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Oil Change Intervals
How many miles and how long is good on series 60 oil change ? , And does anyone use some type of thread sealer on drain plug?
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13 Replies
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Prevost says 12,500 miles. A lot of members do it annually regardless of miles. I didn’t look up to see what Detroit says.
I do 5000 miles. Just trying my personal campaign to try to use all our world’s oil reserves.
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My original drain plug leaked, and by the appearance of the oil pan and bell housing, looks like it has leaked for years prior to our purchase of the coach. The original drain plug was tight but still would drip every once in a while. We were going to replace the original drain plug but since we do our own oil changes so we decided to try one of the FEMCO drain plugs for convenience and a little less mess.
We now have a clean oil pan and a purdy shiney new brass drain plug. Oh yea, it doesn’t leak now.
Femco Standard LB oil drain plug, 3/4-14-NPT-T15, 6060020144.
Standard LB 45 Degree Drainer, 650121.
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I am most appreciative for all who support Jon’s concept of using our oil reserves. I remain among those longing for the triple digit oil prices….
For those of you who are not familiar with the age old plea of the wildcatters: “Lord just please give me one more run and I promise I’ll get out this time.”
Very best to all,
Pres
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I let used oil analysis tell me when the oil needs changing. Here’s a DDC pdf on the subject: DDC link Look in section 4.6 or p.15
Fumoto link is another niffty drain valve and can be purchased on amazon etc. T-201N w/nipple, T-201 wo/nipple.
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Oil analysis is a good but not perfect way to identify issues. I am a little sour on them as my determining factor because of an incident I had on one of my planes. I used an analysis at every oil change and the numbers and trends never indicated a problem.
When I sold the plane the buyer was a dealer who was pretty savvy about the engine which had known issues with cam and tappet wear so he pulled a few pushrods and the wear that was seen was so substantial I am sure some of the steel that was gouged and spalled on the cam and lifters could be measured in pounds.
As a warning method I lost confidence in oil analysis even though I know most fleets such as UPS do it, and as long as people look at trends and not a single reading it has value, just not for me.
I want to add a comment……..assuming the oil change interval specified in the Prevost maintenance schedule is followed or oil analysis agrees or even extends that interval, how many of you are getting under the coach to do the 6200 mile services?
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Me. But I m getting to old and fat to keep it up. I hired it done the last time and still wonder if they hit all the grease fittings up front. I watched him under the rear to make sure he got the u joints and driveshaft.
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Jon , can i get you`re used oil ?? Are you thinking the oil is breaking down or just piece of mind ? I know for a fact that Crete trucking changes oil (non synthetic) every 50K miles now with an oil analysis about every 25K.
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He keeps his oil change interval on his flip phone, that should explain oil changes at 5000 miles. His flip down numbers pad is intermittent, so when pushing 5 it’s really 7. That is assuming it is turned on.
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Steve, ignore Tom. He is jealous because i have 2 slides and he only has one.
I use 5000 miles instead of 6200 for a service interval because it is too taxing trying to audit the dues money receipts that Tom keeps taking from me and think in multiples of 6200 to trigger my maintenance all at the same time.
My attitude is that since I am under the bus anyway I might as well change the oil. Right or wrong I come from the generation whose cars needed oil changes every few miles so it has become a habit that is hard to break. I still do 3000 or 4000 mile changes on my cars even though I use synthetics. I guess it is a knee jerk reaction like Tom waking up every day thinking I am going to buy a smart phone.
Anybody that wants my old oil can have it. Bring your own containers, and some coveralls and tools because to get it you will have to drain it. There ain’t no free lunches or oil. Actually I should mix it with my fuel to get some cheaper driving.
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Two Slides ? Geez, I`m done to no slides from two ! $$$ Yep, that`s some fine oil, bet u even got a cement pond !
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We Prevost owners are possibly the most inconsistent folks possible.
There is no doubt I can save a lot of money by doing half the oil changes I currently do. Lets get specific……I use roughly 10 gallons per oil change or maybe a little less so I am spending approximately $120 per oil change for oil. If I went to 10,000 mile oil changes with filters and oil my annual savings would be in the $150 range.
When I compare that savings as a percentage of what it really costs to own my coaches it becomes meaningless. My annual costs unrelated to miles which include insurance, depreciation, tires, batteries, and other age related repairs it might represent a couple of percent of my fixed cost of ownership.
I used to try to buy the cheapest light bulbs, belts, hoses, etc. but now I realize if I was really concerned with trying to save money I would start with getting rid of the bus. Not going to happen. At least not right away.
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Very good point, Jon. Kind of like people screaming about diesel going up a dollar and saying that is going to keep them home and make them sell their RV or bus. A dollar difference in fuel when you drive 6000 miles a year is nothing compared to the rest of our bus costs.
I love low fuel prices as good as anyone and I drive a whole lot more than 6000 miles a year. But paying the extra is a whole lot better than shuffling my family from hotel to hotel or sleeping in Sunday School rooms in churches every week.
Davy
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If you don’t do used oil analysis then Detroit says 15,000 miles is the max, see page 18 of the following link
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