Coming up on the first oil change

[masterdrago]

I believe the original fill is just standard 5w/40 synthetic. They do not know want climate the truck is headed for, so they use synthetic.

I'm wondering what you mean by "just standard 5w-40 synthetic"? What would be non standard? I thought synthetic oil was anything but "standard". Help me out here.

 

[6V92TA]

dontcha love oil threads? hell, my truck;s display is saying I need to change the oil soon... and I just changed it in February.. and I have only drove that truck 5000 miles in the last two months.... so should I change the oil and filter or should I reset the monitor.?

 

[SnoKing]

Might be interesting getting a prefilled filter on without spill!?

Not from the top! SnoKing

 

[SnoKing]

I'm wondering what you mean by "just standard 5w-40 synthetic"? What would be non standard? I thought synthetic oil was anything but "standard". Help me out here.

RAM has two oil recommendations based on temps you operate in.
In ambient temperatures below 0°F (-18°C), SAE 5W-40 we recommend you use synthetic engine oil such as MOPAR®, Shell Rotella® and Shell Rimula® that meets Chrysler Materials Standard MS-10902 and the API CJ-4 engine oil category is required.

In ambient temperatures above 0°F (-18°C), we recommend you use SAE 15W-40 engine oil such as MOPAR®, Shell Rotella® and Shell Rimula® that meets Chrysler Material Standard MS-10902 and the API CJ-4 engine oil category is required. Products meeting Cummins® CES 20081 may also be used. The identification of these engine oils is typically located on the back of the oil container.

 

[masterdrago]

I'm using Valvoline 5w-40 Premium Blue Extreme Synthetic diesel engine oil. Even though I'm in SE Texas (rarely see temps under 20F). What the heck, it's 40w oil when our temps are near 100 and the price always seems right on AMZN. And being 5w, the truck has a low load when started. Why use 15w-40? Why change to a different weight when the 5w-40 covers all temps we will ever be in. I know some swear by Amsoil and I do get some of their stuff but their good synthetic is just plain pricey.

 

[6V92TA]

straight from Cummins.. recommended viscosities and temps..

 

[masterdrago]

straight from Cummins.. recommended viscosities and temps..

Exactly why everyone should run the 5w-40.... it covers the full range from -18 up......

 

[Newsa]

Exactly why everyone should run the 5w-40.... it covers the full range from -18 up......

Except there are some 15w 40 oils with the same cold -39/-40 cold pour point as Valvoline 5w 40 PBE which would suggest they flow equally well at -20°F/-30°C ????

I will continue to use my kendall super d xa 15w 40 since it effectively costs the same as 5w 40 Valvoline

 

[JPM]

Except there are some 15w 40 oils with the same cold -39/-40 cold pour point as Valvoline 5w 40 PBE which would suggest they flow equally well at -20°F/-30°C ????

I will continue to use my kendall super d xa 15w 40 since it effectively costs the same as 5w 40 Valvoline

It used to be a multi viscosity mineral based oil started as a base, say 15w and there were viscosity improvers that were added to allow the oil to act as a say 40w when hot. Those additives will wear out after use and not be effective leaving an oil with properties say as 15w 30 then 15w20. If you start with a wider range say 5w40 you will end up with a lower number with use. That information might be wrong now, and because of that I use the manual for correct reference.

 

[kthaxton]

That is true for conventional oil. I don't anybody makes a conventional 5W40 however.

 

[Newsa]

Multigrade synthetics have (some, less, but some) viscosity improvers. Synthetics have fewer viscosity improves than conventional because the synthetic oil (if it is a class 4 or 5 synthetic) has a bit of viscosity-improving and improved load-carrying characteristic engineered into it.

 

[6V92TA]

I live in SWFLA, I don't think my truck has seen 40 degrees F.

at some point you have to realize all the concerns about oil do not matter except if you operate at the extremes.

 

[Newsa]

I live in southeast FL. And 15w 40 was fine when driving up into -17 ° F this past December and January. I did use the block heater when I had availability. At hotels I couldn't

 

[Newsa]

straight from Cummins.. recommended viscosities and temps..

Interesting to see that if you never leave south florida, you could use straight 30 weight, straight 40 weight, and I'm betting even straight 50 weight.

Unless those single grade (mono grade) oils are not compatible with our DOG's because they are for off road use?

 

[JR]

You won't find a monograde oil with the required ratings for modern emissions components . I believe the API stopped certifying them in the 90's.

 

[JR]

I live in SWFLA, I don't think my truck has seen 40 degrees F.

at some point you have to realize all the concerns about oil do not matter except if you operate at the extremes.

Agreed. We see a handful of sub zero degrees nights through the winter and I've always used 15w40 with excellent UOAs. Block heater and pan heater wired together, plugged in on a timer for 2 hours, start up, clean off windows and either hook up or drive off slowly.
The only real advantage I see synthetics as having aside from those who truly live in Arctic regions is extended drain intervals. But given the 15k intervals it's hard to justify the cost of synthetics given these engines will far out last the rest of the truck.

 

[SnoKing]

Agreed. We see a handful of sub zero degrees nights through the winter and I've always used 15w40 with excellent UOAs. Block heater and pan heater wired together, plugged in on a timer for 2 hours, start up, clean off windows and either hook up or drive off slowly.
The only real advantage I see synthetics as having aside from those who truly live in Arctic regions is extended drain intervals. But given the 15k intervals it's hard to justify the cost of synthetics given these engines will far out last the rest of the truck.

Give the "or six months", it is hard to justify the cost of synthetics!!! How many drive over 30K in a year?

 

[Newsa]

Give the "or six months", it is hard to justify the cost of synthetics!!! How many drive over 30K in a year?

I take it that you have moved on from Valvoline Premium blue extreme?

 

[SnoKing]

I take it that you have moved on from Valvoline Premium blue extreme?

First oil change was between 4-5K if I remember correctly. 15W-40 Delo or similar for the next 35-36K. Truck will be 3 years in service in Sept. It gets a December and June oil change each year. The June one this year will be at around 43-44K and it's 6th oil change. So I am averaging around 15-16K a year or 7.5-8K oil changes. You will maybe recall that it did 1350 miles in it first 48 hours of service, driving home from the selling dealer.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I will stick with 15-40