22,000 Mile Oil Change Interval

[Lorenz]

I think I have something wrong with me. I get more excited about receiving Oil Analysis Reports in the mail, than I do about Christmas. Boy how things change as we get older.



I stretched out my first "long" oil change to 11,000 miles. I was a bit lazy and didn't get to it. I had intended a 10k change but it got stretched out to 11k. The oil was still great when it came back from Blackstone. They said I was OK to stretch it out a little more.



I took the next change and analysis to 17,000 miles. The oil was still good and could be stretched even further.



22,000 miles is over doing it this time. I'll cut it back to 17-20,000 mile oil changes to give me piece of mind.



I stocked up long ago on the good stuff. Rotella CI-4 5w-40 full synthetic as the CJ-4 started hitting the shelves. I hit up Geno's for their Fleetguard oil filters, air filter, and fuel filter all in 1 package to save some bucks.



The Cummins is awesome, and I like it more as the miles tick away.

 

[MChrist]

I've always thought the 3,000 mile oil change interval for cars was a scam intended to suck us into the dealership for easy, steady money. Our Honda Odyssey has an oil change light that comes on at 7,500 miles and I wait for that before I have it changed. It has 110,000 miles now and you can still see the dipstick through the oil. With diesels though, that oil actually FEELS thicker after 5,000 miles, so I change mine then. The oil analysis on our big rigs at work always says I can extend the oil change interval, but I still change them "early". Besides, we use that waste oil to heat our shop!!

 

[rscurtis]

I do this with my '03 also, usually going about 15K miles, with a filter change at the half-way mark. I use Amsoil series 3000 5-30, and when sampled, the oil is no where near the end of its life. The last sample showed a soot content of 1/10 of 1%- I don't think you'll get that number on a newer truck. As far as the idea of the 3K mile oil change, it was a good idea years ago when oils were not as advanced as they are today and cars were equipped with carburetors, chokes, and carb icing in bad weather was a problem, but with today's cars always running perfectly, I think many vehicles, except those in severe service, can do fine with a once per year oil change.

 

[Mishkaya]

I run bypass filtration kits in all my trucks, and usually do oil changes at 15k. Blackstone has said 20k would be fine, but I just don't feel comfortable stretching it that far.

 

[Lorenz]

Is the "Insolubles" the measure of soot?

Can somebody break down this Analysis in detail. I know there are lubricants, and wear metals, but what is the rest of the stuff?

Also I've paid for a TBN reading the last 2 times I sent my samples in... And frankly I have no idea what a TBN reading was. It sounded good at the time, so I checked the box...

 

[Lorenz]

I was all in with the Toilet Paper Roll bypass as well... (my old man ran one back in the 80's and I thought it was cool to see him dropping a TP roll into his truck back then, it was comical actually. ) When the report came back and I saw the stock OEM Fleetguard filtration was doing its job and then some for 20,000 miles I never got around to installing a bypass on the truck. I think I'll leave the filtration as is?

The new '08 Chassis cab may be a candidate for a bypass filter though? We'll see?

 

[Mishkaya]

Is the "Insolubles" the measure of soot?



Can somebody break down this Analysis in detail. I know there are lubricants, and wear metals, but what is the rest of the stuff?



Also I've paid for a TBN reading the last 2 times I sent my samples in... And frankly I have no idea what a TBN reading was. It sounded good at the time, so I checked the box...

If you give Blackstone a call, they will be happy to explain what things mean in great detail. I have found them to be extremely helpful. I am not sure on the insolubles, but I do believe soot is included in that number. Here is a link explaining insolubles from their site:

What are Insolubles?

As for TBN, it indicates how much life is left in your oil. This is directly from their website:

A TBN (total base number) measures the amount of active additive left in a sample of oil. The TBN is useful for people who want to extend their oil usage far beyond the normal range

 

[Mishkaya]

I was all in with the Toilet Paper Roll bypass as well... (my old man ran one back in the 80's and I thought it was cool to see him dropping a TP roll into his truck back then, it was comical actually. ) When the report came back and I saw the stock OEM Fleetguard filtration was doing its job and then some for 20,000 miles I never got around to installing a bypass on the truck. I think I'll leave the filtration as is?



The new '08 Chassis cab may be a candidate for a bypass filter though? We'll see?

I would recommend using the bypass filtration if you are going to extend your oil changes to around 20k, as I am guessing your silicon count is above average, unless you live in a super clean area (IE no dust). It will take a little more oil, but will avoid premature engine wear IMO. Good luck.

 

[Lorenz]

My silicon levels are at 3 ppm, and 4ppm with the 22,700 mile oil change. The universal average is 7ppm. NO BYPASS filtration. The Cummins filtration works for me. Is there another way to evaluate dirty oil?

