Diesel Questions

[SyntheticShield]

Got some questions for those that know, or those that have diesel trucks.

1. What are the manufacturer recommended drain intervals for diesels, Ford, Dodge, Chevy, and so on and what OCI's are you using?

2. What are the recommended oils and what are you using?

3. If you happen to get your oil changed at a quick lube, what does it run typically?

 

[The Critic]

1)
Ford 6L:
Severe: 5000
Normal: 7500

Cummins 600 Diesel, 5.9L (2004+):
Normal (Schedule A): 15000
Severe (Schedule B): 7500

CA and a few other states may be on a 3750/7500 schedule though....

Duramax:
Goes by Oil Life Monitor, maximum allowable is 12500/1-yr.

2)Rotella 15W40, Delo 15W40, Delvac 1300S 15W40, Schaeffer's 15W40, Schaeffer's 5W40, Rotella T Synthetic 5W40, Truck and SUV 5W40, and Delvac 1 5W40 are all popular choices.

3) Dunno, sorry.

 

[SyntheticShield]

Thank you Michael, I forgot to post that I would like to know the normal and severe recommendations. I appreciate the info.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Hi,

You may want to ask this question in the Light Duty Diesel Engine Oils Area.

I'd bet they would have a better idea!

Take care, Bill

 

[SyntheticShield]

Can we move this there, I hate to double post.

 

[Bill in Utah]

quote:

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Can we move this there, I hate to double post

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I'm sure the mods will more it over!

Take care, Bill

 

[racer12306]

my dad generally uses supertech 15w40 in his 05 cummins and changes at 5000 miles. he did the same on his 91 cummins. he used delvac 15w40 this current time because they were out of the supertech.

i used to work at a jiffy lube so i can tell you the prices it would cost to have it done there.

conventional oil
ford powerstroke (15qts) ~ $65 to $75 (6.0l more)
dodge cummins (12qts) ~ $55
chevy duramax (10qts) ~ $45

synthetic oil
ford powerstroke (15qts) ~ $115 to $130 (6.0l more)
dodge cummins (12qts) ~ $100
chevy duramax (10qts) ~ $90

 

[SyntheticShield]

WOW racer, thanks. I appreciate the insight. I thought most of the quick lubes would quote your a price up to so many quarts and over that you paid a certain price. Do your prices reflect that or do they just pour in the oil and charge a flat per quart price?

 

[racer12306]

for conventional it was $29.99 for up to 5 qts and a filter. after that it was $2.99 for each additional qt. the 6.0l powerstroke had a filter $15 or so upcharge on it, the filter costs the store $30/ea. i cant remember if the cummins or the 7.3l powerstroke had an upcharge or not, if they did it was $5.

for the synthetic oil it was $55.99 for up to 5 qts and a filter, then $5.99 for each qt after that. the same filter upcharges apply.

one thing i have learned is that it can be very expensive to get work done at a jiffy lube. but some of their prices do beat an identical service at the dealer. but people are paying for convenience, for those that it is important to. cant get an oil change at the dealer at 6:00p with no appointment. thats about the only good i see in getting an oil change at jiffy lube, if there is a short line you can get a quick oil change. i know i will never take my car to a jiffy lube to be serviced ever. seen too much stuff go on.

 

[wapacz]

Diesel Service $54.95
Up to 10 quarts of Goodwrench 15w40 oil, AC oil filter, chassis lubrication and top off most under hood fluids.

That is what the local gm dealership charges.

 

[reyjay1]

1. What are the manufacturer recommended drain intervals for diesels, Ford, Dodge, Chevy, and so on and what OCI's are you using?

7.3 L OCI for me have been between 4000mi and 7500 mi. regardless of owners manual . Quite a few people do 10K OCI regularly on this engine w analysis with nothing more than stock FF filter, including those in ambulance service and Ranching towing 10k goosnecks around. I tend to be more sensitive to injector sounds and change when it start to sound like the oil hase sheared down. In the light trucks , I classify chevy's as having small sumps, Dodges medium sumps, and Fords large sumps comparatively to each other with 8 qts, 10qts and 14-15 qts respectively. (Larger trucks with same engine have additional 5 qts cap. in the International application though. ) Though I seem to get the same OCI out of the 7.3 as i used to with the old Chevy though, have no idea how the new Chevy engine would be but I have heard it is pretty easy on the oil as the Duramax seems to put out some outstanding UOAnalysis at same mileage intervals with same oils. I expect a good diesel oil to last at least 6000mi in my engine or it gets taken off my personal short list. good > 6000mi. , ok -5000mi OCI, barely acceptable for use - 4000 OCI , is how my personal classification system goes on oils in this application. ( with stock filtration system, add bypass and easily those numbers go out the window.)


