Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 3k, or 8k oil changes?

[PGaither]

I know Cummins, or Dodge say my 12 Valve CTD Ram can go 8,000-11,000 miles between oil & oil filter changes, but is that true? Is every 3,000K much better? Is it bad for the engine? I have been changing my oil & oil filter every 3,000 miles since I bought the truck in June, but is it o. k to go a little bit longer between oil & oil filter changes (especially in the winter, since it is more dificult with the snow outside..... )? If I let it go 6,000-8,000 miles between oil & oil filter changes over the winter is that o. k? I live in Massachusets, near Cape Cod. If I change my oil every 3,000 miles (but skip the oil filter), and the oil & oil filter every 6,000 is that o. k?

 

[Dennis Garrett]

I personally think it's a waste to change the oil on these trucks at 3k. By sheer volume, (about 3 gallons) you should be able to go twice that long. I have about 200k on mine, and I have changed the oil every 6000-6500 or so. I do a lot of highway driving, but also some dirt road, stop & go, & short trips. I do use a Fleetguard Stratapore filter, which is about the best available, & at $10 each for those, I hate to throw those away before it's time. Mine still doesn't use any oil, and keeps it's clean color for quite a while between changes. Don't worry about dark oil, diesel lube oil can normally get black after a short time. It's the detergents doing their job, suspending carbon particles. A good air cleaner is important too, especially in dusty conditions. A lot of contaminants in the oil came in via the air cleaner.

 

[ndurbin]

I change mine every 3k if not sooner when I have been off-road/dirt roads. Oil and fuel filters every 3rd oil change. I know people that change filters every oil change and I know some that go at every 15k on the filters. It comes down to what you feel comfortable with. I don't feel comfortable going 10k on an oil change just because of the history of my truck. Mine uses some oil and leaks some from the front cover area.

 

[Extreme1]

If you're thinking about waiting to change it, take an oil sample at 5,000 miles (less is a waste of time and money unless you're in bad conditions like ndurbin). Then you'll know whether you should or not. After is passes, take another at 10,000 to get an idea how much longer you can go.

 

[JJW_ND]

Never less then 6K

I ran 6K oil changes the first 60K miles or so. I grabbed a sample every change and had it analyzed. What I found is the longer and harder you run it the easier it is on the oil. Winter had the most inpact but yet no 6K interval ever came close to "using up the oil" or flagging any wear material.



At 60K I switched to full synthetic oil and 24k oil changes (every 4th). I still change the filter every 6K, sample, but dump at 24K. Even at that I have yet to have a sample come back recomending oil needs changing.



If I went back to dino oil, I would go at least 8 - 10K changes with a new filter in between.



Todays high quality oils coupled with very clean burning, easy on the oil, Cummins engines make for alot of wasted good oil with 3K - 6K oil changes. If ever in doudt stop by your local Cummins, Caterpiller dealer and pick up a oil sample kit ($10 - 15) and see how clean that oil really is.



JMHO!



jjw

ND

 

[BNH4221]

P. Gaither -



SE Mass checking in here.



I do my oil every 6k which runs about 2 months for me. All highway driving so no real abuse. I have never had the oil tested because I am far too cheap to do so.

I change the fuel filter twice a year.



Never a burp out of the engine.



Steve

98 12v QC 4x4

154000 happy miles.

 

[cpollard]

Oil is cheap insurance for an engine with over 200k. I dump at 3000miles and use 1/2 gallon of lucas every change. Eases my mind to spend a little more and not worry.



I do a lot of towing over7000lbs and make short trips around town.

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

Why don't you go to 5k mile intervals. Makes the math easy. :-{}

 

[clong]

I am with pumperdude on this one. I change my oil every 5K miles because it is so easy to remember when to do it. And I have 140K miles on my truck with no problems.

 

[RHebert]

How about once a year and usually around 15,000 to 20,000 miles. I've been doing this for around six years now, I've got 132K on the truck using Amsoil 15-40 Heavy Duty Diesel & Marine Syn. with an Amsoil Bypass filter. I change the stock filter every six months. I've had the oil samples sent in for analysis and each one has come back with normal results and a recommendation to continue running with the oil, but I chage it anyway. Also check the TBN and it too is good. The engine gets 20+ MPG and runs great. When I adjust the valves, engine is spotless and valves hardly need adjusting. I plan to continue this maintenance schedule for several more years... ... ...

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

When I bought my '93 the owners manual - yeah I read it - said 6000 mile oil changes - I just did my 29th oil change. My oil analysis to date have been excellent and I have yet to add a quart of oil between changes - I usually use about 1 quart between changes. I do use Amsoil 15W40 full synthetic - I plan on many years and miles of driving so I try to go the extra mile to maintain my truck.



Bob

 

[stumphumper]

I do the Amsoil thing. Did it for three years with changing just the by-pass and BS-100 filters. ! Sampled every 6 months and still good oil. Could of kept going but ran low on supplies and mixed some 40w in for a week so i changed it out with over 35k on the oil. Todays oils are better at taking on the heat but you do have to keep it clean. My 2c is change your filter(s) more often and your oil less often and test, test, test until you feel comfortable with a program in referance to your type of driving.

 

[Philsram]

Oil change

I own a 1995 3/4 with and auto transmission and 124k miles on the engine. In between 3k I pull a 10k trailer to the coast in 3 gear upping my engine rpm's. I don't take any chances because when I drain the oil, it looks pretty spent/ dirty. So if you do alot of hauling and in the same condition that I have, 3k is not a bad idea. pw

 

[JJW_ND]

Don't go by what the oil looks like...

PW... I do not doudt the oil appears very black and looks "spent". But in reality only an oil analysis can tell you the real condition.



When I was pulling trailer loads back from KS to ND I made several trips running low to mid 200 hp at the time in 4 gear WOT, the entire trip (stack of three tandom duelly flatbeds). Ran between 1000 - 1200 degrees EGTs for 700 miles staight trough. Some stretchs of interstate (all at night) I could get over 200 miles before I even back out of it. Fuel mileage was as low as 4. 5 mpg. Samples with trips like that were as good or better then the mostly short trips, all in town and dead of winter samples.



Those of use that have seen how black oil gets with 20K+ miles on it (no bypass here) know how bad oil looks only to get the analysis back showing less then 1/2 of a percent soot and all wear metals in check, additives not even 60% spent..... oil good for continued use.





jjw

ND