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I have a 2003 3500 turbo diesel six speed manual. My dealers service manager tells me not to use Amsol synthetic engine oil until there is at least 9,000 miles on my engine.
I have also been told by others that I can use Amsol from the very start.
IMHO, I would wait till about 10 - 15k miles so the piston rings can seat properly. Alot of people here on the board will back me up.
I used the Cummins premium blue (valvoline) for the first 10k miles b4 I switched over to the Amsoil 5w-30 for another 15k. I'm now using the 15w-40 and have 32k on my truck now. It uses very little oil so I feel my rings and valves have seated well.
Again this is my Honest Opinion but I'm sure you'll get a few other comments.
I would probably wait until the 8-10K range as well. We may be waiting for nothing... . a lot more vehicles come with factory synthetics now than ever before. It doesn't seem to hurt them. The tolerances that these engines are built to likely eliminate the "break in" period... . CJ
As others here have said, wait until you have a few more miles. Generally if you have no oil consumption between your normal oil change intervals, your rings are set.
MOST NEW ENGINES ARE ASSEMBLED WITH A SLIGHT TAPER TO THE PISTON RINGS SO THEY WILL SEAT MUCH QUICKER. ALSO IF YOU PULL A HEAVY LOAD THEY'LL BREAK IN MUCH SOONER. TBOB
I just ordered my 3rd cummins. The last 2 I tracked mileage for the first year or so... I'd definitely wait until at least 10,000 miles before synthetic, 15k if you don't pull a heavy load every once in a while. My mileage improved steadily until around 9500 on the odomoter, then it leveled at around 18. 1 (and those 9500 miles included dragging the 5'er thru Colorado and up near Canada).
I am having the same dillima. . I am looking at the Oilguard bypass filter. I Just like its installation ease and filtration system. All parts included for a $160. Model EPS-20 @ www.oilguard.com
Naturally I am going to wait till my (3750 Mi free oil change contract) is through. I feel either one Amsoil, or oil guard will do a great job.
bekberg, I have a 2002, so the 2003's may be different. In my owners manual it says not to use synthetic oils till the engine is broken in (typically 10,000 -20,000 miles depending on the type use).
I know that some modern gas engines are different. Corvettes and Porches come with synthetic oil in them from the factory. KL