Road trip with 4k miles on oil already

[barkingspider]

If you change the oil before the road trip, your car will be fine. If you change the oil after the trip, your car will be fine. Pick which ever make you sleep better. If it was my car, I would change the oil prior to the trip

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I wouldn't bother. It still got another 3 or 4000 miles in it anyway

 

[ZeeOSix]

I do 5k OCIs. We leave later next month, going from NY to TX (with a stop in GA) and back. Google Maps estimates this trip to be 3,600 miles. Idk how much driving we will be doing while there but I'm sure it will be less than our work commutes.

Speaking of, We typically average about 1000 miles driven for our commutes to work every week, so I estimate there to be about 3k miles or so on the oil between now and when we leave. The possibility to change it at my destination exists, but I was wondering what the BITOG wisdom is.

A) Change before the trip (about a 1000 miles early give or take)
B) change at destination (over 5k on oil, probably over 6k, but it's 1800 miles of highway)
C) change when home (for those who like to live dangerously?)

If you'll have 3000 miles on it before leaving, and then put another 3600 miles on it over the trip, then you'll have 6600 miles (call it 7000) on it after the trip. Being the 3600 miles on the trip will mostly be highway, and depending on what oil and filter you're using (what are they?) and any oil added over the trip, I'd say putting 7000 miles on the oil isn't anything to worry about. If you're worried, then just change it before you go. Edit - also since you drive it around 1000 miles a week, it's obviously not a short tripped car, which means the level of condensation and fuel dilution is probably very low and a good thing to help extend oil life.

 

[dnewton3]

The OP should do what he wants. But reasonable examples exist to indicate that 4k mile OCIs in the 1UZ-FE using premium syns and top tier filters is a complete waste of time and money.



I've run ST and RK dino lubes way longer than many BITOGers would ever run a syn. And yet nothing bad ever happened.

I ran ST dino oil for 12k miles not long ago in my 2018 Taurus 3.5L n/a. UOA came back with very desirable results.

Thread 'Ford 3.5L at 31k miles / SuperTech 5w-20 at 11.8k miles'

Dec 17, 2021

Here's the first UOA on my 2018 Taurus; naturally aspirated 3.5L Cyclone v-6.
Mix of city/hwy driving. Was in the crankcase for about a year.

Veh Miles 31k
OCI miles 11.8k 
filter TG
oil brnd ST
oil grade 5w-20
oil base conv

Alum 5
Chromium 0
Iron 9
Copper 6
Lead 0
Tin 0
Moly 39
Nickle 0
Manganese 3
Silver 0
Titanium 0
Potassium 0
Boron 42
Silicon 38
Sodium 3
Calcium 1396
Magnesium 435
Phos 758
Zinc 876
Barium 0

Vis at 210F 54.0
Vis at 100C 8.49
Flash Point 440
Fuel  Antifreeze 0
Water 0
Insolubles .2

As you can see, conventional ST 5w-20 is more than up to the task. Nearly 12k...

• dnewton3
• Replies: 68
• Forum: Used Oil Analysis - Gasoline

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Here I ran RK dino oil in my two 4.6L MGMs (mine and my wife's) for 10k miles, and then Peak syn also for 10k miles. Absolutely no statistical difference in performance regarding wear control.

Thread '5w-20; Ford 4.6L engines; UOA testing'

Apr 26, 2017

Here are two UOAs from our cars at home. These are both 4.6L MGM cars; one an '05 and the other an '07, both identically equipped. My wife and I both drive nearly identical routes to work; about 32 miles each way and we only diverge in the last mile (she goes east and I go west). Because she occasionally works from home, I even drive her car to balance out the miles. One was run on dino oil; the other car was run on synthetic.

Tell me, if you can, which sample is the syn and which the dino oil? Which is a brand-name lube and which a house brand? Tell me, if you think you can discern from...

• dnewton3
• Replies: 53
• Forum: Used Oil Analysis - Gasoline

Back in 2013, I ran ST dino oil and a MC400 filter for 15k miles in my wife's Villager (Nissan 3.0L).
UOA came back fine: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/st-5w-30-15k-miles-villager-245k-miles.205991/


I am NOT saying that the OP should just blindly run 20k miles on his oil and filter. What I'm saying is that worrying about a 4k mile OCI getting "extended" by 1k miles, in one of the best engines Toyota ever made, using a fantastic lube and excellent filter should NOT, BY ANY STRETCH, be a reason to change oil before his trip. If dino oils can go up 10k-15k miles in other well-respected engines, there's no reason to believe that his situation would be anything but safe.

