15 months without an oil change

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Originally Posted By: dporter177
Originally Posted By: E150GT
I just changed oil on my friends explorer. It had been over a year and probably close to a year and a half and that truck did not sit. The oil and filter was filthy but was fine. No sludge or anything. I just made him buy a fram ultra filter to put on there and I will help him remember to change it early this time.


Was it conventional oil he left in there for a year and a half?


I doubt it.
 
I had a '01 Silverado thing got the cheapest oil I could find and I changed it every 7,500 miles since I got it at around 120k miles. It finally blew a head gasket at 380k miles.

I towed a lot of stuff with this truck when I had it. 7,500 OCI didn't seem to hurt it in the least so unless your 7k miles was all 2 mile commutes I highly doubt it hurt a thing.
 
Thanks guys. Perhaps I was overly concerned about going 15 months and 7k miles on non synthetic oil. Really appreciate the comments.
 
Originally Posted By: dporter177
I own a 2010 Highlander, 4WD with a V6 engine..... (I don't drive my car much and when I do it's mostly highway).

I went 15 months and 7k miles without an oil change. This was using a synthetic blend oil (Pennzoil Gold I believe).


You will be completely fine.
Like others have said, that could easily be a regular OCI, especially since it's mostly highway miles.
 
Originally Posted By: SR5
Originally Posted By: dporter177
I own a 2010 Highlander, 4WD with a V6 engine..... (I don't drive my car much and when I do it's mostly highway).

I went 15 months and 7k miles without an oil change. This was using a synthetic blend oil (Pennzoil Gold I believe).


You will be completely fine.
Like others have said, that could easily be a regular OCI, especially since it's mostly highway miles.


Thanks. And thoughts if I did the same thing on Dino oil? (I'm still not convinced the shop actually put in syn blend oil)
 
Don't worry. Land Rover actually specs my LR3 for 7500 mile OCIs running plain 5w30 dino. 155k on it and it doesn't use enough oil to warrant topping off. I run it 6k usually, but I've hit 7500 a few times if it's really cold or hot out.
 
Originally Posted By: HoosierJeeper
Don't worry. Land Rover actually specs my LR3 for 7500 mile OCIs running plain 5w30 dino. 155k on it and it doesn't use enough oil to warrant topping off. I run it 6k usually, but I've hit 7500 a few times if it's really cold or hot out.


Wow. And it's ok for 7500 miles and longer than a year? Not sure how much the actual time plays into it.
 
First, I would engage in an hour of intense self flagellation to punish yourself for severe malignant neglect of your machinery. I liken this to not feeding your horse for a week. Next, I would trade in or sell your vehicle as soon as possible. Buy a new one and re-dedicate yourself to strict adherence to the maintenance specifications in the owner's manual.
 
Originally Posted By: SilverSnake
First, I would engage in an hour of intense self flagellation to punish yourself for severe malignant neglect of your machinery. I liken this to not feeding your horse for a week. Next, I would trade in or sell your vehicle as soon as possible. Buy a new one and re-dedicate yourself to strict adherence to the maintenance specifications in the owner's manual.


Thank you for that very informative response.
 
Originally Posted By: dporter177
Thanks guys. Perhaps I was overly concerned about going 15 months and 7k miles on non synthetic oil. Really appreciate the comments.


No problem. Big Rigs go 20,000 miles on conventional oil. You did not get anywhere near the end of that oils useful life
smile.gif


I have run same good conventional oil (Chevron Supreme) for 5 years in seldom used trucks (year) w/o issue. Sure about year three it'll get dark, but that's not the end
smile.gif


Almost any premium oil (dino or blend) will go 10K w/o issue. As long as there is no fuel dilution or coolant contamination, it's not anything to worry about
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
Originally Posted By: dporter177
Thanks guys. Perhaps I was overly concerned about going 15 months and 7k miles on non synthetic oil. Really appreciate the comments.


