Amsoil 3000 HDD 5W-30 ?

[Dieselnerd]

I would like to hear from those that are using Amsoil 3000 HDD 5W-30 oil in their Cummins. I am looking for an oil I can run for 8000 miles or so during my annual trek to Arizona and back. Normally I change oil once during the trip and I would like to not have to. Will the Amsoil be good for 8000 miles with a filter change and a fresh quart at 4000? It seems pretty thin for diesel oil, does it hold good oil pressure? Will it go longer than 8000 miles without the need for oil analysis? What is a safe limit without analysis? During that 8000 miles I tow about 4000, the rest is solo. Thanks for your response...

 

[Fish On]

Been using the 3000 series diesel motor oil in my 1996 and have been very pleased. I live in Alaska and my reason for switching was the difference in a 5w versues a 15w oil. Delo 400 is a great oil but in the cold weather it takes alot longer to stir it up over the amsoil 5w. I always run at least 6000 miles before oil changes. Even at 6000 miles the oil always looks great and could easily go longer but I tend to be over cautious. I would say that your 8000 mile round trip should be no problem. Good Luck

 

[Riflesmith]

I have 30,000 miles on the 5W-30 HDD Amsoil in my truck. The oil analysis still looks great. I do have the bypass oil filter system, but I wouldn't worry one bit about 8000 miles. Use a good full flow filter like the Stratapore and you won't even have to do a filter change at 4000. Oil pressure is still good with the thinner oil. The main thing you notice is in cold weather. Oil pressure comes up much faster. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[BLACKRAM]

Fill it up with 5W-30 and roll. Don't even worry about it, 6000 is nothing on Amsoil.

 

[DocStressor]

I wouldn't worry about changing the filter for an 8000 mile trip either. One of the little know secrets about synthetic oils is that they extend the useful lifetime of an oil filter. I read this in a recent SAE paper by Mobil. Filters lasted up to 3 times longer using Delvac 1 before building back pressure. This is because the PAO/ester base stocks and additive packages used in both Delvac and Amsoil resist oxidation and suspend soot better. Thus they don't clog the filter as quickly as with conventional oils. It is not dirt that causes filters to go south but rather oil oxidation and insoluble combustion products. I believe the reason that a filter change is recommended about half way through a 15K drain interval is more for the make up oil than to replace a dirty filter.

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I am using the Amsoil 5W-30 and going 10k between oil and filter changes. 8K miles is nothing. You could realistically go 6k miles with conventional oil and no problems. You really dont have to baby a diesels oil. Just do sampling when in doubt.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I recently ran 20,000 miles on a change of the 15W40 Amsoil using Stratapore filters and the analysis came back awesome. Only 41ppm Iron count. Changed filter every 7k miles and sampled every 10,000 miles.



I now run the 5W30 and have not seen an increase in oil consumption, oil pressure is a tad lower (by about 3-5psi is all) compared to the 15W40. But that equates to better flow, better piston cooling, and probably increased oil pressure to the main & rod bearings.



If oil analysis continue to be good, I may run 30,000 miles on this change. Soot buildup in the oil is probably the first thing that will make it necessary to change the oil when running long distances on changes.



Vaughn

 

[John]

well...here's a different opinion...

I was using Amsoil 15W-40 HDD&M prior to the addition of my Amsoil Dual Remote Bypass filtration system and switch to Amsoil Series 3000 5W-30 oil. I ran the 5W-30 15k, with a full flow filter change at 7. 5k (+ makeup oil) with oil sampling at both 7. 5k (on the oil) as well as 15k. Not bad however, I decided to go back to using the 15W-40 HDD&M, changing both filters as well as the oil at 10k. You would think it would cost more (changing both filters and oil more often) although, it was several dollars cheaper (at dealer pricing). Here in Western Washington the winter weather never really gets cold enough to warrant the thinner 5W-30 oil. And besides, I see less blowby through the draft tube using the 15W-40 HDD&M. Oil analysis results are almost identical with either oil.



In addition to the above, I also elected to go back to using a 75W-140 gear oil in the rear differential (was using Red Line 75W-140NS the last time I had a 75W-140 in the rear diff. ), this time switching to Amsoil Series 2000 (75W-140), retaining the Amsoil Series 2000 75W-90 gear oil in the front differential.



