Lower Noise with Oil Change

[1sttruck]

I have a 2003 Dodge with a Cummins diesel. When trying out some Delvac 1300 I noticed that the engine was quieter than the dealer oil. At about 3000 miles the noise seemed to pick up a bit, my oil change interval is 3750 miles, and when trying some Exxon XD3 Extra, a synthetic blend, it was quieter still. What is it that makes for a quieter engine with an oil change, and why doesn't it last as long as the recommended oil change interval ? Most of the other 2003 Dodge diesels have a 7500 mile severe duty oil change interval, so they're more challenged yet.

I'll see how the Exxon holds up, but so far I like it. It's hard to find though, so I might have to blend some Delvac 1300 and Delvac 1 if I can't get anymore.

 

[Palut]

If you're not a big fan of Delvac 1300, you may want to try Pennzoil Long-Life 15w40. That's very good stuff. We use that in my mom's Plymouth Voyager. The cooling fans went out in it, and she doesn't pay much attention to her guages. She overheated the thing twice on the same oil (to the point that the car started beeping at her). We got the fans fixed, and we haven't had any problems with it in about 10,000 miles since. I figure that having such tough oil in the engine helped keep us from suffering significant damage.

 

[Bror Jace]

Palut, Pennzoil Long Life 15W40 has more molybdenum in it outside of Schaeffer and Red Line ... about 180PPM.

That helps in two ways:

1) Molybdenum is a good sound deadener.

2) Molybdenum is good for when the hydrodynamic layer of oil fails.

--- Bror Jace

 

[rossn2]

IstTruck, you sure your looking at the correct maintenance schedule for your truck? Unless you have the California engine, Schedule B for the 03/04 Cummins engine has the oil and filter change at 7500 miles. Look at the owners manual and if there's a little "cross" icon next to the Schedule B 3750 oil filter change interval, it only applies to the California engine.

Oh, yes, they do start getting a little noiser after about 4000k miles...I have a 04 2500 with the ISB 305 engine (7500 mile oil changes) and run Amsoil 15w40 Diesel Marine Oil.

[ March 22, 2004, 09:40 AM: Message edited by: rossn2 ]

 

[Quick_lude]

quote:

---

Originally posted by 1sttruck:
when trying some Exxon XD3 Extra, a synthetic blend, it was quieter still.

---

Which grade are you using? 0w30/0w40? Afaik, those are the only ones in the XD-3 family that are based on PAO.
http://www.imperialoil.ca/Canada-English/Files/Products_Lubes/IOCAENCVLESEsso_Xd-3_extra.pdf

 

[DEWFPO]

Differnt oils experience viscosity breakdowns at different times based on additive package, vehicle type, use and climate.

What you are hearing after 3,000 miles is probably the viscosity breakdown of the oil. Try other oils and listen.

DEWFPO

 

[1sttruck]

I do have a CARB engine although I bought it in Oregon. The dealer said that they ordered 40 of these models after seeing the configuration in a government contract, they sold them as loss leaders, pretty quickly, and I got the 2nd to the last one.

Looking closer the oil is Exxon XD-3 Elite 15w40, synthetic blend.

If viscosity loss is responsible for the increase in noise and even a full synthtic like Amsoil starts exhibiting it at 4000 miles, isn't that support for the oft suggested 3mo or 3000mi oil change ? On one of the diesel forums there are a number of threads on engine ticks and knocks and such, I'll guess in part because the 2003 Cummins is a lot quiter than previous models. It now sounds like it's also due in part to the 7500 oil change.

 

[rossn2]

Dodge Manual recommends 7500 mile oil & filter changes and that's what I'm doing, with synthetic or the Mopar conventional oil.

IMHO the ticks and noises people start hearing is a bad load of diesel fuel.

 

[Don1]

I have a 97 f-250 power stroke and I use rotella t multigrade sae 15w40 with lube control and my engine has never run better. I have been running it in my engine since October and even put 3oz in my power steering because it was starting to go out on me. now my power steering is working great. thank you lube control.

 

[1sttruck]

Excluding mechanical failure common 'extra' engine noises seem to be caused by three items:

1. Low quality diesel, which is noticeable for making more racket on a cold engine. A decent fuel additive helps, I use Stanadyne as it seems to be the only additive endorsed by OEMs, a number of them at that.

2. Clogged fuel filter, which makes for pronounced knocking and low power. I've had to change mine at 2x the normal frequency and have changed fuel suppliers.

3. Engine oil, which is noticeable with a fresh oil change. Less ticking/clickety-clack sounds.

 

[Drstressor]

I really doubt that the oil used in a Cummins has any effect at all on engine noise. All of the 15w40's have similar viscosities and are very shear resistant. Plus, the Cummins is very easy on oil, especially in the PU application.

As mentioned by others, fuel quality has a large effect on engine noise. Using an additive that ups the cetane rating and provides increased lubricity for the injector pump will go a long way toward stabilizing engine noise, which often changes with each tank of fuel.

 

[1sttruck]

'What seems to correlate with changes in engine noise' is a pretty simple experiment, as noted below.

1. On the same tank of fuel, noise level drops when a fuel additive used.

2. On the same tank of fuel, but different than the fuel in #1 and when using a fuel additive, noise level drops when the fuel filter is changed.

3. On the same tank of fuel, but different from the fuel used in #1 or #2 and when using a fuel additive and a fresh fuel filter, noise level drops when the oil is changed.

I've done all above, and with a bit over 15k on the engine it's running better than it ever has, and is quieter too. I know that with light loads the Cummins can take up to 30k miles to be considered broken in.

My engine has a 3750 mi oil change interval, so having an impression that engine noise level increased at about 3000 mi with the Delvac 1300 doesn't seem out of line. I think someone else commented that Amsoil did the same at about 4000 mi, and others have commented in other forums that they noticed, like I did, that fresh Delvac 1300 made for a quieter engine compared to the dealer oil. If viscosity loss is what appears to be the primary reason for this suspected symptom, then looking at how viscosity holds up with different oils is worth looking at.