For many standard gasoline vehicles, the typical recommendation for how often to change oil is about every 3,000 miles or three months. For diesel trucks, this is not usually the case.
A diesel truck can usually go longer between oil changes, depending on:
- The climate and terrain you drive in.
- The activities you do with your truck, such as towing or hauling heavy loads.
- The type of oil you use (conventional, full synthetic oil or synthetic blend).
Driving habits also affect how often to change oil. If you are someone who takes shorter trips around town in your diesel truck and rarely drives at highway speeds, you will need to change the oil more often than someone who regularly travels at highway speeds.
Why is that? When driving at lower speeds and temperatures, dirt accumulates in the oil and becomes more easily contaminated compared to a diesel truck driving at higher speeds and in higher temperatures.
How often to change oil in a diesel pickup truck
The average recommendation for diesel truck oil changes is between every 5,000-7,000 miles or every six months for vehicles that do moderate towing. If you do not tow, or do not tow very often, you may be able to go even longer before you have problems.
If you tow heavy loads frequently, you may need to change the oil sooner. For the most accurate information, you should consult your owner’s manual.
Oil change process for diesel trucks
The oil change process in a diesel pickup truck is not that different from the standard oil change in a gasoline-powered vehicle. The only differences are the type of oil used and how often the service is needed.
The good news is that regardless of the type of vehicle you drive when it is time for your next oil change, you are in good hands.
The cost of a diesel oil change is sometimes a little higher than a standard oil change just because diesel fuel and oil are more expensive than petroleum products.
Regardless of how often to change oil, the most important thing is to always use quality lubricants like the ones we provide at American Petroleum.