..... just thought I'd offer another perspective.

 

[HC]

I concur with others. You could go 8000 miles w/o the filter change. I just went 8225 miles with good oil analysis results, changed filter, and plan to run it out to about 15k. I'm thinking of going to 10k with no filter change as an alternative to my usual filter change at 7. 5k and dump at 15k. Could go longer, but without the bypass filter, I'm just not comfortable with really long runs. But even at 22k, with two filter changes, the analysis results said I could keep going if I wanted to.



Remember, 8000 is only 500 more than the "standard" oil change interval, and I think the use of the high quality synthetic offsets the fact that you will tow for part of this mileage.

 

[Extreme1]

I haven't changed oil for 3 years!

Of course I run a bypass filter and do analysis regularly. I add 15w-40 make up oil from early spring (March) until about this time of year. The 5w-30 makes a huge difference in cold starting, especially after parking on a frozen lake for a couple days with no plug in.

 

[Dieselnerd]

Thanks for all the good info guys. Since everyone seems satisfied with their oil, I've ordered my Amsoil and will be changing soon. I've been using Amsoil in my diffs for a couple of years but never in the motor. Thanks again for all the good replies. I did order from a dealer that gives a discount to TDR members in case you were wondering...

 

[Cooker]

Another victim lost to Amsoil

 

[HC]

Originally posted by Cooker

Another victim lost to Amsoil

Shucks, don't the single guys always say something similar whenever a buddy gets married? And then later they see the light and get married too?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

John, it does seem I have more blowby coming from my hose than with the 15W40, but then the weather has been hotter too.



Reading oil levels on the dipstick can be tricky. After running hard in 110+ weather to LV and back my oil level appeared to drop considerably on the dipstick. I was sure I was at least a quart low. I decided to only put about 1/3 of that quart of oil in you gave me (I am paranoid about overfilling) and did the dyno run. Strangely, the last 2 times I've checked my oil it has only been a nudge under full. I have used less than half a quart in 7,000 miles since my last change, which is less than I had been using, which was about 3 quarts in 20,000 miles.



I will probably stick with the 5W30 for easier cold starts when I head to the mountains for snowboarding



Vaughn

 

[John]

Vaughn, I had witnessed the increased blowby using the Amsoil 5W-30 in the cooler months of Spring as well as the latter part of Winter. I noticed it as soon as another member on this BB posted his observation... so I guess I was sort of watching for it. This also corresponds to the drips in the driveway I never had with any of the 15W-40 engine oils I had previously used (in descending order of use: Amsoil 15W-40 HDD&M, 15W-40 Valvoline/Cummins Premium Blue 2000 semi-synthetic, Red Line 15W-40 full synthetic, and my break-in oil, Valvoline/Cummins Premium Blue).



..... just a personal choice

 

[Dieselnerd]

John, you might be interested in knowing that I ordered the Amsoil 15W-40. I read your post mentioning that you see oil drips and it doesn't get that cold where you are. I spend the winter in Arizona which doesn't get too cold either. I looked at the specs for both oils on the Amsoil Corporate site. Of interest is the Noack Volatility % weight loss test. They heat the oil to 250 degrees centigrade for one hour and measure the % of weight that has been lost or "boiled off". The 15W-40 lost 6. 6% and the 5W-30 lost 8. 8%. That probably explains the drips from your breather. Also, I just don't feel comfortable with that light of an oil doing heavy towing with a diesel. I'm sure the 5W-30 wouldn't harm my engine but the real need for it would be here in the Minnesota winter which I thankfully am able to leave behind.



I have been using Amsoil series 2000 75-140 in my axles for the past 3 years. It's probably overkill but I have been changing the rear every year since I tow heavy. My Mag-Hytec seems to filter out all the small metal wear "fuzz" and the oil looks clean but I change it anyway.

 

[John]

excellent choice Dieselnerd!

I think the Amsoil Series 3000 is best used with bypass filtration and extended intervals (far beyond the 15k I elected to go with), changing the oil only when oil analysis dictates. This is where you will see the payback between the cost of the Series 3000 5W-30 and the 15W-40 HDD&M.