# Oil change early or late before road trip? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 19, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350 "2025-05-19T18:18:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 3:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/22 "2025-05-21T03:37:31Z")
Not only early but a week or more before the start of the trip. That gives you time to find any leaks that poped up with the oil change, i.e. drain bolt, oil filter etc. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 4:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/23 "2025-05-21T04:51:58Z")
Good point. Heading west from Wisconsin in my friend’s Corolla with a brand new oil change, it was late at night in the Dakotas when his oil pressure light started flickering. We discovered oil had been leaking from the filter. Tightened it. I think we added some oil we had brought along. The OP light stayed off and no problems thereafter. ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 5:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/24 "2025-05-26T05:50:44Z")
Changing oil before the trip would enable not exceeding the recommended interval. Highway and Interstate speeds may help the oil clean the engine more than in-town driving. So lucky: New filter installed and oil draining all night. **0547** Sunday, blood center calls for a stat blood platelet delivery to a Utahospital. Pre-measured Mobil1 0W-20 full synthetic oil poured in. En route to the blood center, as usual with a stat transport, I call the hospital with GPS ETA. _12:49:31_ Thought they would laugh at the **31** seconds buthey were concerned about it being so long. _We are driving an authorized emergencyehicle_, I.nform. When they learned the SUV has redightsiren, they wanted them used. So glad there was fresh clean oil in the engine. (Shall apply to the Guinness Book of World Records for longest emergent trip - 368 miles.) ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 10:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/25 "2025-05-26T10:48:42Z")
> [@Robert-Gift](#): > > Thought they would laugh, buthey were concerned about it being so long. Have they heard about these new inventions called Helicopters? ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 1:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/26 "2025-05-26T13:46:50Z")
Helicopters very rarely used due to cost. When on active duty, we needed emergency transport of blood, called the chopper squadron, answer: no. We ended up getting support from Highway Patrol. Civilian chopper transport is very expensive. Unfortunately living in small towns, reduced medical care is a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Robert-Gift](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/robert-gift/32/356_2.png) [@Robert-Gift](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Robert-Gift)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/28 "2025-05-26T14:11:39Z")
The system posted my reply, twice. I deleted the duplicate. Now both gone?? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/29 "2025-05-26T14:16:12Z")
You need to wait and refresh your view first, the double post is temporary. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/30 "2025-05-26T14:37:49Z")
> [@Robert-Gift](#): > > New filter installed and oil draining all night. Just stop with that nonsense which is completly unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/31 "2025-05-26T14:44:32Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Unfortunately living in small towns, reduced medical care is a problem. And it’s getting much worse real soon now. ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/33 "2025-05-26T14:59:20Z")
> [@keith](#): > > Not only early but a week or more before the start of the trip. That gives you time to find any leaks that poped up with the oil change, i.e. drain bolt, oil filter etc. Good idea. I always did early before the trip but I did it right before. A week before is a great idea. You’ll know by your parking spot if they didn’t fully tighten something. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/34 "2025-05-26T14:59:29Z")
On friends trip he left oil cap off after adding oil. We soon smelt oil. I had change done at dealer and I found misplaced oil cap when I got home. It does happen. Dealer sent flatbed to get car. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/35 "2025-05-26T17:57:15Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > Not sure what you mean. I mean exactly what your story said. Significantly lower Medicaid and now Medicare payouts will force many rural hospitals to close. We have our problems in suburbia too. Our county hospital is very short on doctors, especially in the ER. I went there a couple of years ago with an extremely painful knee and waited for 8 hours before giving up and going home. Eventually the knee pain abated after I went on prescription steroids, but it took two weeks before I could get tests, diagnoses, and the prescription. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/37 "2025-05-26T20:22:18Z")