2. What are the recommended oils and what are you using?
Michaels list plus you can add Valvoline Premium Blue 15-40, Premium Blue Extreme 5-40, Castrol Tection Extra 15-40, Motorcraft 15-40 , Mystik JT-8 15-40, Supertek 15-40 are all good products. I would pick any of these over something like GTX diesel, and Rot 15-40 is just used as a last resort if nothing else is available. Royal Purple 15-40 I have used but feel it is too expensive for the use you get out of it in these engines.

3. If you happen to get your oil changed at a quick lube, what does it run typically?

Ford -International 7.3 L
Racer is right on with those prices, I have paid anywhere from $45 at the dealer with MC 15-40 to over $100 when the only place you could get RP was at one particular quick lube. Now it is just too easy to change it myself.

 

[SyntheticShield]

reyjay, thanks for your post. I appreciate the info.

You said: and Rot 15-40 is just used as a last resort if nothing else is available...

Is rotella that bad? I'll do a search in the VOA/UOA's but it seemed to be pretty much the standard oil to use when I asked around here.

Oh, and as a side question not necessarily connected, what is it that makes diesels last so long? Ive personally, not having all the facts, just attributed it to the large oil sump capacities for a good number of the diesels out there and wondered why in the world that philosophy never makes it to the passenger cars.

Anyway, Im still interested in anyone elses input about the oil, but would like to learn what makes diesels so reliable as well.

 

[racer12306]

i think its more than just large sumps. i think the large sumps help with cooling more than anything. more oil means more heat can be absorbed. which im would think helps some.

 

[Master ACiD]

also alot of diesels have air to oil- oil coolers. my dads 97 dodge ram with the cummins has an oil cooler thats bigger than most car radiators. keeps the oil temps nice and low, so the oil wont burn up.

btw, he does 6,000 mile oci's with rotella 15w40.

 

[reyjay1]

No its not that bad, just seems to me to have a mediocre add package vrs the competition and I have always thought it breaks down faster than Delo, but I started with Delo on the first Diesel so maybe some partiality there, but then my impressions have seemed to be vindicated by other long time users.
To those that don't pay that much attention a majority are perfectly satisfied with the dino rotella, but for the same price I can run a higher refined product with a better add pack and to me notice the difference so I just don't follow the crowd I guess. Personal experience Delo lasts to at least 6000 mi and longer, Rotella dino about 4K. It is mainly so popular because it is used widely by OTR tractors, but in those huge capacities those engines are probably much easier on the lubricant IMO.

Longevity of diesel achieved because of lower rpm power range, heavier duty everything throughout block due to higher compression, fuel can also be a lubricant, harder rings, valve seats/valves initially, ....

 

[Ramblin Fever]

Have a '01 Cummins, we run Chevron Delo 15w40 at 7k oci's.

We do the oil/filter ourselves for a lot less then what a lube place would charge you.

This truck does not see severe daily service; rather it is a long-hauler, and generally is only ran to do long highway drives with and without a boat trailer, but we do leave the 9' camper on year-round. This particular truck doesn't even know it's carrying the camper, however.

In a rare blue moon does it ever get used for short trips, if it does it's only once or twice in a month.

 

[SyntheticShield]

I appreciate all the responses guys. Ive learned a little and thats always a good thing.

So some of you are running the Rotella and Some the Delo. They cost about the same. I need to stop in and check out the prices locally, but what are you guys paying per quart for this. Does the Rotella or Delo come in the 5qt gallons that Wal-Mart offers in other oils?

Any way, I do appreciate all the responses.

 

[reyjay1]

I have always bought them by the gal. WW, Sams and Costco have best prices , WW is up to around 7.50 a gal now. No 5qt bottles.

 

[1sttruck]

I have a newer Cummins but it's a CA engine so it has a 3750mi severe duty oil change interval, where severe duty is pretty much normal driving. I'll stick with the interval until warranty runs out, and then probably switch to a 5k interval.

Initially I use have the oil changed as there were places that had Exxon/Mobil oils, but since they don't carry those anymore I change my own. It use to cost about $50 when I provided the Fleetguard Stratopore oil filters for Delvac 15W40 dino, and as I recall about $10 more for an Exxon XD3 synthetic blend.

Now I'm using a blend of 1 gal Mobil 1 T&S with 2 gal of Delvac 15W40. I use a 5 gal bucket with a bit less than 2in sawed off the top so that it slides under the truck. Our local garbage takes oil if it's in 1 gal milk jugs so disposal is easy.