2001 Dodge 2500, 409k, 21k miles on RT6

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RT6 CK-4. Decided to shorten the OCI to get fresh oil in for the oncoming cold weather.

From Polaris:
Truck Odometer: 409583 mi
Miles on oil: 21000
6 quarts of makeup oil added.
Fram Ultra filter.

Wear Metals:
(Element (ppm); 235k, 322k, 338k, 352k, 370k, 388k, 410k)
Iron; 42, 52, 30, 50, 38, 72, 45
Chromium; 3, 3, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1
Al; 4, 5, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3
Cu; 3, 4, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1
Lead; 9, 31, 4, 7, 2, 13, 1

Contaminants:
Silicon; 6, 13, 7, 9, 7, 8, 6
Sodium; 8, 6, 5, 4, 7, 9, 5
Potassium; 62, 0, 1, 1, 4, 1, 2

Multi-source metals:
Moly; 75, 76, 5, 4, 0, 2, 1
Boron; 83, 38, 112, 69, 106, 62, 96

Additive metals:
Mag; 1333, 1198, 179, 163, 94, 105, 98
Calcium; 960, 1111, 2174, 2198, 2053, 2179, 2099
Phos; 1138, 1104, 1012, 1048, 924, 959, 944
Zinc; 1439, 1471, 1277, 1271, 1143, 1211, 1134

Fuel Dilution; Soot; Water;
KV100 (cSt); 15.1, 15.1, 15.3, 15.3, 15.4, 15.4, 16.2
TBN; 6.54, 6.99, 5.69, 4.27, 4.96, 4.13, 5.6
Oxidation; 15, 16, 14, 14, 13, 15, 14
Nitration; 10, 10, 9, 9, 8, 9, 8

Polaris Comments:
Data indicates no abnormal findings. Resample at normal interval. Lubricant and filter change acknowledged.


Another thoroughly boring UOA. The only thing unusual is the KV100 reading that for the first time is not between 15.1 and 15.4. I suspect a mistake in the reading at the lab. The Lead spike from the last UOA has gone back down to 1 ppm, so I can stop worrying about that. There was plenty of TBN left after only 21k miles, and I hope dnewton3 doesn't chastise me too much for changing perfectly good oil.

I am struggling with how long to run a Fram Ultra filter on my Cummins diesel. I haven't heard of anybody running one longer than 15k miles, and I pushed this one to 21k. On the last oil change, I ran the filter up to 18k, then changed it to go the rest of the 36k OCI. I have run Fleetguard Stratapores up to 30k many times and even 36k once, but I don't trust Frams as much as I trust Fleetguards.

Corrected Iron concentration is 70 ppm due to the 6 quarts of makeup oil, yielding a wear rate of 3.3 ppm per kmile. This is somewhat lower than the wear rate of 3.6 on the last oil sample. Maybe the wear rate on the previous OCI was affected by changing the filter halfway through.

The next UOA should be interesting. On the new oil fill, I included Redline Break-In Additive with the fill of RT6 at the rate of 2/3 oz per qt. This should increase the Phosphorous level to 1320 ppm. Will there be any change to the Iron wear rate?
 
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
How much is a fram ultra for the Cummins? Maybe I should switch from the dondaldson.


$13 at WalMart. I like the convenience of buying the oil and filter at WalMart in one stop. Fleetguards I have to order online and wait for delivery. I would prefer running the Fleetguard for 30k miles because that maximizes the life I get out of the oil.
 
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I see. I quit using the stratapores because everyone I ordered had metal shavings in the threads. They were big too.
 
To answer your question, I believe the fram ultra is good for 20k. I'd say you got your money's worth by that point.
 
Consider yourself chastised ...
grin2.gif


Other than that, yet more boring (aka spectacular) data from a great running engine!

I would trust the Ultra out to 20k miles; that product line has a LOT of capacity for holding particulate.

Motor on!
 
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I wouldn’t stop using a Donaldson for a Fram, that Donaldson is rated for something like 20k-25k miles. Top of the line filtration.
 
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