dave1123

I seem to remember my grandfather had a big red farm tractor and had a 55 gallon drum of oil in the barn with a pipe and funnel in it. He'd drain the oil from the tractor, pour it into the funnel, then scoop the new oil off the top of the drum to put into the tractor. I don't think he ever bought a new drum either. Filtered by gravity! I only remember it said Mobil Oil 30W on the side of it. I don't remember that tractor ever being apart either. Of course I wasn't at the farm that often.

downs

x3

between me and the wife wed go though a little more than a 55gallon drum of oil per year doing 2000 or even 2500 mile oil changes.

you're still draining practically new oil with that OCI

craigjacob1

I only drive 4-5k per year on each vehicle.
Maybe I should have led with that.

97XJ Journey

My advise is to have your oil analyzed in order to decide when to change it. I use Blackstone labs to have mine analyzed. The also can test the oil to see how much of the original additive package is left. The additive package is what wears out and you want to change the oil before it wears out. But changing oil to frequently is really not good for your motor. My advise,,,go around 4000 miles, change the oil, taking a sample, have it tested and then adjust your change interval.

Muddz

I think that's a good thing to do at least once in a while. Oil analysis tests besides providing a breakdown of the condition of your motor oil also provides some insight of your engine and wear.

Here's a link to an article "Why Motor Oil Deteriorates"

https://www.amsoil.com/newsstand/mot...-deteriorates/

I'm thinking of installing my Amsoil bypass filter in the ZJ (4.0L), purchasing some Amsoil Signature series 10-30W, which has Guaranteed protection for up to 25,000 miles or 1 year. Using a bypass filter along with oil analysis tests one can potentially increase oil changes to ~60,000+ miles.

Currently I'm running Mobil 1 High mileage in the ZJ with 217k, which is thicker than a full synthetic. So I'm uncertain of using Amsoil Signature Series potentially may be too thin of an oil? I would need to test running a non high mileage synthetic oil, purchase some additional Amsoil motor oil or keep using the high mileage synthetic. I also have some spare Mobil 1 regular and 15K full synthetic, 5-30W and 10-30W oil which I would consider using if no oil loss in the 4.0L with 217K.

I'm not certain what the recommended oil analysis test intervals are when using a bypass filter. I seem remembering to be on the safe side near every oil change interval recommended by the car manufacture. Which for the ZJ 4.0L would be around every 7.5k?.

There are people who go much longer between oil analysis tests. It probably depends on the age and wear of the engine and how a vehicle is being driven.

Below is a link to a story "NO OIL CHANGE FOR 519,000 MILES AND COUNTING!" , where a person took oil samples every 50k.

http://www.donsoil.com/gray.php

fb97xj1

Ive always changed the oil every 3k-3500 miles. I only drive 3k-3500 miles a year so it fits what most recommend. However, i drive only 10 minutes or so to work 5 days a week, and the same time back. Its parked the remaining two. Some say thats not enough as the oil doesnt have much time to warm up or get to where it needs to be. And when driving short distances day to day you should take it out onto the highway atleast once a week for 20 minutes to ensure full and proper oil flow, as this is supposed to work any moisture out of the oil, and the detergents in the oil have more time to do thier thing. Short trips also affect fuel mileage.

Take all of that however you see fit as im only repeating what ive read and what others have told me. As for changing the oil too often, i never really thought about that.

dave1123

I seem to remember when I bought my 67 SS Camaro the factory oil change recommendations were to change the oil every 4,000 miles and the filter every 8,000! 67 still had the can filter with a replaceable cartridge. They went to the spin-on in 68. Why would you run clean oil thru a dirty filter? I used Valvoline 10W-40 racing oil changed every 4,000 and put a spin-on filter adapter on it. With 4.10 gears, 70 mph was 4,000 rpm. That car ran to RI and back to Syracuse many times, 6 hours each way, with no power loss in the time I owned it. That's thru the Mohawk valley, upper Catskills and the Berkshires every time. AND I raced that thing relentlessly! I ran a 12-flat 1/4-mile only once!