Recommend me an oil change interval!

Pennzoil motor oil
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SwampSurvivor

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Since my Cherokee is not my primary vehicle and doesn't see the majority of miles, I usually change once a year. That can be 3000 miles or 6000 miles. I'm going to hit probably 8000 miles before my next "scheduled" spring oil change. I have no issues running my Focus that long but the Jeep is a different use. It has 203000 on the Odo, 2000 miles on the current oil/filter which is Supertech 10w30 synthetic and 1 quart of Pennzoil Platinum 10w30 and a Supertech ST16 filter.

Usually every other weekend this summer I have been on the trails. That pretty much means running all day.

Over this weekend I towed my popup camper through the hills of PA (so some of the hills were pulled at 3500RPM) to an off road park, then bounced it around in the rocks all day with the A/C on full blast. 90 degrees. Never shut it off because 2000/2001 Cherokee 4.0L will not start hot. They sputter warm , but heat soaking after this will cause them to not start.

Next weekend there will be a similar trip. There are at least 4 more trips like that for this summer. I have already done 4 or 5 such trips.

Recommended OCI is 5000. Severe is 3000. What do you all think?

This is for fun. Not serious.
 
That sounds like pretty "severe" use to me (towing, offroading with A/C). I would probably stick with 3,000 - 5,000 depending on oil/filter used.

I change my 4.0 at 5,000 miles. I drive mine daily in the winter through bad weather and traffic, so it sees alot of idling in traffic and cold starts. Then I do drive it in the summer months, but not nearly as much, and its not run hard at all.

How well does your cooling system cope with all of that? Especially towing in the summer months?
 
"Recommended OCI is 5000. Severe is 3000." How does synthetic play into this? Is it mandatory or listed in the owner's manual?
 
with that engine and use.. I'd do 3000mi or maybe 2x year is its close.
Hour of idling=33miles
hour of offroading=what?
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Recommended OCI is 5000. Severe is 3000. What do you all think?

This is for fun. Not serious.


You want fun? I'd recommend OCI based on quantity of gas consumed.

For example calculate the total gas quantity you'd use over 3000 or 5000 miles (avg), then keep track of the gas you use, and do the OC when you reach the equivalent of the first amount calculated.

Apart from "fun" (this is BITOG, after all!), it has the advantage of adjusting the OCI to the consumption, supposing the harder the use, the more gas consumed. Perhaps base your calculus on severe service !
 
Originally Posted By: Popsy
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Recommended OCI is 5000. Severe is 3000. What do you all think?

This is for fun. Not serious.


You want fun? I'd recommend OCI based on quantity of gas consumed.

For example calculate the total gas quantity you'd use over 3000 or 5000 miles (avg), then keep track of the gas you use, and do the OC when you reach the equivalent of the first amount calculated.

Apart from "fun" (this is BITOG, after all!), it has the advantage of adjusting the OCI to the consumption, supposing the harder the use, the more gas consumed. Perhaps base your calculus on severe service !


I never thought about this before... Makes sense. I assume newer built in Oil Life Monitors do calculations with this in mind. 2013 Jeep keeps track of engine hours, which would include idling. And I know it uses cold starts and higher RPMs in its calculation, which again would result in more fuel usage.
 
used oil analysis! used oil analysis! used oil analysis!
smile.gif


Really though, Super Tech is good to go at 5k, sample if planning to go further. Several years ago I ran Super Tech Syn 5k and did a used oil analysis, showed it could have gone further....but that was 95% highway miles....
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Since my Cherokee is not my primary vehicle and doesn't see the majority of miles, I usually change once a year. That can be 3000 miles or 6000 miles. I'm going to hit probably 8000 miles before my next "scheduled" spring oil change. I have no issues running my Focus that long but the Jeep is a different use. It has 203000 on the Odo, 2000 miles on the current oil/filter which is Supertech 10w30 synthetic and 1 quart of Pennzoil Platinum 10w30 and a Supertech ST16 filter.

Usually every other weekend this summer I have been on the trails. That pretty much means running all day.

Over this weekend I towed my popup camper through the hills of PA (so some of the hills were pulled 3500RPM) to an off road park, then bounced it around in the rocks all day with the A/C on full blast. 90 degrees. Never shut it off because 2000/2001 Cherokee 4.0L will not start hot. They sputter warm , but heat soaking after this will cause them to not start.

Next weekend there will be a similar trip. There are at least 4 more trips like that for this summer. I have already done 4 or 5 such trips.

Recommended OCI is 5000. Severe is 3000. What do you all think
This is for fun. Not serious.


