Originally Posted By: TiredTrucker
Originally Posted By: Terry270
Originally Posted By: TiredTrucker
What do you consider extended? The Detroit Lube Manual says I should change the oil in my 2000 12.7 every 15,000 miles / 300 hrs. I have changed it about 22,500 / 450 hrs since the day it was put in my 2013 Freightliner glider. So I am extending 50% longer than OEM recommendation. It now has 868,000 miles on the motor reman. I use a Schaffer 10w30 syn blend in it year round. Uses the same amount of oil between oil changes as it did when it had 50,000 miles on it... about 2 qts. Oils samples look great, almost identical numbers on the UOA's for the entire 868,000 miles. Never any shearing of the oil. I use Donaldson P552100 oil filters. I used the Donaldson 3998 filters a couple of times, but never saw an appreciable reason to continue. Not worth the added cost.
I was thinking about sending a sample to Blackstone around 20k and see what they say. I would be happy at 25k, maybe 30k if the analysis was good? What's the advantage of the 10w30? Better cold starting and fuel mileage?
Probably nothing major. But compared to 15w40 I have used in the past, the 10w30 stay much tighter in grade over the entire OCI better than 15w40. It is less prone to shearing than 15w40. It just seems to handle the abuse from the motor better than any 40 weight I have tried of the same and other brands. And it does flow a lot better in cold weather. Cold weather starting is easier. It holds up as well at a 40 weight in hot weather under hard pulls and loads also. Took several oil changes and seasonal variations to fully convince me, but I am solidly in the 10w30 camp now. It was a good recommendation by my oil rep. The Detroit Lube manual supports using 10w30 in the Detroit 60.
There is the claim of better mpg using a 30 weight over a 40 weight, but I haven't noticed anything appreciable. I think only a fleet level with multiple trucks would it make a difference.
The samples say I could go quite a bit longer, but 50% longer than OEM recommend is within my comfort zone, so 22,500 miles / 450 hrs is where I am settled at. I am not one to try to press the edge of the envelope, especially with the cost of replacing a motor and the downtime to my business. What folks do with their cars and lawn mowers is something else. It is probably not unreasonable to take the Detroit drains longer than what I do. Each person has to live within their own comfort zone. I find that fleet guys and marketing folks who recommend extremes on oil changes and say it can be done really have little of their own skin in the game. it is easy to play "what if's" with other people's money.
Find what works for you and is within your comfort zone and enjoy! Life is way too short to get your gut in a knot over such things.
Interesting. How much per gallon are you getting the 10w30 for?
Oh btw, lives in IA, Freightliner Glider, runs Schaeffer's, that's too many coincidences for me not to be talking to Cowpie from TTR lol.