It sounds like many people are probably perishing, due to a lack of hospitals ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/38 "2025-05-26T22:17:21Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Easy. Have oil change done during trip. Save Mother Earth. Never do this. Either change the oil before the trip– **allowing sufficient time for any possible leaks or problems with the new oil filter to manifest** , or wait until you return home. Under no circumstances would I suggest having an oil change done during a long-distance road trip, because the potential risk outweighs the potential benefit. Obviously, you should check the oil with the dipstick, and top off as needed before and during the trip. Anytime you take a long trip, you should bring at least one or two full, sealed quart bottles of engine oil, and one sealed gallon bottle of pre-mixed engine coolant, in case either of these need to be topped off during the trip. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 1:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/39 "2025-05-27T01:19:36Z")
> [@bcohen2010](#): > > > [@Cavell](#): > > > > Easy. Have oil change done during trip. Save Mother Earth. > > Never do this. Funny, 2 pros on here (probably more) have done this for customers many times, well over 1000 times in my case with no issues, just go to places that have ASE technicians working for them… We had to have double sign offs, meaning a 2nd tech had to put his hand on the filter making sure it was tight as well as a tool on the drain plug to confirm tight and not stripped threads, and then had to see the dipstick level was correct… takes a couple of seconds for the guy next to you working to double check, and you for him/her… As a shop, the last thing you want is to deal with is an oil out on an out of towner when it could cost you thousands of $$$$ for a screw up… ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/40 "2025-05-27T01:32:09Z")
I have to disagree on the premix coolant for two good reasons. If you have followed the mfg preventative maintenance schedule and your system is less than 20 years old, the likelihood of a cooling system issue is very slim. Instead carry two gallons of distilled water. You can use it for a cooling system emergency to get you to nearest civilization plus it can save your life if you need drinking water. You can’t drink premix. Take more than two gallons if you have passengers or are planning to go to dangerous desert areas, like Death Valley. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 11:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/41 "2025-05-27T11:48:55Z")
Even quick lube places use the double sign off. I used to get oil changes at the local JL when I used mineral oil. The staff had ASE certs and the manager checked each car for leaks and forgotten parts. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/42 "2025-05-27T14:39:05Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Even quick lube places use the double sign off. I used to get oil changes at the local JL when I used mineral oil. The staff had ASE certs and the manager checked each car for leaks and forgotten parts. I’m glad they are double checking things, and you really don’t hear about quick lube places having oil outs much anymore… Times have changed, speaking of changing times, I call the G1 maintenance ASE certs basically a participation trophy, I am no more impressed with those than I am with them having a Jiffy Lube cert, the ASE certs that real automotive technicians have, you have to have a minimum of 2 years experience (schooling like Lincoln Tech counts as 1 year) before you can get your certs, even if you pass the test coming out of Lincoln Teck, meaning even if you pass, you do not get your ASE cert for another year… To me the G1 cert and ones like it are insulting… Think of it this way, saying I am a chassis engineer just because I had an ASE in steering and suspension (A4) (I had more lol) would be a disgrace to Mustangman after all the years and experience he has… I think ASE has just sold out for money… A shop displaying an ASE mechanic on duty (or whatever) sign used to mean something, if 10 minute oil change places can show the same signage, well then a shop like Testers having a sign doesn’t have the same meaning anymore, sadly… imho ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/43 "2025-05-27T16:29:47Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > A shop displaying an ASE mechanic on duty (or whatever) sign used to mean something You know what ASE stands for, right? Ask Someone Else! Who knows how many oil changes I’ve done in my career, between starting as a kid at the corner Chevron station when I was 17. I don’t care who you are or what you do, at some point in your career in the course of doing your job you’re going to make a mistake. I remember double gasketing an oil filter, or sending a car out without a drain plug gasket. But does it happen often enough that it’s a problem? I don’t think so. The topic of this post reminds me of an event a few years ago. A guy that worked at the body shop next door was towing his boat to Lake Shasta and wanted the brakes and alignment checked before his trip. I told him the truck was about 300 miles away from the next oil change so we’d take care of that too. He said no, he’ll do it after the trip. He said he didn’t want to ruin a fresh oil change by putting a bunch of miles on it. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![raycyrx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@raycyrx](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raycyrx)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350/44 "2025-06-03T18:04:46Z")
I change my oil every 5000 miles. I drive mostly highway miles to from/work. I’m changing my oil about every two months. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-early-or-late-before-road-trip/200350.md?page=3)