-5k regardless of computer...  and also I would recommend if it shows low on the dipstick, don't top off with new oil....  just change it all...

I'm not sold on the computers ability to gauge when to change.  I don't care what brand oil you use.


 
I change oil on both vehicles every 5000miles & rotate tires. Just easier to remember.
 
2013avalanche said:
I change oil on both vehicles every 5000miles & rotate tires. Just easier to remember.

I agree with this method.

I don't think you can go wrong with it.

I haven't changed engine oil at 3000 miles since the 1970's.

I've always told other family members to let me know and I would have it changed at every even 5000 mile mark.

Less for everyone to keep up with.

But, my 2004 EXT with 234K miles goes to about the 5% mark on the computer, with no ill effects.

I attribute it's past oil leaking issues to advanced age and high mileage, more than oil change intervals.

I do not feel that more frequent oil changes would have made a lot of difference, in that regard.

After appropriate repairs, those leaks are no longer an issue.

However, we had a 2006 Cadillac CTS where the computer wanted to have us change the oil between 10,000 and 12,000 miles.

After having the common timing chain and heavy oil consumption issues with that engine, that ultimately made us get rid of the silly thing, I changed the oil at 50%.

And the oil that was in the engine stayed fairly fresh due to me having to add a fresh quart every two weeks worth of driving.

:E:

Someone else?s problem now.
 
What about when you only drive say 2000 or so miles a year???

 
ygmn said:
What about when you only drive say 2000 or so miles a year???

I have an old beater 1993 Ford Explorer out in the back yard that averages 150 miles a year over the past 10 years or so.

I change the oil in it once every 7-8 years, whether it needs it or not.

(y)
 
ygmn said:
What about when you only drive say 2000 or so miles a year???

I would say make sure it looks fairly clean (but not perfect) on the dipstick every now and then, and never top off your oil....  if it shows low, change it all.
 
    My past.2

  Used to be every 3000 even with synthetic. I drive like I stole it or heavy usage on my trucks.
My first Avy I used the oil monitor to see what it would do. (always hoping it would blow. >:D 6l.)
Sold it with just over 100k no oil usage.

The 2500 was every 5k. Now it's a Pack Mule  (y) it will be every 6 months needed or not.
With short runs and storage.

I did have an Elky that I did not have time to work on. Had a coworker work on it he had a shop side business.
It leaked more after he worked on it. I drove it for 2 1/2 years with no oil changes it leaked so bad.
My boss at the time threaten not to let me park my car in their lot. I told him I'm showing of Mike's work. 

When I finally broke down put another engine in it. The thing had so much ATV on it. He must of bought it by the 50 gl. barrel. 



 
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