Anything Auto Immune

As you may have figured out by now, changing engine oil regularly is vital to your engine’s health and longevity.Yet, it’s a detail many truck owners neglect. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the American Automobile Association discovered that nearly one-third of the target vehicles were In need of an oil change. Even more disturbing, the oil level in many of these vehicles was 1 quart low. Given the high cost of engine rebuilds, as well as the prohibitive price of a new truck, this is a senseless waste of money.
Why isn’t the oil changed more often? There are a number of reasons, ranging from ignorance to indolence.
Some owners believe theft new truck is practically maintenance free.This is probably the result of improved mechanical reliability and the elimination of some service procedures (periodic lubrication, for one). Unfortunately, as a result, some owners have concluded they can go 10,000 miles between oil changes.That just isn’t so. Although service intervals are much longer than in the past, that mainly applies to cars. Four-wheel-drive owners need to service theft vehicles much more frequently.
To find the proper service interval, consult the two maintenance schedules found in the owner’s manual. One schedule is for normal operation; the other is for so-called “severe” service. Outdoorsmen need to follow the latter in almost all cases.This schedule is designed for anyone who operates a vehicle in dusty, rough, muddy, or salt-spread roads; who goes on short trips (less than 5 miles) repeatedly; who lives where outside temperatures remain below freezing for long periods of time; who engages in extensive idling and/or low-speed driving; or who tows a trailer or uses a camper or roof carrier.
When you compare the two schedules, you’ll note that the severe service schedule generally requires oil changes to be made at nearly twice the rate of the normal service schedule. That’s because the kinds of driving outlined above can wear out the oil faster and Introduce more contaminates (such as dirt and grit) into the system at a higher rate. Think of it this way: if you shoot your rifle more often, you have to clean it more often.
Failure to follow the schedule can void the warranty—and don’t think you can fool a qualified technician. They know that most owners change the oil infrequently, and a quick glance at the engine can tell them whether you’ve done your job or not.
“The big problem is that many people think they’re doing regular oil changes even when they’re not,” a service technician told me. “I’ve had guys come in with a bad engine and claim they change the oil every three months, but one look tells me they haven’t changed it all year. Many people simply have no idea when the oil was last changed.”
Despite the manufacturer’s recommendation, many owners feel a once-a-year oil change is good enough. Those in this group complain about the cost (as well as the inconvenience) of oil changes. if you think more frequent oil changes cost too much, consider this: I can change my truck’s oil four times a year for about $100. Compare that to the cost of a rebuilt engine, and tell me who’s wasting money.
Another false economy involves replacing the oil filter every other oil change or buying bargain-basement filters. This kind of penny-pinching is short-sighted and costly in the long run. Aftermarket additives may be another reason some owners hold off on oil changes. As one mechanic told me, “You spend $19.95 for an additive, don’t tell me the guy’s gonna dump it out after only three months. I’m not against additives, but they can’t take the place of regular oil and filter changes:’
Another common misconception involves vehicles that are used for short trips. Just because you don’t put a lot of miles on your 4×4 is no reason not to change the oil frequently. In fact, short trips are worse on oil than long ones.The oil doesn’t warm up enough to boil off hydrocarbons and other contaminants.And if these don’t boil off, they’ll eventually wear out the cylinder walls.
Under the right circumstances, many 4x4s are capable of very long lives, whether measured by the mile or the year. You feed your dog and take it to the vet, don’t you? You do it because he’s your hunting partner, right? Well, so is your truck. Keep it in good running order, and it will there for the long run.

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