Increasing the Oil Change Interval for the 3500 Engines.

The standard oil pan has 500 hours oil change interval from Caterpillar, and the maximum recommended increasing
of the oil change interval for a standard oil pan is 1000 hours. We do not recommend to increase or extend the oil
filter change interval. These must be changed every 500 hours.

The time between oil changes can only be increased under the following conditions:
• Minimum running hours a year 4000 hours
• The results of the S·O·S oil analysis indicate that the oil has not reached the condemning limit.
• The trend lines of the S·O·S oil analysis program indicate a constant slope that is stable.
The maximum increment for increasing the oil change interval is 125 service hours. This is particularly
important if a long amount of time is required to obtain results of oil analysis.

Illustration 4 is a graphic representation of adjusting the oil change interval.

Example :

In Illustration 4, the initial oil change was performed after 1000 service hours. The interval was increased in 250
hour increments. At the fourth oil change interval, the oil had reached the condemning limit after 1750 service
hours. Therefore, the interval was reduced to 1500 service hours. The results of the oil analysis was acceptable when
the oil was used for 1500 service hours.

Maximum Oil Change Interval

If the oil analysis permits the oil change interval to exceed 1000 service hours, inspect these components once per
year in order to ensure that the wear rates are within specifications: camshaft segments, connecting rod bearings,
cylinder liners, main bearing and pistons.

Oil pan Shallow Standard Deep

Std. oil change

interval 250 500 1000 [hours]
Increment 75 125 250 [hours]
Max oil change
interval 500 1000 2000 [hours]
Oil filter change 250 500 1000 [hours]