Originally Posted By: Donald
I'd like to go between 7500 and 8K OCI with Bosch D+ filters. So maybe 2 oil changes a year. It will not do much towing, just a few times a year. And I did not realize I had almost 5K posts. Wow time flies when you are having fun. Yes I know all about synthetics.
But my question is (given Amsoil makes a 5W40 and a 15W40 diesel rated oil) why is their first recommendation a 15W40 and the 5W40 is farther down the line?
And the only synthetic diesel rated oils at Walmart are Shell and Mobil 1 and both are 5W40?
I routinely buy Amsoil products, mainly their ATF, the Ea filter for this pickup is about $20 from Amsoil yikes. (Until I compare it to $50 Bobcat filters).
If there is a good reason for 15W40, I have no problem buying Amsoil. The front porch (where UPS delivers) is even closer than a Walmart.
I'll warn you up front; my comments are going to be a bit harsh. I'm not down on you personally, but I believe you're a synthetic junkie. You state you "know all about synthetics" but I suspect you simply know what you want to believe, and do not make decisions based upon facts, but rather emotions. If you cannot abide by that assessment, then don't read past this sentence.
You have no need to run synthetics for this truck; none whatsoever. It does not get "too cold" where you're at; I looked up the average lows for many "upstate NY" locations and all of them are well above zeroF. Further, 8k mile OCIs with little towing can be EASILY handled with any quality dino oil. There are some examples of OCIs going more than 2x that distance and getting excellent results. Check out "BigGreyMegaCab" and his UOAs on VPB dino oil heading for 20k miles!
You "want" synthetics? Fine - nothing wrong with satisfying emotional needs (we all do it). But I cannot understand how you are seeking a "cheap" synthetic, and then admit you want Amsoil, and yet are concerned about costs? More than once you mention your concern for lube and filter costs, but you are willing to grossly under-utilize your oil? To be frank - that's hypocracy.
If you going to waste oil (and that is exactly what you are doing, regardless of what others might suggest), run the entire year (16k miles) on the synthetic. At least that way you'll be minimalizing your waste ... You'll still be throwing money away, but you'll be throwing away less of it. It's not that Amsoil is a bad choice here; it's that any synthetic is a bad choice here. Synthetics are not a one-size-fits-all answer to every OCI.
You have the right to do as you see fit; no one is going to take that away from you. But just because you can do it, does not make it a good decision. Use the synthetic because you want to; not because it's going to be "better" or "cheaper" in your overall maintenance plan. It will be nothing but a waste given the conditions you intend to operate under.
To summarize:
- You want a "cheap" 15w-40 synthetic, preferrably available at W/M; no such animal exists.
- You operational and maintenance plans indicate you would be well served by a dino oil; that is all you need
So, you have a choice; either satisfy your emotional wants (use the synthetics and waste them) or make your wallet happy (and your Cummins will never know the difference). You cannot have your cake and eat it, too.