Engine Oil

[RFriis]

I purchased a 1-year old Ram 2500/Cummins in January 2006 with 27,000+ miles on it - lots of highway miles for 1 year. I have no idea if the dealer I purchased it from did the servicing but I do know that they use Union 76 engine oil. I have had the oil changed once by them. I have my own shop/garage with a pit so it makes no sense to pay them to change my oil and filter. I just discovered today that I can buy Rotella T in 2 1/2 gallon jugs from Wal Mart for only $2. 40/qt. Any opinions out there about switching from Union 76 oil to Shell Rotella T ????? Roy Friis

 

[rbattelle]

I can't imagine why it would be any problem at all.

Ryan

 

[MMeier]

Go for it! Only 27k on a year old truck... . LOL!!:-laf

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

100% SYNTHETIC IS BEST. it is more expensive but you can extend your changes to more than make up for it. If you were to install a by-pass filter (2 micron) you could change only the filters adding only the oil lost in the filter change. Which ever way you go always fill the filter canister with oil to prevent starving the turbo bearings on initial start up. With a 2 micron filter there is little or no wear inside the engine. All that happens is the engine is polishing not wearing. Also 100 % synthetic oil does not break down like non synthetic does. Wal Mart is carrying 5w40 mobile turbo diesel oil, at least the one I go to does. Close to $23. 00 per Gal. plus tax. Amsoil is hard to find in this area. It is your truck, your choice. The big trucking companies like to save a buck so they use the by-pass system. The oil may turn black but not to worry, it is not dirty just discolored from soot. The filters are trapping the dirt. If you want you can have an independent lab analyze your oil and you will then know what is happening. I have seen guys send in samples of tran oil and rear end oil but I never have. The engine oil is what takes the beating unless you do heavy towing. -- email address removed --

 

[rbattelle]

Just to give the other side of the fence from Burchfield's opinion, I don't think synthetic oil is necessarily "the best". Rather, the choice to run synthetic is one that must be based on service conditions, operating environment (the weather), and economy.

Personally, I don't run synthetic engine oil. If I lived in a colder climate (where, for example, winter temperatures are regularly below 0°F), I would.

In my opinion, my oil change interval obviates improved stability provided by synthetic oils.

It's not clear to me whether synthetic oils provide meaningfully-higher lubricity than petroleum. I personally believe the primary advantage to synthetics is cold flow properties.

Okay boys, flame away!

Ryan

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

That is why I said it is your truck, your choice.

 

[JHardwick]

100% SYNTHETIC IS BEST. it is more expensive but you can extend your changes to more than make up for it.

I change my Rotella in 15,000 mile intervals, and an analysis reveals that I could go longer. How much longer do you need to go to recover the extra cost?

 

[d90boy]

The cummins engine is not very hard on engine oils so your choice is not too critical. Do what makes you feel good inside, that's really what oil comes down to for these engines. I personally like Delo 400, Redline, and Schaeffer 9000 based on used oil analyses I've looked at.

 

[CPittman]

I ran Rotella for 125K miles - now using Delo 400 just to try something different. I like the dino oils for the engine.



Whatever oil you run, get your filter kits from Geno's (real nice prices on the bundle) - I used to run the 4/2/1 kit, but recently started using the Amsoil Ea189 air filter.



http://www.genosgarage.com/products.asp?dept=27

 

[Whiskey]

The cummins engine is not very hard on engine oils



??????????????????????????????????????

please explain.



whiskey

 

[Whiskey]

Go for it! Only 27k on a year old truck... . LOL!!:-laf

my 2006 has just broke 20,000. . bought oct. 2005.



whiskey