Trucks aren’t like cars...your average personal vehicle usually holds about 5 quarts of oil, and you are supposed to change it every 3-5k miles. However, the same logic doesn’t apply to large trucks. At Hendrix Auto Diesel in Scottsville, we know how important proper oil changes and diagnostics are to keep your truck on the road, for hundreds of thousands of miles. Here’s what you need to know:

The fact of the matter is, all trucks are different. Some people insist you should change the oil every 5,000 miles, and others insist that with the proper care you can keep the same oil in a truck for 100,000 miles. In reality, both of these statements are misleading. You don’t want to change your oil too soon...while it certainly won’t hurt your truck, it can be damaging to your bottom line. Larger displacement engines often have a capacity of around 40 quarts, so obviously there’s no way you’re going to get by with the same 20-dollar oil change you can get for a car.

For the most part, it’s generally agreed that a truck needs an oil change at around 10k miles, depending on a variety of factors. The quality of oil you use, the type of truck you run, and the condition of its engine are all huge factors. Depending on how you use the truck, mileage might not be a good gauge of how often to get the oil changed at all. Around 250 hours of run time, regardless of the mileage, is fairly universal for oil maintenance. It’s always a good idea to run oil diagnostics before getting an oil change. This saves you money, since the lab can tell if an oil change is necessary yet and help you dial in on how often your truck needs new oil, and the lab results will tell you a lot about how your engine is running.

Get your oil tested at around 10k miles...if all looks good, the lab will tell you how soon to have your oil tested again. Last but not least, refer to your owner’s manual. The manufacturer recommended intervals and procedures are your best bet for effectively maintaining your truck.

At any rate, the expert technicians at Hendrix Auto Diesel have your back. Whether you need your oil changed, checked, or have any other maintenance issues that require attention, our mechanics can offer advice, answer questions, and perform necessary maintenance and repairs. Come see us today.