2020 HO. Does anyone trust the computer to tell when to change the oil?

[Units]

I use one of these:

https://www.genosgarage.com/product/ftv-104a/drain-valves

 

[Ozymandias]

I flush all my oily stuff with gasoline from the generator gas can. Generator doesn't care about a little 2-stroke mix.

 

[Tuesdak]

I use new tubing when putting a sample with a pump. This way it gets a clean sample as tbe pump doesn’t touch the oil.

On oil changes I sample while it’s draining.

I also sample everything: diffs, transfer case, transmission.

I have had TBN surprise me. Also oil going out of grade thin from biodiesel contamination or going too thick out of grade. I have had warnings from the lab prior to engine failure.

My last surprise was reaching the soot limit on my 2018 that didn’t happen on next 6 month oil change. Apparently I am the poster child of why they had a six month oil change for those years.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Just get the sample next time you drain the oil.....no need for all the pumps, syringes, tubing, etc.

Sam

 

[AH64ID]

I have had TBN surprise me.

Same. Low mileage oil at 12 months with TBN that was too low to have been run that long. The rest of the UOA was immaculate.

 

[larryq]

I thought of collecting at the oil change, but think that defeats the purpose.

I want
To know When to change the oil as much as what is going on in the engines.

ordered 2 kits from OAI.

will sent samples to both Blackstone and OAI and compare
Results this first time.

 

[larryq]

TBN?
UOA?

not sure I know what that all means

 

[AH64ID]

TBN?
UOA?

not sure I know what that all means

TBN: Total Basic Number, it's the oils ability to fight the acidity of combustion (and other sources). Once it's depleted the oil is no longer suitable for use, even if it's not contaminated with fuel/metals/etc. If you are trying to determine an extended OCI then TBN is mandatory. Make sure the kits you ordered include it, the standard Blackstone kit doesn't include it and they charge $10 more for it. It's included on all of the OAI engine oil kits.

UOA: Used Oil Analysis

 

[Diesel85]

Pump a bit out thru them before filling the container. That should provide an accurate sample.

I would also avoid Blackstone, they are getting worse and worse reviews across other forums (thou I stopped being impressed with them around 2007). Fleetguard and O.A.I. Testing are the preferred UOA companies per Cummins Rocky Mountain.

I really like Polaris Labs that Cummins uses. Their customer service is amazing and I know that I'm getting a non-bias UOA.

 

[larryq]

It’s really funny.

I was a BOMBER with my 1998.5 24v Cummins, and not there is literally nothing to make it perform better or sound better!

took my 98.5 to Ted JAnnette for exhaust and an aikin box.
Did stage 2 injectors and new fuel tubes.

I want to hear this new truck rattle, but it’s not in the cards .

BOMB was a big deal back then.

don’t know if anyone from that time is still here, but it meant:
Better Off Modified Baby!

thanks@all

 

[NIsaacs]

Here you go, cell phone wont do it justice, you need a desk top with remote speakers

 

[sag2]

I called blackstone, and asked the same question.
They pointed me to their pump that accepts the sample bottle as it was made for it!

not cheap at 40$ but looks like the perfect tool!!

I bought 2.
One for the truck one for the Nismo!

will keep them separated in large ziplock bags.

I would like to be able to “flush” them after use, so as to not contaminate the new sample with oil from the old
Sample.

don’t know what to use that won’t ruin the pump and also not contaminate the next sample.

https://www.blackstone-labs.com/product/quick-draw-pump/


any thoughts?

thanks again!
L

With those pumps you get no cross contamination. You throw away the hose with every use, no oil actually touches the pump. You only need one.

 

[petersonj]

Here you go, cell phone wont do it justice, you need a desk top with remote speakers

Or, a laptop with a set of Bose headphones. Nice..., and seamless shifting on your part!

- John

 

[Diesel85]

I really love the sound of that truck. I listened to it like 6 times.

 

[larryq]

Oh, wow!
That sound brings back a whole lot of memories!

Autocorrect messed I’m my previous post.

I lived in CT, and took the 98.5 to Ted Jannety.

also got an aikin box.

eventually did stage 1 injectors and new fuel tubes.

smoke wasn’t bad at all.

The new 2020 3500 SRW with Aisin and 1000f/lb torque is awesome.

never thought my truck would cost more than my HOUSE!

well, retired early, and this truck will “see me out”

L

 

[Grumpy8811]

I have a feeling that the dash/computer telling us when to change the oil may be like being led down the primrose path.

I’ve been trusting it so far, but I can’t stop thinking to just go back to every 5k with Rotella T6.

I rarely tow anymore, and a lot more in town driving now that we have retired.

any opinions??

thanks
Larry

I just change the oil every 6 months regardless of what the puter has to say....

one six month period I went 17000 miles on the oil,( I usually dont do half of that) actually went to the trouble of sampling and the stuff came back fine..

 

[GBBrown]

Change my oil every 7000 miles would never go the 15,000 that Ram recommends. Too much crap being circulated back thru these engines and especially with hydraulic lifters. Cost of trucks nowadays an oil change is cheap and I run Fleetguard filters and synthetic oil.

 

[Grumpy8811]

if you are the type of person who feel's better about life by leaning in the direction of compulsive oil changing and over maintenance ,
why not just change the oil because you feel like it, instead of trusting engineers to decide what
maintenance interval to follow as they don't know much about the subject?
to summarize, if a person follows OEM guidance, they will be fine but if OEM guidance isn't good enough for them,
that person should proceed to over maintain the vehicle so you they can sleep at night.

 

[GBBrown]

if you are the type of person who feel's better about life by leaning in the direction of compulsive oil changing and over maintenance ,
why not just change the oil because you feel like it, instead of trusting engineers to decide what
maintenance interval to follow as they don't know much about the subject?
to summarize, if a person follows OEM guidance, they will be fine but if OEM guidance isn't good enough for them,
that person should proceed to over maintain the vehicle so you they can sleep at night.

You talking the same engineers that designed the Snap Ring, the CP4, grid heater, hydraulic lifters,etc….naw I’ll do my maintenance on my schedule even if some believe it’s excessive.

 

[Grumpy8811]

View attachment 141874 View attachment 141874

You talking the same engineers that designed the Snap Ring, the CP4, grid heater, hydraulic lifters,etc….naw I’ll do my maintenance on my schedule even if some believe it’s excessive.

funny thing is none of those items have much to do with the condition of the lubricating oil but you go ahead and do it any way you want.
I am the same way. I change oil and filters biannually, no matter the mileage.

I was in Costco yesterday... 3 gallons of Kirkland 15w40 was $25.99 for 3 gallons. That's so cheap its almost a freebie oil change