If you use cheap oils, then a 3000 mile OCI should be OK unless the head gasket has a crack, the injectors are gummed up or your air filter is kaput.
If you don't mix oils and use a major brand full synthetic and the engine is in good order, then 5000 miles should be OK, BUT the real answer will be found if you get a used oil analysis (Used OIl Analysis) done.

Also OEM filter bought from the dealer or a reliable Fleabay or Amazon dealer are more reliable. Mobil and Amsoil oil filters are also good, but probably cost the same. Forget the supermarket oil filters as the few dollars you save is not worth it.
 
Originally Posted By: Kuato
used oil analysis! used oil analysis! used oil analysis!
smile.gif


Really though, Super Tech is good to go at 5k, sample if planning to go further. Several years ago I ran Super Tech Syn 5k and did a used oil analysis, showed it could have gone further....but that was 95% highway miles....


I may pay for a used oil analysis. Definitely interested.


Originally Posted By: HemiHawk
That sounds like pretty "severe" use to me (towing, offroading with A/C). I would probably stick with 3,000 - 5,000 depending on oil/filter used.

I change my 4.0 at 5,000 miles. I drive mine daily in the winter through bad weather and traffic, so it sees alot of idling in traffic and cold starts. Then I do drive it in the summer months, but not nearly as much, and its not run hard at all.

How well does your cooling system cope with all of that? Especially towing in the summer months?


Never went above 210. I don't know which hill it was but one of the hills coming out of Scranton on 81, I had it at 3500 for 4 or 5 miles straight and it didn't go above 210. Same with the trail riding with AC on - 210 was max. Everything on the cooling system has been replaced at one point or another.
 
Originally Posted By: UltrafanUK
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Since my Cherokee is not my primary vehicle and doesn't see the majority of miles, I usually change once a year. That can be 3000 miles or 6000 miles. I'm going to hit probably 8000 miles before my next "scheduled" spring oil change. I have no issues running my Focus that long but the Jeep is a different use. It has 203000 on the Odo, 2000 miles on the current oil/filter which is Supertech 10w30 synthetic and 1 quart of Pennzoil Platinum 10w30 and a Supertech ST16 filter.

Usually every other weekend this summer I have been on the trails. That pretty much means running all day.

Over this weekend I towed my popup camper through the hills of PA (so some of the hills were pulled 3500RPM) to an off road park, then bounced it around in the rocks all day with the A/C on full blast. 90 degrees. Never shut it off because 2000/2001 Cherokee 4.0L will not start hot. They sputter warm , but heat soaking after this will cause them to not start.

Next weekend there will be a similar trip. There are at least 4 more trips like that for this summer. I have already done 4 or 5 such trips.

Recommended OCI is 5000. Severe is 3000. What do you all think
This is for fun. Not serious.


If you use cheap oils, then a 3000 mile OCI should be OK unless the head gasket has a crack, the injectors are gummed up or your air filter is kaput.
If you don't mix oils and use a major brand full synthetic and the engine is in good order, then 5000 miles should be OK, BUT the real answer will be found if you get a used oil analysis (Used OIl Analysis) done.

Also OEM filter bought from the dealer or a reliable Fleabay or Amazon dealer are more reliable. Mobil and Amsoil oil filters are also good, but probably cost the same. Forget the supermarket oil filters as the few dollars you save is not worth it.


The Supertech filters are rated pretty well. It has a pretty severe vacuum leak that I am still trying to track down... so that could prove interesting.
 
Another great cheap filter is the motorcraft FL1A. Its larger than oem size. Ive seen the merits of this debated, but its a quality filter at a good price. I didnt need to add any extra oil either, just the normal 6 quarts.
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88

Recommended OCI is 5000. Severe is 3000. What do you all think?

This is for fun. Not serious.


What is for fun and not seri-arse ?
 
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
The keyword is varnish. If you don't mind varnish build up, change it every 5000 miles.


203K on the odometer. It has varnish already.

Originally Posted By: virginoil
Originally Posted By: Miller88

Recommended OCI is 5000. Severe is 3000. What do you all think?

This is for fun. Not serious.


What is for fun and not seri-arse ?


Just curious as to what people have to say
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
The keyword is varnish. If you don't mind varnish build up, change it every 5000 miles.


203K on the odometer. It has varnish already.

Originally Posted By: virginoil
Originally Posted By: Miller88

Recommended OCI is 5000. Severe is 3000. What do you all think?



This is for fun. Not serious.


What is for fun and not seri-arse ?


Just curious as to what people have to say


11000 posts.....you should know by now....
 
Last edited:
Add an hour meter and change every 200 hours

or

Keep a log and change ever 400 gal of fuel.

All the idle time and low speed off-road throws a wrench in mileage based changes.
 
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