Oil for '96 3500 5.9 Cummins

[D.H.]

1996 Laramie SLT 3500 5.9L 4WD

Spending most of the time on back roads and clearing land but running the freeway into town several times a week in and around Bakersfield CA where it has been over 100 degrees in recent days....is 15W 40 Valvoline the proper oil? It is time for the first oil change since I bought the truck in February.

 

[Killer223]

thats a great oil. use with confidence.

 

[D.H.]

thats a great oil. use with confidence.

I ran Valvoline, usually their racing oil, in my performance and commuter cars for many years, always loved it. Diesel is a whole new world for me. Thanks for the confidence.

 

[HPSimpson]

Yes 15-40 is the correct for a 5.9 Cummins.

 

[Seabee]

Make sure it is the DIESEL rated version...……...

 

[Cummins12V98]

I like the PRE emissions AMZ/OIL 15-40 Diesel and Marine. I use it in every gas engine I own and 01 RAM Cummins.

 

[Ozymandias]

Once a year is fine or 6000 Miles.
Whichever comes first.

 

[GAmes]

Once a year is fine or 6000 Miles.
Whichever comes first.

I just had an oil sample returned with 15,000 miles of use, most of it towing. It doesn't have anything wrong with it. I changed the filter and will send in another sample at 30,000 miles. I'm not into discarding good oil, but it's your choice.

 

[Ozymandias]

I just had an oil sample returned with 15,000 miles of use, most of it towing. It doesn't have anything wrong with it. I changed the filter and will send in another sample at 30,000 miles. I'm not into discarding good oil, but it's your choice.

You are right, I just give the numbers from the factory.

Did you know that the newer Rams have to change it every SIX months? Isn't that horrible? What a waste of oil.

 

[GAmes]

You are right, I just give the numbers from the factory.

Did you know that the newer Rams have to change it every SIX months? Isn't that horrible? What a waste of oil.

Actually the factory numbers were 6 months, 6000 miles, Schedule A. Schedule B, frequent towing, dusty conditions, etc was 3000 miles. Back then the latest oil rating was CF-4.

I suspect that the writers of the maintenance schedule grew up with old timer beliefs, or that Chrysler owns a significant amount of oil company shares, or both.

 

[HPSimpson]

Yes 6 month rule on new trucks for warranty purpose, purely a waste but FCA owns lots of shares of several oil company's.

 

[GAmes]

It isn't FCA across the board. My wife's Hemi Ram is 10,000 miles, 12 months. Her light illuminated at 97xx.

 

[HPSimpson]

Yes GAmes just the real Cummins Diesel equip Rams, not the gasoline jobs.