How To Change Renault Trafic Oil Interval Mileage

How to Change Renault Trafic Oil Interval Mileage

If you own a Renault Trafic van, especially an older one with over 80,000 miles on the clock, sticking to the standard 25,000-mile oil change intervals could be risky. These vans face specific challenges as they age, and extending oil changes for too long can lead to engine issues like camchain rattling and oil dilution caused by emissions systems. Adjusting the oil interval to shorter mileage can save your van from early wear and costly repairs.

Why 25,000-Mile Oil Change Intervals Don’t Work Long-Term

Camchain rattling due to wear
Oil dilution from diesel particulates mixing with engine oil
Premature engine wear

Less frequent oil changes allow contaminants to build up, affecting engine components and shortening the vehicle’s lifespan.

Common Issues From Long Oil Intervals

Extended oil change periods on Renault Trafic vans often cause:

Upstream turbine faults
Blocked Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF)
Higher risk of engine failure over time

These issues usually stem from contaminants damaging mechanical parts and poor lubrication caused by old, dirty oil.

Clearing Fault Codes Before Making Changes

Before adjusting oil intervals, it’s important to clear any warning lights related to the injection system or emissions faults. For example, the “check injection system” light often appears alongside upstream turbine or DPF faults. Using a decent diagnostic tool to clear these codes first ensures the system reads the new service settings correctly.

How to Check the Current Service Interval on Your Van

You can check the existing oil service interval right from the dashboard:

1. Use the steering wheel buttons to scroll through the vehicle menu.
2. Navigate to the Service Intervals section.
3. Press and hold the bottom button to display current mileage and time intervals (usually 25,000 miles/24 months).

This shows what the van is currently set to remind you for as the next oil change.

Adjusting Oil Interval Settings With a Diagnostic Tool

Tools like the Launch X431 make it easier to change oil intervals:

Enter the Instrument Cluster (IC) menu on your diagnostic tool.
Choose Configuration, then select One-Click Service Reset.
Set the new mileage for oil changes. Press OK, then repeat to confirm.
Next, adjust the time between oil changes, usually setting days or months in two steps.
The dashboard speedometer often flickers as it saves new settings.

This process lets you tailor oil change reminders to suit your van’s needs better.

Recommended Oil Change Mileage and Time Intervals

For Renault Trafic vans with high mileage, it’s best to set service intervals to around 8,000 miles and every 365 days. Keeping intervals to no more than 10,000 miles and renewing oil yearly helps:

Reduce the risk of oil dilution from frequent DPF regenerations
Limit wear on engine components affected by contaminants
Keep the engine running smoothly over longer periods

Benefits of Shorter Oil Change Intervals

Lowering the interval pays off by preventing:

Camchain failure
Turbocharger damage
DPF contamination through dirty oil

Replacing the oil sooner spreads service costs, avoiding unexpected and expensive breakdowns.


Avoiding the Pitfalls of DPF Deletes

Some owners consider deleting their DPFs to save on maintenance. However, this often creates other issues:

Unpleasant van smells
Poor drivability
Oil contamination happens even faster
Problems when trying to resell the van

Removing emission controls tends to cause more headaches than savings.

Setting Personalized Oil Change Reminders

Whether you’re a garage or a private owner, resetting the oil interval using your van’s system ensures you get timely alerts. This prevents accidentally missing your oil change, which can happen when relying on memory alone.

Real-Life Examples of Neglecting Oil Changes

Customers often come with vans that won’t start, only to find the last oil change was over two years ago. Even a few months overdue can cause serious engine damage, leading to costly repairs or replacements.

Double-Checking Your New Settings

After programming, you can verify the new service interval directly on the van’s dashboard:

Use the same buttons to scroll to the service interval screen.
Press and hold to confirm your updated miles and month settings are showing.

Always make sure changes stick before finishing.

Summary: How to Change Oil Interval Mileage on Renault Trafic

To sum up, the process is:

1. Clear all fault codes.
2. Check current service intervals on the dashboard.
3. Use a diagnostic tool to enter the instrument cluster menu.
4. Reset service interval mileage and time (recommended 8,000 miles and 365 days).
5. Confirm new settings and verify on the dash.