Again - he should do what he wants. But what he wants and what the engine needs are two completely different things.
Don't feed his phobia; we owe him a reasonable assessment of his question.
There is ZERO reason to change the oil before the trip.

 

[wpod]

Stuck in my old ways despite only being in my 20s lol

Why did you buy the long life products ?

 

[tblt44]

That Euro oil u good

 

[Foreman04]

Make sure it’s at the proper level, enjoy the ride and change it when you come home! Happy motoring (whose advertisement was that?)!

 

[Plumb Bob]

Again - he should do what he wants. But what he wants and what the engine needs are two completely different things.

I'd go from Key West to Anchorage and back with that sump. Bring in a couple of quarts for top offs. OCI will be south of 15K, which is reasonable for that engine/oil combo, on the highway.

 

[Shucks18]

Why did you buy the long life products ?

I use euro because it’s the only 5w40 I can find at Walmart, and I used fram enduro because I wanted to do extended drains but I’m still stuck in my ways

 

[Shucks18]

I'd go from Key West to Anchorage and back with that sump. Bring in a couple of quarts for top offs. OCI will be south of 15K, which is reasonable for that engine/oil combo, on the highway.

View attachment 251552

Thanks, and the 1uzfe don’t need no top offs

 

[RyanY]

Making a lengthy trip in a 30 yr old vehicle is a win in itself regardless of mileage involved. If time allowed I'm sure some on here would have a UOA done just to be sure... Besides, you could always swing by a Jiffy Lube mid-trip, bwahaha.

I'm sure he would like to make it back home before the car blows up...a mid-trip stop at Iffy Lube would make this less likely!

 

[Patman]

I'm sure he would like to make it back home before the car blows up...a mid-trip stop at Iffy Lube would make this less likely!

You really think that the engine is going to blow up just because he doesn’t change the oil on this trip? Surely you can’t be serious….

 

[ZeeOSix]

I'm sure he would like to make it back home before the car blows up...a mid-trip stop at Iffy Lube would make this less likely!

More likely to blow-up when Iffy Lube leaves the drain plug loose.

 

[Skippy722]

I’m at 11k on this oil change currently and about to do a 1400 mile round trip in it. We’ll see how many more it’ll rack up before its annual oil change.

 

[RyanY]

You really think that the engine is going to blow up just because he doesn’t change the oil on this trip? Surely you can’t be serious….

More likely to blow-up when Iffy Lube leaves the drain plug loose.

Lol My comment was meant as a dig at Iffy Lube! That they would make a safe return less likely.

He really doesn't need to change oil during the trip, and can probably wait a few 1000 miles after he returns.

 

[Patman]

Lol My comment was meant as a dig at Iffy Lube! That they would make a safe return less likely.

He really doesn't need to change oil during the trip, and can probably wait a few 1000 miles after he returns.

My bad, I misinterpreted what you meant there. Now that I read it again I see what you were saying

 

[Patrick0525]

U have been meticulously maintaining this V8 with 4K OCIs. There is near zero probability of any engine lubricant event related prior to 10K (God willing).

I am doing a HPL VII Euro 5w-30 10K OCI and replaced the filter @4K mi. HPL formula is aggressive in breaking up carbonization. I checked all filter media louvres and found particles of soot debris every 3rd or 4th louvre. If u are using HPL, I would be cautious and resume practicing Pranayama yoga breathing exercises.

Pics are for a 4K filter on HPL Euro below.
I hope this makes u feel better, my car is a 125K mi 14 Toyota V6 2GR-FE port injected: filters replaced @10K Fram Ultra and oil @5K.

I would use the road trip opportunity @85mph to do a BG 44K fuel cleaner run.

Enjoy ur trip and remember to deeply inhale /exhale.

 

[KrisZ]

 

[Samurai1225]

First thing I would do is not stress.... The second thing I would do is take the trip, have fun & change your oil when you get back....

If you have any indications that the engine my blow up on a road trip you have bigger issues than the oil ...

 

[Aston4]

Hey guys I’m looking for someone to either calm my nerves or recommend some advice. Going on a roadtrip tomorrrow around 800 miles one way, I have 4k miles on my oil. It’s a 1994 Lexus ls400 v8, running Quaker state euro 5w40, with a fram enduro synthetic filter rated for I think 20k miles. I’m 4k mile oci guy, but the reason I switched to a euro 5w40 and fram enduro filter is to be able to run longer oil changes. What would you guys do? The majority of the 4k miles is from my road trip to Colorado from Illinois and some city miles. My trip is going to be high speed 85mph the whole way. Would it be fine if I just changed the oil but not the filter?? Thanks.

That engine can run on olive oil, urine or spit just fine. Engine oil is overkill.