The oil change is a common operation for all vehicles. Indeed, the quality and condition of the vehicle’s engine oil have a direct impact on the engine’s longevity. And like any other vehicle, the truck also requires optimal maintenance to keep its good performance. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of our tips on engine oil change and the frequency of maintenance required.
How do you determine the right oil change intervals for heavy-duty use?
There are several factors to consider to calculate the right oil change intervals for your engine oil. With engines and lubricants becoming more sophisticated, the oil change interval has evolved to every 5,000 miles.
Therefore, referring to several parameters when changing your truck’s oil is important. However, you should know that as a general rule, the oil change of a heavy truck is done between 80,000 and 100,000 km traveled. But be careful, because these figures take into account a number of important factors:
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- The type of engine and its age
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- The operating conditions of your vehicle (the distance to be covered and the transport load)
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- The quality of the oil used
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- The quality of the fuel
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- The general condition of the road (rough or flat)
There are also a number of factors to consider that may reduce the time between oil changes:
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- What type of oil is used for your engine? Is the engine oil low grade or high grade?
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- How dirty is the changed oil?
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- What is the overall condition of the pistons?
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- Are there any worn combustion zones?
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- What does the emissions test show? (At low or high levels)
Note that the more you work your engine, the more the oil is stressed, so the oil change interval is much shorter.
Other factors to consider when changing a truck’s oil
Your driving style is also an important factor that can affect your oil change frequency. Driving on dusty roads or in extreme temperatures will increase oil consumption and contribute to shorter oil change intervals if you are used to driving on dusty roads or in extreme temperatures. You should also be aware that long-distance trucks require more oil change intervals (approximately every 100,000 km) than heavy-duty, short-distance city trucks.
Do you need an oil change if your engine oil is blackened?
Blackened engine oil is not a sign that you need an oil change. Engine oil tends to turn black as it does its work. It accumulates all the combustion residues and the tiny metal particles suspended in the oil stream. It is these various elements that make the oil dark. However, rest assured that this color does not affect the oil’s ability to lubricate and protect the engine. In fact, the most important impurities are filtered out by the oil filter.
When should you change the oil filter?
For the engine’s good performance, it is advisable to change the oil filter at every oil change. It is important that the old oil does not contaminate the new oil because of the worn filter. Moreover, the filter loses its effectiveness in filtering various impurities over time, thus endangering the health of your engine.
Don’t forget that your choice of motor oil is also an important aspect of your truck’s maintenance. A good quality oil with a new filter allows you to space out your oil changes as much as possible. Don’t hesitate to ask for advice from specialized truck garages on the efficient maintenance of your truck and the oil change intervals required for your vehicle.
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