Rethinking My Oil Change Intervals

[mphilleo]

Hey folks, looking to dip into the Brain Trust here for a moment. I've got a 2024 Jeep Gladiator, it doesn't get a lot of annual mileage on it, probably 2,500 to 3,000 per year due to life and work circumstances. It also doesn't see a lot of hard work, except for when it's fully loaded with camping gear and the whole fam damily a few times in the summer. Babied for the most part, gets a block heater in winter and typically garage-parked.

I did the first change at 1,000 miles and the next one at about 3,000 miles 6 months apart. At the time, I decided I'd stick with 6 month OCIs using Mobil 1 Truck and SUV due to the low mileage and short tripping (it's about 6 or 7 miles to work one way). I've got a couple of jugs left, thankfully, since the price jumped up overnight while I was considering stocking more. I know my current planned oil change interval is extremely wasteful, especially with prices changing, but it's still cheaper than sending in oil samples. I'm trying to decide whether 6 months and such little mileage could be extended to an annual change with that oil or not. I'd rather just use the cost for oil testing to pay for another oil change interval if it comes down to it. Any input and insights are appreciated!

 

[fantastic]

Yes, you could go a full year with that low mileage.

 

[Astro_Guy]

Personally I would extend it to twelve months or 5000 miles at a minimum and sleep easy.

 

[bdc101]

I am in the same boat with my cars. I landed on changing my oil once a year minimum just because my short trips don't get the engine or oil very hot. I assume this is the case for you as well (short trips). My cars all have direct injection so there is the risk of fuel dilution. I meant to do a UOA on the last oil change, but flat out forgot to put the sample cup under the engine when I was draining it. But I assume there is some fuel dilution at this kind of interval.

I don't recall but I think pentastar V6s were only port-injected, so this might be less of a concern for you. You should just do a used oil analysis on a one-year OCI and see what it says. If it's concerning, switch to a 6-month or 9-month interval.

 

[svtrit]

I change my Wrangler, in a similar situation to yours, once per year, before I park it for the winter. I put on about 3000-3500 miles a year on it, using it only on weekends or occasionally in the evening. I'll do a couple 200 mile trips here or there in it, otherwise, it's seeing the local outdoors areas in a 25 mile radius from my house. My Jeep has 61,000 miles on it, and was a daily driver doing 15,000 miles per year when I bought it, with the first oil change done at 4500 miles (though I wish they had done it sooner).

Once a year is enough. I've thought of going to 2 years, but the cams in the 3.6 make me too nervous to do so.

 

[CleanSump]

Take the long way home on a road without traffic lights once a week so you get the oil up to temp for 20 to 30 minutes and go for the annual change.

 

[UGASpike]

I envy some of y'all's annual mileages.

 

[shortyb]

Similar situation with the wagon. It doesn't see many trips >10 miles, but is direct injection AND a VW, so 2 strikes. Annual mileages of ~3K with Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 or Castrol Euro 0W-40. Last UOA with this interval regime was fine. I say send it annually.

 

[bdc101]

I envy some of y'all's annual mileages.

It doesn't happen by accident

 

[gfh77665]

Quality oil for one year, 5000 miles. Never go wrong with that.

 

[demarpaint]

Get a UOA at 6 months and use the data to determine the interval. You "might" be able to go a year, maybe more. OTOH 6 months "might" be all you can safely go. A UOA can take the operative word "might" out of the equation, and save you some money over a few OCIs.

When my wife retired, her Liberty went from 5K OCIs to 6 months due to short trips. I used a UOA to determine the new interval after running the vehicle for 6 months with the new short trip runs, and not getting on the highway much. Coincidentally that is the severe service interval spelled out in the owner's manual.

 

[MrBubba]

I recommend 5,000 miles or 6 months but going a year will do no harm especially running a good oil like Truck & SUV.

 

[mphilleo]

I don't recall but I think pentastar V6s were only port-injected, so this might be less of a concern for you. You should just do a used oil analysis on a one-year OCI and see what it says. If it's concerning, switch to a 6-month or 9-month interval.

That is one nice thing about the Pentastar. It just has regular MPFI, so unless I have a bad injector or don't run the oil hot enough, there shouldn't be too much problem with fuel dilution.

 

[The_Jeff]

The concern for me is the relatively short trips to work you'll be taking in the winter.

The UOA makes sense if your driving's consistent as you can plan for the years ahead by buying one once.

 

[Plumb Bob]

I envy some of y'all's annual mileages.

So do I.

I'd like to drive half of the 38-40K miles a year I'm doing now.

 

[mphilleo]

The concern for me is the relatively short trips to work you'll be taking in the winter.

The UOA makes sense if your driving's consistent as you can plan for the years ahead by buying one once.

You make a fair point, the same thought has crossed my mind. It seems like Mobil 1 Truck and SUV is a very shear-stable, quality oil, so hopefully it can do some heavy lifting for me and maintain a nice TBN for a year. I've got two more jugs, and I'd love to be able to stretch those out a little longer until um, global circumstances, are hopefully more stable than they are now.

I do appreciate all the input, everyone!

 

[Rinspeed]

I would go 18 months or 6K miles and sleep well.

 

[mojoe]

With a car that new, that is only driven 3k miles a year, you should be golden for 12 months on most any full synthetic oil today. Just for fun, you could do one UOA after one year, and find that you could easily push it out even further for the foreseeable future. After that, do a UOA every 2-3 years to make sure until you start seeing signs that would indicate it's time to shorten the interval. Or, to keep it simple, every 12 months would be the ticket.

 

[oilfan99]

I have a car I drive less than 1000 miles per year...put in techron with fuel stabilizer and drive it once a week on the highway. Do oil change once a year

 

[JerseyGuy]

Hey folks, looking to dip into the Brain Trust here for a moment. I've got a 2024 Jeep Gladiator, it doesn't get a lot of annual mileage on it, probably 2,500 to 3,000 per year due to life and work circumstances. It also doesn't see a lot of hard work, except for when it's fully loaded with camping gear and the whole fam damily a few times in the summer. Babied for the most part, gets a block heater in winter and typically garage-parked.

I did the first change at 1,000 miles and the next one at about 3,000 miles 6 months apart. At the time, I decided I'd stick with 6 month OCIs using Mobil 1 Truck and SUV due to the low mileage and short tripping (it's about 6 or 7 miles to work one way). I've got a couple of jugs left, thankfully, since the price jumped up overnight while I was considering stocking more. I know my current planned oil change interval is extremely wasteful, especially with prices changing, but it's still cheaper than sending in oil samples. I'm trying to decide whether 6 months and such little mileage could be extended to an annual change with that oil or not. I'd rather just use the cost for oil testing to pay for another oil change interval if it comes down to it. Any input and insights are appreciated!

I own a 2018 Lexus RCF. It's a RWD, Low, wide profile staggered tires, sports sedan. I picked it up a little over 3 years ago with 12K miles on it. Because I'm in cold, snowy Minnesota, this car is off the road in storage or 7 months a year. I only use it from mid April through September based on weather. In the 3 years I've had it I've put on 10k miles or around 3500 miles each year. I change my oil once a year, at seasons end, putting fresh oil and filter on. Now this is a 5.0 Liter V8 and it takes almost 11 quarts of oil (Toyota builds **** to last) and I've been using Ravenol 5w-30 DXG oil which runs around 17.00 a quart so I've just changed it once a year. I thought about doing it twice but I believe it would be wasteful. To be honest, the oil coming out looks almost identical to the new oil going in. I thought about maybe changing just the filter mid-season but I haven't done that yet. Probably not going to.