Duramax oil change

[dandt]

How often do you change your oil in your Duramax? The duramax owners manual says to change it when the dash computer indicates it which is 10,000 miles. I've heard people say they change at 5,000. Why would you change at 5K when the manual says 10K?

[rgn]

I change my oil a 5000 miles because it is easy to keep up with. Asn i don't think oil will last 1000

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Not to start a discussion but If GM says to change the oil every 10,000 miles I change the oil every 10,000 miles. Afterall GM Warrants the engine so who am I to argue. Besides it is also half the cost of a 5,000 mile oil change. I have nearly 70,000 miles on my 2005 and I am due for a change within the next month. From day one of ownership I have watched the odometer. It is a very simple matter to watch the odometer and as it is ready to click on that next 10,000 mark I know to change the oil and get the rig serviced.
This interval also worked well on my 2003 Duramax that had 73,000 miles on it when traded.

Works for me and GM. So if it ain't broke don't fix it.

BTW-For the sake of convience I also change the fuel filter at the same time I change the oil. However, I do rotate the tires every 5,000 miles.

[happy campers]

I don't recall what GM calls for along with the 10K miles for their change interval. It's usually either/or. I change mine in the fall, which usually works out to about 7.5K miles. I change out all of the filters at this time, including fuel and transmission along with the oil filter. There is an oil change reminder that'll determine when to change the oil if you remember to reset it! Diesel oil seems to get dirtier than that in gas motors, and I don't understand the why for the extended change interval, but I'm not a GM engineer either.

[corncob]

My 06 is changed when the computer % says it is time and this generally equates to 5k miles. The fuel filter is the same but generally at 10k. Not sure how the 10k oil change subject came up but I will recheck my mileage indicators.

Regards

[bncinwv]

Have to agree with Glenn on this one. I change filters, oil, etc. when the DIC (Driver Information Center) tells me too, that way I know the warranty guidelines are being met. Seems like the oil change interval on the DIC correlates pretty well with the 10,000 mile interval I have 16,000 miles on the 07 Classic and it is now telling me to change the Fuel Filter, therefore I will change the fuel filter when I have my annual Spring tire rotation done. It is a matter of personal preference and I have stated mine.
Bingo

[mtheo]

I change mine at 5000 miles. I know they say more, but to many mechanics I know don't want to take a chance. And I plan on owning mine longer than the warranty.

[dandt]

Thanks for all of your input. I guess I just wanted to be sure I was not alone at changing at 10K. And I also had the fuel filter changed even though the D.I.C. said 43% left. Thanks again... Dave

[TLightning]

My manual does not give a mileage to change the oil...it says to do it when the DIC says to change it. The DIC is supposed to calculate the mileage for change based on how you drive and the driving conditions...same for the fuel filter.

[rames14]

I change when the DIC says to, and I am running synthetic which theoretically does not break down as fast as standard oil. I had almost 100k before I traded off my '04.

[exav8tr]

I have decided to follow the DIC for the first 50k and see how that does.......

[Montana Sky]

I have my oil changed every 3,000 miles along with fuel filter every 10,000. Tranny every 25,000, front and rear diffs & transfer case every 30,000. I run standard oil in the engine, and synthetic fluid in the tranny, diffs, and transfer case. Also change the air filter out every 12,000 miles. Oil and fluids are cheap and I believe it is cheaper to over service a truck than buy a new one every 4 years.

[OntMont]

I follow the DIC too. From an environmental perspective, changing the oil more often than needed is just wasting oil and adding to pollution. I know dealers prefer you to change every 5000k, but they have a vested interest in selling you oil and service.

[exav8tr]

Maybe, just Maybe, if everyone followed a realistic oil change schedule and not one developed by the oil companies, we just might save a few gallons of oil over the course of a year. I NEVER chnged oil at 3000 miles and always had good service from my vehicles. This is just something else we accept blindly. For example, my last change was at 14497 and the Chevy dealer put a sticker on my truck that say change at 17497. I now have over 19000 on it and the DIC says I have 46% oil life left. I figure on changing when it says 25% or less. Not only will I save some money, but using less oil cannot be a bad thing in this day and age and I am not violating the terms of my warranty on my truck either. Sounds like a no brainer to me...Of course, someone will tell me I am dead wrong or ruining my truck or just plain don't know what I am talking about, which may be true, but it sounds good anyway....

[Just148]

I know that the manual say 10k but I change oil every 5k due to traveling through the montains alot...

[TAKPAK]

I go with what the DIC says. It is pretty accurate. It takes in to account stop and go driving, high speed, throttle position, etc. All factors in engine wear and tear. The big rigs/construction equipment all base theirs on oil testing. Of course, when an oil change is 10 to 15 gallons (or more) it adds up. If you REALLY want to know what's going on in your engine, sample your oil every so often and send it to a lab. They will tell you exactly what's going on. Oil actually never wears out, it just gets full of "suspended" particles. Yes, diesel oil gets "black" but that is the nature of the beast. The old diesel engines got black the minute you started them up. The new low sulphur fuels have helped quite a bit. It's not so much the fuel as it is stop and go driving/engine not getting up to temperature the wreaks havoc. That is about the worst kind of conditions for any engine. Right now I am at 12,000 on my '08 GMC, and have had one FREE oil change at 6000 from the dealer. At 12,000 my DIC says I have 48% left. I will go until it says around 20 to 25% which at that time I will change it. Should be around 15,000 miles or so.

[happy campers]

quote:Originally posted by OntMont

I follow the DIC too. From an environmental perspective, changing the oil more often than needed is just wasting oil and adding to pollution. I know dealers prefer you to change every 5000k, but they have a vested interest in selling you oil and service.

5000K? Yeah, it's a typo!

[Delaine and Lindy]

I like as many others always changed oil at 3,000 miles. However after running a Class 8 Truck, and having the oil analyze never had a bad report, and the oil was changed at 25,000 per the manual. I now run the Duramax to within 20% and then change oil and filter. I have it change in my home town. I furnish the oil and filter and they change it, I use to change myself but its two much hassle to dispose of the old oil. I haven't seen any evidence to make me go back to the 3,000 mile rule. Another reason Oil and Filters have really increased in price. I try to buy the Rotella when its on sale and buy 20 gals at a time. I also have John Deere tractors, and use Rotella in them also. Just my opinion. GBY......

[OntMont]

5000k was meant to be 5000 kilometers, but I should have translated it to miles anyway. It is roughly the same as 3000 miles.

[TLightning]

quote:Originally posted by Delaine and Lindy

I use to change myself but its two much hassle to dispose of the old oil.

Most WalMarts will take it. They have a storage facility in back of the Tire and Lub section.