newby with new truck asking for maintenance advice.

[SnoKing]

Bob, I'm not meaning to call you out, and I am sorry if it seams as such. I'm not one to blindly believe what I'm told. If asking for evidence of ones statement is not acceptable here then please inform me as such. Till then I'll ask for proof, so facts will be known and proven.
As you may tell I'm a very scientific person, and knowing this might help some understand my view points.

So go find the proof and report back???? SnoKing

 

[Killer223]

I'm working on it Snoking. And bob may very well be correct. But I'm not sure how me asking was sooooo wrong of me. Like how dare I question.

 

[kthaxton]

Per most Cummins literature I read they don't suggest synthetic over dino for the crank case. only for the climate the engine will live.

I think most would interpret the recommendation to mean that conventional 15-40 is all that is NEEDED in the summer months, as in, you can save yourself some money, we don't require you to use synthetic year round. Also, if you notice their oil/temp range chart, it shows both conventional and synthetic up to the same point on the high end of the scale, and the 5-40 going to a lower point on the scale. Basically, there is no reason NOT to use synthetic 5-40.

Synthetic base lubricants are manufactured in the laboratory to exhibit superior high temperature stability and low temperature fluidity. Since these fluids are created to exhibit less thickening at low temperatures, pumping losses are reduced and substantial reductions in spin losses can be realized at low operating temperatures.Test results indicate no significant difference in engine efficiency between synthetic and mineral base lube oils at normal operating temperatures.Since the synthetics are more expensive and, in an engine crankcase, are subject to the same contaminants as mineral based oils, they may not be cost effective.

I'm curious where this statement came from? Many manufacturers are spec'ing synthetic oils because of their superior lubricity, therefore slight efficiency gains.

 

[Killer223]

https://cumminsengines.com/uploads/docs/cummins_secrets_of_better_fuel_economy.pdf

 

[SnoKing]

https://cumminsengines.com/uploads/docs/cummins_secrets_of_better_fuel_economy.pdf

Statements on page 13 are quite interesting. I knew there was a reason I chose to use 15W-40. Now if I lived in Alaska?

Snoking

 

[kthaxton]

https://cumminsengines.com/uploads/docs/cummins_secrets_of_better_fuel_economy.pdf

Fair enough. I guess my initial aversion to the statement is that their statement is specific in regard to being "cost effective", which I should have noticed....but personally is not my only reason for using synthetics.

 

[kthaxton]

Statements on page 13 are quite interesting. I knew there was a reason I chose to use 15W-40. Now if I lived in Alaska?

Snoking

I wish they would have used 5-40 instead of 5-30, since for our purposes, that would be a more useful comparison.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Took the factory tour last Summer. Lady doing the tour that day was a high up working on the 19's. She told me it was Synthetic. Her word to me and now my word so there you have it!

 

[Cummins2014]

Took the factory tour last Summer. Lady doing the tour that day was a high up working on the 19's. She told me it was Synthetic. Her word to me and now my word so there you have it!

Well its gotta be synthetic then

 

[Cummins2014]

If you use an 18 or 24 inch extension you can go behind the firewall mounted electrical plug to get to the fuel filter cap without a universal joint. It's a little easier that way for me. If you change the oil filter through the fender well, a filter cap from Geno's is priceless. No mess what so ever.

I found it easier with a universal joint ,and a standard length 28mm socket 1/2 drive with a six,five, and 10 inch extensions

 

[kthaxton]

Wasn't there also some Cummins publication stating they use Valvoline Premium Blue Synthetic (or whatever its called) posted a while back?

 

[Killer223]

Thank you.

 

[Randy Suess]

I just put that Valvoline 15-40 in my truck. Maybe I'm a sucker for advertising but it states on the label the only synthetic endorsed and recommended for Cummins. $18.99 a gallon... Did I fall for it? or is that a good oil?

 

[SnoKing]

I just put that Valvoline 15-40 in my truck. Maybe I'm a sucker for advertising but it states on the label the only synthetic endorsed and recommended for Cummins. $18.99 a gallon... Did I fall for it? or is that a good oil?

You sure on that. Most synthetic oils are 5-40 not 15-40? SnoKing

 

[jhenderson]

I just put that Valvoline 15-40 in my truck. Maybe I'm a sucker for advertising but it states on the label the only synthetic endorsed and recommended for Cummins. $18.99 a gallon... Did I fall for it? or is that a good oil?

It's fine. Cummins and Valvoline have had a marketing agreement for years. That being said, Cummins isn't going to endorse a product that's not up to their standards.

 

[Randy Suess]

Ya, I was expecting 5-40. They didn't have it on the shelf so I asked and they brought it out from the back. Felt like black market shenanigans.

 

[Randy Suess]

They didn't have any Valvoline synthetic on the shelf.... Weird

 

[mfurrh55]

You sure on that. Most synthetic oils are 5-40 not 15-40? SnoKing

I run 15-40 full synthetic Shaefers oil, I used to run full synthetic 15-40 Amsoil, Monte

 

[Killer223]

Valvoline only makes a synthetic blend in 15/40, else it's a dino oil, or 5/40. not that the engine cares, clean oil is the best oil..

 

[Cummins12V98]

I run 15-40 full synthetic Shaefers oil, I used to run full synthetic 15-40 Amsoil, Monte

Did you run the 100% 15-40 from AMZ/OIL LE or the OE LE, OR the Diesel Marine 15-40 non LE? What is the difference with Sheafers?