No problem. Big Rigs go 20,000 miles on conventional oil. You did not get anywhere near the end of that oils useful life
smile.gif


I have run same good conventional oil (Chevron Supreme) for 5 years in seldom used trucks (year) w/o issue. Sure about year three it'll get dark, but that's not the end
smile.gif


Almost any premium oil (dino or blend) will go 10K w/o issue. As long as there is no fuel dilution or coolant contamination, it's not anything to worry about
smile.gif



Many thanks for the comment!
 
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno

No problem. Big Rigs go 20,000 miles on conventional oil.

Let's not forget that big rigs have sumps measured in gallons, not quarts. Going 10k miles on a 3qt sump will kill the conventional oil. Going 10k in a 6qt sump on the same oil will give adequate protection and oil will have some active TBN left. Going 10k on the same oil in a 10qt sump will be wasting resources and 15k miles would be more appropriate here.
 
Originally Posted By: dporter177
I own a 2010 Highlander, 4WD with a V6 engine. I was going back through paper work on my oil changes and it appears I missed an oil change between 44k miles and 51k miles. That time span was 15 months (I don't drive my car much and when I do it's mostly highway). I've never missed any other oil changes. Highlander currently has 57k miles.

To summarize, a couple years ago I went 15 months and 7k miles without an oil change. This was using a synthetic blend oil (Pennzoil Gold I believe). At least the shop (Tires Plus) listed a syn blend, let's hope they are being honest and it wasn't straight conventional. Do I need to worry about any long term damage to the engine? The car sounds great and runs great. I want to keep this one as long as possible. All thoughts welcome.
No problem there. For peace of mind you could find the cheapest oil change possible- change now, and then change again at 60k miles. That will collect and "wash" out any contaminants a lot more effective than normal OCI will. And from 60k miles just go in 5000-mile intervals.
 
Originally Posted By: dporter177
Originally Posted By: HoosierJeeper
Don't worry. Land Rover actually specs my LR3 for 7500 mile OCIs running plain 5w30 dino. 155k on it and it doesn't use enough oil to warrant topping off. I run it 6k usually, but I've hit 7500 a few times if it's really cold or hot out.


Wow. And it's ok for 7500 miles and longer than a year? Not sure how much the actual time plays into it.


I don't know if there is a time limit. 15 months is fine, especially with only 7500 miles and it being a blend. My Cherokee is on track for 7000 miles on dino according to the OLM.

Many many many other things I'd worry about.
 
Originally Posted By: dporter177
Originally Posted By: SR5
Originally Posted By: dporter177
I own a 2010 Highlander, 4WD with a V6 engine..... (I don't drive my car much and when I do it's mostly highway).

I went 15 months and 7k miles without an oil change. This was using a synthetic blend oil (Pennzoil Gold I believe).


You will be completely fine.
Like others have said, that could easily be a regular OCI, especially since it's mostly highway miles.


Thanks. And thoughts if I did the same thing on Dino oil? (I'm still not convinced the shop actually put in syn blend oil)


Chill Bro, 7K miles on a Dino is OK, but time to change. I'm not too concerned about time.

If it was Pennzoil Gold, that's 50% synthetic and your gold.
 
Last edited:
Appreciate the comments. I've now switched to full synthetic oil. Great information overall on this board so thank you.
 
And there is this: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4445186/Amsoil_SS_5w-20,_62,000_miles,#Post4445186 That is 62,000 miles on the same oil. Yes, he has full flow and by-pass filtering, so particulate contamination is not an issue. And he has port fuel injection, so fuel dilution are not issues. And top-up oil is replenishing his TBN package to some extent. But most folks do not get anywhere near the limits of oil use - nowhere near ...
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: dporter177
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Why would there be damage?


User manual says 5k miles or 6 months for the OCI. Was worried since I waited 15 months and 7k miles while NOT using synthetic oil.
Synthetic oil Per API is an advertising term NOT a technical term. So you likely wouldnt be using synthetic oil anyhow. Same performance spec.
 
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