Diesel Oil Change - Montana Owners Club

Jeff Heiser · 05-24-2005, 03:54 AM

Was curious as to what type of engine oil you diesel truck owners are running in your vehicles. This past weekend I had my first oil change done to my 2005 Dodge Cummins. It only had 3700 miles on it but the oil was pitch black (as black as I have ever seen it) and felt it was time for out with the old in with the new. The oil change facility put in Shell Rotella 15w-40. They did not have any synthetic and told me all the diesels that they have been doing they have been using Rotella. This being my first diesel I was concerned when I saw how black the oil was, is this common? My User Manual stated oil and fliter at 7500 miles so of course when I saw the oil it made me think - do I have a problem? I havent towed with it yet and have driven at speeds of up to 75 80 on the highway. I do drive it daily in traffic. Any comments, recommendations etc would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff Heiser
Merritt Island Florida

lightningjack11 · 05-24-2005, 04:23 AM

Mine gets black and I am sure that is normal.

I use Rotella T Synthetic in the Engine and MObile 1 ATF syn in the tranny.

You will get some arguments on what is best but I can get the Rotella at Walmart which makes it convenient. Change my own oil.

You can always send your oil off for testing. Blackstone is popular. They will send you a free sampling kit with instructions. The analysis will show how your engine is doing with your chosen oil.

www.blackstone-labs.com

260 744 2380

Montana_2785 · 05-24-2005, 04:44 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Jeff Heiser

[...] It only had 3700 miles on it but the oil was pitch black (as black as I have ever seen it) and felt it was time for out with the old in with the new. [...]

Jeff,

Burning Diesel fuel will result in the production of soot. This is unique to Diesel fuel. Gas doesn't produce this. Some of the soot does get past the rings and into the oil. Diesel engine oil has a special additive to keep the soot in suspension and not clot up. This keeps the oil journals from getting plugged up.

The soot is what makes our Diesels oil so black. Perfectly normal...

BTW: It is OK to use a Diesel rated oil in a gas engine, but you can't use gas engine oil in a Diesel....

Engine oil analysis is something that I also do. I use www.oilguard.com.

richfaa · 05-24-2005, 06:02 AM

I drive a School bus for a private School. We have chevy and international diesels.The oil is changed every 3,000 miles.Don't know what kind of oil is used as it comes in huge drums however I check it on a regular basis (pre trip check) and it is a lot darker that the Gas engine oil.

carlson · 05-24-2005, 07:32 AM

Jeff,
I have always use Rotella T 15-40.
My last truck was a 1996 Ford F250 with 264,000 miles on it.
My 2003 just turned 52,000.
I change my oil every 5,000 miles.
It is easy to remember when the odometer hits a 0 or 5 it is time to change.
I buy my oil at Sam's Club, around $38.. for (6) one gallon jugs.
The Ford 6.0 takes 15 quarts.
I have not used the synethic, just the regular 15-40 oil.

steves · 05-24-2005, 09:16 AM

I have a 2001 Ford with 80,000 miles and have always used Rotella T 15 - 40. I change oil every 5,000 miles. My son in-law has a diesel repair business and that's what he uses in his shop. I was going to get a new truck but this one runs too good to give up. Additionally
I change my fuel filter every 10,000 miles and the transmission fluid every 15,000 and at the 30,000 mark change the transmission filter too.

kwbosch · 05-24-2005, 09:34 AM

Jeff,

Be sure to read your manual and talk to your Dodge service dept. If I recall, you can't run synthetic until you break-in the motor. If you're not towing, it could take up to 20K miles for full break-in.
Here's a link to the Cummins website: http://www.everytime.cummins.com/eve...cummins600.jsp

HTH,

Ken

wileecoyote985 · 05-24-2005, 10:09 AM

Shell Rotella T is good oil. I change mine every 5000 per the service manual.