I use the stock OEM Fleetguard oil filter, a slightly mod' air box (a 4" hole in the bottom with a tube sticking out to the front of the grill). A Fleetguard dual stage air filter, you know the one with the 1/4" foam glued to the face of the filter, and an OEM Fleetguard fuel filter. All from Genos in their cheaper packaged deal.

I'll post my previous Analysis, they did mention that the oil was very clean, "If I had added a bypass filter that would be the reason". I hadn't, stock stuff all around.

I do think the hole in the bottom of the air box does flush the dirty air out and back into the wheel. I had questions about the stocker picking up it's air from the wheel well, it can't be that clean? The air coming through the grill would be the cleanest air to use. It's somewhat pressurized too, and blows out the air box as I drive. I used to notice leafs and debris in the bottom of the air box. It's been clean down there since I mod'd it, and it still allows for cool outside air to feed the system.

 

[Lorenz]

I think I would be a good candidate for a bypass filter evaluation. If it worked the analysis would show it. I have a good run of data so far, and adding a new product to the system should show up like a sore thumb in the next analysis.

 

[bheiting]

I have my oil tested at the Cummins NPower lab in De Pere, WI. They give a great description of all tests on the back of the form.

Read John Martin's excellent info. on oil additives in TDR issues 56-58 in the
Technical Topics articles. You may have noticed these are now online free on this site.
TDR just keeps getting better and better.

 

[Lorenz]

If you give Blackstone a call, they will be happy to explain what things mean in great detail. I have found them to be extremely helpful.

That would require effort.

 

[Mishkaya]

My silicon levels are at 3 ppm, and 4ppm with the 22,700 mile oil change. The universal average is 7ppm. NO BYPASS filtration. The Cummins filtration works for me. Is there another way to evaluate dirty oil?

I am impressed. I don't have my analysis reports handy right now, but those numbers are pretty amazing as I am running right about average at 15k with a bypass kit. I know the air filter has a lot to do with it, but nonetheless I am still impressed... Oo.

 

[CurtLee]

, I think many vehicles, except those in severe service, can do fine with a once per year oil change.

I only change mine once a year car and truck. Only putting 5-6500 miles on the vehicle in a year isn't much compared to all you guys that can double or triple that in a year.



22,700 miles... wow thats alot on one oil change without a bypass.



Just for a little comparison our shop just went to a 30,000 mile service on our big rigs#@$%! up from 15,000.

 

[amsoilman]

Is the "Insolubles" the measure of soot?



Can somebody break down this Analysis in detail. I know there are lubricants, and wear metals, but what is the rest of the stuff?



Also I've paid for a TBN reading the last 2 times I sent my samples in... And frankly I have no idea what a TBN reading was. It sounded good at the time, so I checked the box...

Here is a good explanation of TBN as well as TAN.



TBN - Total Base Number. A measure of the reserve

capability of the oil to counteract (neutralize)

acid formation from combustion by-products.

Typically evaluated for gasoline and diesel

engine oils. TBN values decrease over the

service life of a lubricant as it neutralizes acidic

by-products



TAN - Total Acid Number. A measure of the acidity

level of the oil. Excessive amounts of acidic by-

products can lead to corrosion, premature wear

or component failure. TAN values are reported

for all non-engine (except natural gas)

automotive and industrial lubricants. TAN

values increase over the service life of a

lubricant





Wayne

 

[MickeyMiller]

Sean,

If I were changing my own oil I would follow your oil testing example. The idea that the oil is still sound after 22K miles is amazing! A real testament to how tight these engines are! I bought the truck 7 years ago and the dealer through in lifetime oil change... every 3K miles or every 3 months, which ever happens first! 37 oil changes so far (I've gone to 5K a few times). Adjusted the valves at 100K, the top of the head was spotless... nothing but very clean metal surfaces!

 

[NavyDood]

My past two oil changes have been around the 23,000 mile mark each. Amsoil AME 15w-40 and Amsoil filter. No bypass setup. UOA's come back perfectly fine and the oil could stay in longer. Soot levels less than 1% each time. I have 20,000 on this oil right now. I can go check the oil right now and I will be able to see the hashmarks on the dipstick. I love my 305/555 engine. :-laf

 

[MAllen1]

I've run both the 10w and 15w-40 Amsoil diesel oils at 15000 miles without a single problem on the analysis. I like using the 15w because for whatever reason, it's cheaper. I don't have a bypass system on mine, but, I use the Fleetguard stratapore filter and change it every 3750 (the interval Dodge tells me to change the oil).

 

[Lorenz]

For giggles I scanned the previous oil analysis report. The comments are the juicy parts.



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[p-Bar]

I run 20k on Delvac synthetic with Amsoil dual remote bypass. Bypass filter good for 60k. Use the the Fleetguard stratapore oil filter