cross country oil change

[oldwoodsman]

with a oil change interval of 500 miles, do people who are traveling cross country stop and change oil every couple of days? I'm new to this game.

[Bob-A]

I haven't done a cross country trip and I don't keep close track of what mileage I do. But, I do keep tabs on how dirty the oil looks! So if the
lube looks pretty funky, I change it. I've got a full flow oil fiter rig and a K&N equipped carb. air cleaner on my '29. The oil definitely is staying
cleaner longer in it.

Bob-A

[ford3]

with the new oil there is no need to change oil that often, that was the protcol back when the oil was terribe and all the roads were dirt, 1000 miles is ok, im going to be called an idiot and dont know what im talking about, but its your money to throw away

[Jordan]

When I change mine at 1,000 miles, it still looks new.

[oldwoodsman]

Ford3....I'm planning a trip to Montana 1000 miles each way. Your interval would work out a lot better then 500 miles. What do other people do in a situation like this?

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

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That's correct, if the oil looks dirty change it.its not the Milage
Years ago, a guy on a trip, stops his car along the road and tells everyone,"it's 500 miles, I have to change my oil", so they left him there, and he changed it right there on the side of the road, all by himself!

[Ross/Kzoo]

Originally Posted by ford3

with the new oil there is no need to change oil that often, that was the protcol back when the oil was terribe and all the roads were dirt, 1000 miles is ok, im going to be called an idiot and dont know what im talking about, but its your money to throw away

+1 I agree.

[V4F]

change it on the other end of the trip before coming home .......

[pat in Santa Cruz]

put on a full flow oil filter and a K&N air filter, change the oil every 3000 miles. some oil companies say even 5-6000 miles between changes if its highway miles

[Pictou County T & A]

Hi Woods,

I wouldn't worry about doing your entire trip without changing the engine oil. Your only concern needs to be to keep a regular check on it to see how much if any it is going down. Ensure you have a couple of extra litres (oops quarts) with you and enjoy your trip. My experience is on a trip like that you'll likely add a quart or two, and that's 2/5 of the way towards an oil change anyways.

Have fun, drive safe.

[160B]

I have installed a K & N E3050 air filter using an original Air maze housing and I only change the oil when its color indicates it is dirty, I have gone as far as 2500 miles between changes.

[oldwoodsman]

thanks for the advice guys. It makes sense and makes the trip a little easier not having to worry about stopping and changing oil a couple of times while in transit. I figure to make about 300 mi a day with stops for camping meals and all.

[160B]

Originally Posted by 160B

I have installed a K & N E3050 air filter using an original Air maze housing and I only change the oil when its color indicates it is dirty, I have gone as far as 2500 miles between changes.

here is a photo of the E3050 and the air maze

[oldwoodsman]

thanks 160..... the car came with one on it, but it's dirty. Can they be cleaned, or do they need to be replaced?

[160B]

Originally Posted by oldwoodsman

thanks 160..... the car came with one on it, but it's dirty. Can they be cleaned, or do they need to be replaced?

They can be cleaned and K&N makes a cleaning kit with the cleaner and oil. I buy from AJUSA.com


K&N E-3050 filter $27.09

http://www.ajusa.com/K-and-N-E-3050-...er-a1c81a.html

K & N cleaning kit $12.95

http://www.ajusa.com/K-and-N-Filter-...ol-a1c6f3.html

hope this helps

[Chris in WNC]

when I drove long distances to national meets, I changed the oil just before leaving and then again when I arrived home. some of these trips were in excess of 2000 miles total. today's oils are much better than Model A era oils, even though I used the cheapest 30W detergent available.........

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by ford3

with the new oil there is no need to change oil that often, that was the protcol back when the oil was terribe and all the roads were dirt, 1000 miles is ok, im going to be called an idiot and dont know what im talking about, but its your money to throw away

Not by me! I do the same thing, sometimes a little longer.

[PC/SR]

Long distance driving, with the clean air up in that part of the country, is about as good as it gets for oil. The engine is at operating temp for long periods, with much fewer of the abrasive particles we get here in Calif.
Don't change oil just because it is "dirty" that is mostly just harmless carbon, change oil when it get thick, whether detergent or non-detergent. (That said, I change oil every season.)
If you do not have oil or air filters, I would go with the 1950's recommendation of 3000 miles and not worry if it goes over that on a trip like that. (Yeh, I know, there were filters in the '50's, but that recommendation was made by Shell where I worked as a teenager and was intended to sell oil changes, at the outrageous price of about $5, including a filter and lube.) City folks should change oil more often than country folks.
Sounds like a great trip. I love Montana, a pal has a fishing lodge on the Madison, south of Ennis, the Old Kirby Place, we go to each year. Enjoy.

[oldwoodsman]

thanks again. The input from you guys sure helps someone who doesn't know anything about these rigs. I've worked on cars most of my life, but nothing this old before.

[Clem Clement]

If you decide to change oil at a commercial place, be sure the remove the pan plug by hand. They will want to use an air gun and strip or tear loose the pan plug area during plug installation. I would suggest buying a cheapo oils tub with lid and change the oil yourself and recycle properly.