Gary

Glenn and Lorraine · 05-24-2005, 01:30 PM

I also use Rotella T 15-40 and as Chevy recommends I have the oil changed every 10,000 miles. I have spoken to GM and they indicate 10,000 miles is fine for the towing I do which is about 300 miles a week. I have also had the oil tested at 10,000 miles and it was still OK. I know I will get arguements on the 10,000 mile issue but if it's good enough for GM, who carrys the 100,000 mile warranty, it's good enough for me. Why would anyone want to vary from the manufacturers recommendation when it is they who carry the warranty?

palebluedot · 05-24-2005, 01:59 PM

If you want to use what was in the Cummins when it left the factory, it is Valvoline Premimum Blue. It is available at our local Advance Auto Parts store. That said, I use Shell Rotella T 15/40 like most others here, because it is a great oil and available at Walmart/Sam's Club. One guy put over 1,000,000 miles on a 95 Dodge/Cummins towing new TT/5ers from the factory to dealers. He used Rotella T and changed the oil every 9,000 miles.

sreigle · 05-24-2005, 02:14 PM

I'm also using Shell Rotella T 15w40. I have it changed at 5,000 miles. 20,000 miles in seven months and it has yet to need any oil between changes or even to read below the full mark. I used Motorcraft oil for many years and really liked the oil but so many diesel owners suggested Rotella T that I decided to make the switch. Plus, it's available at more oil change places than in Motorcraft.

Charlie · 05-24-2005, 03:20 PM

Like the other replys above I also use Shell Rotella T 15-40 and change
filter and oil every 3000-5000 miles, depending how much towing I have
done. Approaching 82000 miles and no problems yet.

Montana_3696 · 05-25-2005, 07:08 AM

add us to the list of folks who use Shell Rotella T 15W40 which is dino oil not synthetic ... try to change oil and filter every 5,000 miles ... currently have 88,500+ miles on our '02 Chevy Duramax and she continues to run really well

Jim

Jeff Heiser · 05-26-2005, 04:55 AM

To everyone who responded - THANKS. All good information.

Jeff Heiser
Merritt Island Flroida

melnjoy · 05-27-2005, 05:02 AM

It does not realy matter what brand that you use as long it conforms with the manufacturer spec. Rotella [shell], Mobilgaurd [Mobil], Delo [Chevron]. Oil for Diesel engines have a lot more detergents and keep the inside of the engine cleaner and the oil will be darker.I have always changed my oil @ 3,000 miles Just seems like cheap insurance for a $40,000+ Rig. I have Detroit Diesels Generators on the Vessel I work [where I live my other life] I go by hours and change them @ 300 hr. I run them 24/7 Oil is the life blood of your engine and is cheap compared to a new Engine. I also believe that the filter should be changed at every oil change. As for using this oil in a gas engine I would advise caution as I stated before there is a lot of detergents in the oil and could pick up deposits and run them through the rings and bearings.
Just another thought
Mel

On The Road Again · 05-28-2005, 03:56 AM

Add me to the list of those who are pleased with using Shell Rotella T W15-40 oil. I've been using this oil since I bought my '99 Dodge Cummins and have had no problems as I approach 88,000 miles.
I usually have my oil changed every 5,000 to 7,000 miles depending on how much towing I've done and how "black" the oil looks when checking it.
Marshall

ols1932 · 05-28-2005, 09:27 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Jeff Heiser

Was curious as to what type of engine oil you diesel truck owners are running in your vehicles. The oil change facility put in Shell Rotella 15w-40.
Jeff Heiser
Merritt Island Florida

You picked a good oil. I've used Shell Rotella 15W-40 in my '95 F-250 and have 125,000 miles on it. I never have to add any oil and I change oil about every 6,000-7,000 miles. Everyone I talk to about this oil swear by it. I'm not one who ever got into synthetics and a diesel mechanic I talked to a couple weeks ago said stick with the Rotella oil

snowbunny · 05-30-2005, 06:56 AM

Just had my oil changed at a GM dealer. They used Quaker State 15-40W. No indication of any 'special' diesel oil. Should I be concerned?

Charlie · 05-30-2005, 08:03 AM

Snowbunny-
Just saying Quaker State 15-40W is not enough information. There is a requirement code for diesel crankcase oil. I went out to the garage and these are the codes that I pulled off a Shell Rotella-T 15-40 bottle. This oil meets CI-4 Plus requirements which would include any oil that meets
CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF/SJ and SL reqirements. I would talk to them and make sure it is diesel approved oil.

palebluedot · 05-31-2005, 04:21 PM

Just for information, concerning those codes in Charlie's post (CI-4, CH-4), the "C" designation refers to "compression ignition engines" which is to say diesels. Gasoline engines are "spark ignition engines" so oils intended for them will have an "S" in their code, such as SI or SJ. Check the codes on the container and if it does not have a "C" do not use in diesel engines. The second letter indicates the progressively higher standards of the American Petroleum Institute, so the higher the second letter, the higher standard it meets. Always refer to your owner's manual to be sure which standard your vehicle requires.

You may also like: