Rotella5W-40 Syn time's effect on oil

[smonska]

I have an 06' Dodge Cummins 5.9L, I'm running a Fleetguard Stratapore filter and Rotella 5W-40 synthetic. I have 6k miles and one year on the oil. Seems like a waste of a $$$ filter and synthetic oil to change it with so few miles just because it's been a year. I usually change it around 10k miles. Should I change the oil just because it's been a year even though I haven't been many miles? Does synthetic really degrade at all just due to time?

Most miles were trips over 20 miles, mostly pulling a 2 place snowmobile trailer or getting something from home depot (I have another daily driver).

 

[Audi Junkie]

Dump it. Reuse the filter if you want.

 

[Jim Allen]

First off, do a search on BITOG on this topic and you'll get an education.

Bottom line, no. In most cases, you oil is fine for multi-year operation. I just posted a 3 year test on conventional oil and it was fine.

The general caveat for this to be successful is the operational cycle. You want the truck to come up to full oil temp and stay that way for a while. Repeated short hops, where the engine doesn't get time to bake out moisture and fuel dilution, is when the bad chemical reactions take place that rapidly depletes the oil's additive package. A short hopper goes on an "as needed" schedule... which is generally no more than about 6 months. Year, tops.

 

[daman]

No do not dump it that filter and oil combo is good for another 5k or more...

 

[suspiciousmind]

Originally Posted By: daman
No do not dump it that filter and oil combo is good for another 5k or more...



+1

 

[dnewton3]

Originally Posted By: Jim Allen
First off, do a search on BITOG on this topic and you'll get an education.

Bottom line, no. In most cases, you oil is fine for multi-year operation. I just posted a 3 year test on conventional oil and it was fine.

The general caveat for this to be successful is the operational cycle. You want the truck to come up to full oil temp and stay that way for a while. Repeated short hops, where the engine doesn't get time to bake out moisture and fuel dilution, is when the bad chemical reactions take place that rapidly depletes the oil's additive package. A short hopper goes on an "as needed" schedule... which is generally no more than about 6 months. Year, tops.



Completely accurate and well stated.

I also do some long OCIs chronolgically; up to three years on HDEOs in low milegae applications where I do get good heat soaking cycles, all with no worries.

 

[Texan4Life]

Originally Posted By: daman
No do not dump it that filter and oil combo is good for another 5k or more...


+1

I wouldn't hesitate to run it a second year or change it on your normal OCI.

 

[Tornado Red]

Originally Posted By: Jim Allen
First off, do a search on BITOG on this topic and you'll get an education.

Bottom line, no. In most cases, you oil is fine for multi-year operation. I just posted a 3 year test on conventional oil and it was fine.

The general caveat for this to be successful is the operational cycle. You want the truck to come up to full oil temp and stay that way for a while. Repeated short hops, where the engine doesn't get time to bake out moisture and fuel dilution, is when the bad chemical reactions take place that rapidly depletes the oil's additive package. A short hopper goes on an "as needed" schedule... which is generally no more than about 6 months. Year, tops.


Very logically presented. Oil does not deteriorate in the sump of an undriven vehicle, any more than in an unopened bottle or jug. When the vehicle is driven, then how long and at what engine temperature will determine the condition of the oil.