Oil change

[MrKen]

My 1st post here, been reading for quite a while though. I'm at a loss of what to do. The more I read, the more I realize the less I know. I have a 94 Dodge Cummins, 95,000 miles, drive the truck about 6000-7500 year, mostly on trips. Highway miles until the forest roads. I have been using the Delo 400 CI4+
So when the CJ came out, I read I should stay with a CI4+ if available. Was going to use the Amsoil 15w40, but then decided on the Shell Rotela 5w40, but then thought about the Delo 5w40, but then read about the Mobil 1. I guess they are all good. I only want to change the oil once a year. I don't have a specific question, just want some additional advice. Thanks, Ken

 

[Pablo]

Put the Amsoil 15w40 in and change once a year. With those low miles, should not be a problem. I can hook you up.

 

[countryboy9799]

Welcome to the forum MrKen
Pablo I have a 99 CTD and live in MN. Would you recommend 15w40 for me? How about the 5W-40?

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: countryboy9799
Welcome to the forum MrKen
Pablo I have a 99 CTD and live in MN. Would you recommend 15w40 for me? How about the 5W-40?


Either would work. If you drive hard in the summer, pull a trailer and heavy loads, I would lean toward the 15w40. Otherwise the DEO 5W-40 would be great.

 

[D-Roc]

I would go with the Mobil if you're only planning on changing once a year (Delvac 1 ESP 5W40, or Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck, (Delvac 1). Costly, but worth it. If I was only changing my oil once a year and the choices you stated were my only options those are what I would use.

 

[dnewton3]

I guess I'll be the voice of dissent here and ask why a guy that only goes 6k to 7k miles a year needs any type of "synthetic" oil at all? In my mind, that's a waste of money. He's not going to be doing any extended drain intervals, by any means.

A conventional HDEO will work fine. In Everett, extreme cold isn't a factor. Even when he's going east into the mountains, the typical low temps in that area are not severe enough to warrant any concern of extreme-cold pumpability. So I would think a 15w40 would be my first choice. However, some recent used oil analysis I've seen suggest that a 10w30 will do as well, too. Further, his useage (highway and fireroads) indicates that short trip intervals are also not an issue; his truck likely comes up to temp and stays there.

And I wouldn't fret over the whole CI-4+ vs. CJ-4 issue; I thinks it's overblown. There is mounting evidence that indicates the CJ-4's are every bit as capable of a good used oil analysis as their predecessors.

MrKen, if you want to run "synthetic" because it makes you feel good emotionally about taking care of your truck, then by all means, go for it. But for the small amount of mileage you drive, nearly any decent brand name HDEO will protect your engine just fine. And used oil analysis will prove that out; there are plenty here on this site to show that. In fact, I recently posted a used oil analysis for a friend's '05 PSD that ran 5k miles on Rotella CJ-4 10w30, and it was STELLAR in it's performance.

Synthetics are fantastic at EXTREME cold pumpability, and at extended drain intervals. You will incur neither of these.

Synthetic lubricants and bypass filtration are tools for extending oil drain intervals. There is no way you can show fiscal eveidence that either would pay off in your circumstance.

Pick a well known brand name HDEO (Delo, Delvac, Rotella, etc) in "conventional" base stock in either 10w30 or 15w40, and be content that your engine is well protected.

 

[LateArrivalforLSU]

Considering the low mileage in a year, and the fact that you will be changing it irregardless of miles in a year's time.....put some Delo CJ-4 in it and call it a day.

I love the old 12V CTD. That thing should give you many years of usage.

 

[MrKen]

Well I just found 3 cases of the CI4+ Delo 400 at out local distributor, and I am now set for I think 3 years. I think this is a good coice for me, it is what I have used for years. Thank you for your advice. Ken

 

[Bambam]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: countryboy9799
Welcome to the forum MrKen
Pablo I have a 99 CTD and live in MN. Would you recommend 15w40 for me? How about the 5W-40?


Either would work. If you drive hard in the summer, pull a trailer and heavy loads, I would lean toward the 15w40. Otherwise the DEO 5W-40 would be great.



You think it okay to run a 15w40 in Mn in winter or am I reading to much into it?

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: Bambam
You think it okay to run a 15w40 in Mn in winter or am I reading to much into it?


Synthetic 15w40? NO problem. Conventional 15w40? Problem.

 

[D-Roc]

Originally Posted By: Bambam
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: countryboy9799
Welcome to the forum MrKen
Pablo I have a 99 CTD and live in MN. Would you recommend 15w40 for me? How about the 5W-40?


Either would work. If you drive hard in the summer, pull a trailer and heavy loads, I would lean toward the 15w40. Otherwise the DEO 5W-40 would be great.



You think it okay to run a 15w40 in Mn in winter or am I reading to much into it?


Shouldn't be a problem to run 15W40 Regular in winter as long as you're plugged in. But, I would be absolutely sure that you ARE plugged in when you're getting to -18 C (0F) on a regular basis...I've run 15W40 here in Edmonton where we can have six months of winter and temps pushing -40. But it always makes you feel uneasy knowing that if the power goes down, you're going to have a problem. Best to run 5W40.

 

[salesrep]

dnewton3
"And I wouldn't fret over the whole CI-4+ vs. CJ-4 issue; I thinks it's overblown. There is mounting evidence that indicates the CJ-4's are every bit as capable of a good UOA as their predecessors."
Agreed.

 

[dnewton3]

Salesrep: Thank you.

Pablo: I agree with your 15w40 synthetic comment in principal. I would just caution anyone who is concerned with a 15w40 choice for "winter". Winter means different things to different people.

A conventional 15w40 HDEO will be fine for MrKen in his area, as his average lows in "winter" are only in the low to mid 30deg F range. I checked weather.com for his annual averages, and even up in the northern National Parks in his area, the low's are just barely down to the freezing mark. Conventional 15w40 should work ok, but that is why I suggested he might consider a 10w30 for year round service, especially if he's not towing anything heavy.

Winter where D-Roc is located is a completely different story. I personally would prefer a "synthetic" 15w40, or even a 5w-40 in his area.

This is why I belive MrKen does not need "synthetic" at all. It's just not that cold in his area, even in the mountains where he goes to visit. And extended OCI's are not an issue, with only 6-7k miles traveled per year.

I think he made a fine choice with the Delo.