6 Month Oil change??

[AlFischer]

I have trouble understanding the need for an oil change every 6 months regardless of usage. The may be times when I hardly drive my truck. Maybe 2-3k in 6 months. Hardly ever used on short runs and minimum in town driving. We live 20 miles from the nearest quart of milk! I don't think oil wears out or becomes contaminated just sitting. Part of the cost of this truck was the EVIC which shows oil and filter life.

Will someone that understands WHY explain why not to follow the EVIC??

 

[gsbrockman]

Will someone that understands WHY explain why not to follow the EVIC??

The only valid explanation I can offer is because the warranty manual says to do so.
I'm in the opposite extreme (42k miles since purchased new---02/20/2014) but for the price of these RAM's.....I'd still change it at the proper interval. Be glad you have a 2013+ & newer truck.....the oil change intervals on the 2007.5 through 2012's were not to exceed 7500 miles......and 7500 miles was realllllly stretching it with the regeneration technology used on those trucks.

 

[JLandry]

Will someone that understands WHY explain why not to follow the EVIC??

That'd be a GREAT question to ask the Cummins reps at the 2015 May Madness rally in Pahrump, NV.

John L.

 

[Wingate]

Im in the same boat as you AL. Theres no way Im going to ever drive this truck 15K miles in 6 months. What ive decided is just change it once a year or every 10K miles, which ever comes first.

 

[Ram4Sam]

I am in the same boat....... due to health issues my wife is having, no rv'ing for awhile....coming up on six months of ownership, be lucky if I get to 3500 miles. Warranty says no more than six months, their game, their rules.........

Sam

 

[HSpiering]

Count me in. I did about 6K miles last year. Can't see changing oil every 3,000 miles. I do once a year.

 

[sluper]

Place me in the group that will not be in the high mileage group too. Ran the wheels off the 96 but stopped driving the 2004 when we received a company truck.

 

[Doubleclutch]

Only thing I can think of is oxidation of the oil. Just sitting for long periods of time will also allow moisture to intrude as the crankcase breaths each day/night. Running burns the moisture off. I'm guessing here.

 

[AlFischer]

Well, I think that I will be going with the EVIC. I HIGHLY doubt that changing every 6 months is really necessary for anything other than dealers profits. I just did my first oil and filter change at 7500 and it wasn't fun. Took about 3 hours. Stratopore 16035 and Delo 400LE. The dealer told me they used Pennzoil and at that point I turned down the FREE oil and filter changes. I wouldn't use Pennzoil in a used Kmart lawnmower!

If I have a warrantee issue due to my oil changes we will persue Moss Magnuson! I would like to hear what Cummins says about the 6 month interval.

 

[Wingate]

Only thing I can think of is oxidation of the oil. Just sitting for long periods of time will also allow moisture to intrude as the crankcase breaths each day/night. Running burns the moisture off. I'm guessing here.

This is true, and while my truck doesnt get driven much, when I DO use it, I make sure to get it up to full operating temps. which should burn off any accumulated moisture. My trucks sole purpose in life is to haul the 5er and/or the boat, so no worries about not getting enough load to get it hot.

 

[Doubleclutch]

Same here, Wingate. Still change at 6 months though. I'd rather not play games with Mr. Moss Magnuson and the Big Boys. This little fish likes to swim in shallow water.

 

[HSpiering]

Nothing else rusts up sitting in my garage. SO!! Why the inside of my motor that has a coating of oil on it??

 

[terb]

Do you think if a new truck sits on the dealers longer than six months they send it to service to get the oil changed??

 

[Larry Willard]

I can't disagree with some of your opinions, however I will change according to the warranty requirements. I doubt any of us will ever have an engine problem but the cost of an oil change extra per year is worth it to me if anything should happen. All my other trucks were changed at 3000 miles with regular oil, so using synthetic at 7000 to 10000 mile intervals which is about the miles I have been driving every 6 months isn't going to cost any extra.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I'm changing mine every 6 months even though I don't drive more than 10K a year. Same schedule I used on my '05. I'm sure going a year wouldn't hurt it. I do want to make sure I keep the warranty even though extending the oil changes is probably pretty low risk.

My wife has a 2014 Dodge Journey and the manual says to change the oil according to the EVIC oil change indicator or ONE YEAR, whichever occurs first.

Same Chrysler Corp. made her car that made my truck but maybe a much bigger profit on diesel oil changes? I wouldn't be surprised...

 

[jus2shy]

As long as I have a warranty, I'm following their recommendations. However, I believe the reason for 6 months is assuming the worst of scenarios. Vehicle parked outside in a humid area that happens to get cold enough at night to cause condensation. But water ingression is the primary reason for 6 month changes according to some literature I've read in regards to other Cummins motors (ISL's). I think this is more about what Cummins demands for maintenance since they are flipping the bill for any engine issues versus Chrysler (It's typical for an oem to go after a part vendor if a part is found to be faulty, so our warranty goes through Chrysler, but Chrysler will seek reimbursement from Cummins for any issues related to the engine).

 

[sag2]

If I have a warrantee issue due to my oil changes we will persue Moss Magnuson! I would like to hear what Cummins says about the 6 month interval.

Not sure what you think the MM act will do for you when you ignore the manufacturers requirements to keep the warranty in effect. The manufacturer can't make you perform service at their facility or use their products, but they have every right to require equivalent parts and the correct interval. Pretty sure you would never have an oil related problem by not changing at 6 months, but you could not use MM to help you if you did. And Cummins doesn't have anything to do with the interval as it is not their warranty.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

As one person posted, in the "old days" many of us changed oil every 3000 miles. I have changed oil three times in 19,000 miles, and more often than every six months. I have had the 2013 for 14 months. I am also now using the Stratapore filter instead of the cellulose filter I used in my 12-valve days. For years we have tried to treat our Turbo Diesels better than the minimum required, and have gotten excellent service from them.

 

[AnOldBiker]

Dino and sync oils don't break down, it's the additives breaking down with debris collected over time. This includes collected moisture. So if you ran it 5k per year and changed it out at 15k, there shouldn't be an issue. But here's the problem. While under warrantee, if the manufacture wants to, they can state that you were warned of the recommended mileage / time frame and not warrantee you engine if you didn't meet there recommendations. Unless you sent in samples and paid for analysis every 6 months proving your oil is still within all recommended specs. And that is a hassle and at least $35 each sample. And any oil / filter changes made to the vehicle not by dealership, must be proven if they requested proof. So you better have receipts.

I hate having to waste money on something that is really unwanted or unneeded, but 'you threw out one big pile of cash for that vehicle'. Is it worth saving a few dollars and hoping it doesn't have engine issues and not needing the dealership covering it ? GIVING THEM the choice if they want to cover or not ? And oil change it what, $100.00 for oil and filter ? I throw that in my fuel tank and more each fill up. How long is your warrantee, standard 36 months ? Extended ?

For my old '06, I went to the dealer twice during the warrantee. Once for a recall on the steering (like so many other had) and once for the heater door falling from improver installation. They covered. BUT it didn't have, (nor ever had) engine issues and they didn't need to check or ask for proof of service.

Odds are, you'll be fine. But do you gamble any ?

 

[RustyJC]

Dino and sync oils don't break down, it's the additives breaking down with debris collected over time.

Not so. Base stocks degrade because of oxidation, nitration, molecular shearing of the long-chain molecules and other factors.

Rusty