First time Oil Chage Question

[SixPac]

I recently purchased a 2001 Dodge 2500, 4X4. Diesel. I have 1300mi on the truck now and will be towing my car to the Mopar Nationals in August, approximately 1100mi, round trip. By the time I leave for the Nationals, I should have 2000mi on my truck.



Questions:



Even though the Owners Manual indicates 7500 mi between oil changes, should I change my oil before or after I get back?



Might there be a different oil (some sort of break-in oil) in the crankcase that should be left in longer?



Will towing a 20 ft enclosed trailer from St. Louis to Columbus be hard on the engine?



Thanks for the post!

 

[DHawthorne]

I really don't think it makes a big differance weather you leave it in or replace the oil before you go. My expierence with the Cummins is, it really don't care. I dumped mind at 1500 miles and replaced it with Rotella T. I've got 48,000 on my HO and 165K on

my 96. Neither use any oil to talk about. Can usually go 4500-5500 miles before the oil starts to get dirty. Hope you do well at

the Nationals.

 

[TomGolden]

My first oil change was at 2500 miles, no towing up to that point though. I personally went with and still use Delo 400 15W-40 and Fleetguard filters (stratopore).



Tom

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I changd mine at about 1,000 and then 3,000. I had since gone to 6,000 miles and now with Synthetic, i will do sampling at 6,000 and filter and oil changes at 10,000-11,000 regardless.

I would change your oil BEFORE you leave on the trip, just to get any break in lubes out of your engine. I had a friend trash a brand new engine when the break in grease from the camshaft and whatever other foriegn matter from assembly plugged the oil screen. Can it happen on the Cummins, yes, will it, probably not. But for the 30 minutes and 30 bucks it will cost, that pretty cheap insurance, especailly since you will be on the road. Engine warranty or not, do you want to spend at least a week waiting for your truck to be fixed if the worst did happen?

 

[24V-DSL]

SixPac.....



Welcome, and congratulations on your new truck.



Any replys you get will be personal preferences/opinions, so here's mine.



I changed my oil at 700 miles and had it done at the dealer for the following reasons. First, I was never able to find out what brand and quality of oil is installed at the factory, so I wanted it out. I do not believe that it is any type of "break-in" oil, and if you think about it, DC and Cummins would be stupid to put a lower quality oil in a brand new engine, so chalk it up to my paranoid distrust. Second, for some first changes, the filter is a mother to get off, so I let the tech do it, and it was a project Third, this dealer uses Delo 400 which is the oil I had decided I would be using. I verified it was Delo like they said. Fourth they let me watch and ask questions so that I could look for special "tricks". Fifth, the dealer gave me a 1/2 off oil change coupon, so the whole experience was worth the approx. $25.



I'll bet you can "negotiate" a coupon if you're inclined to change it before you go. I still read about tight filter problems at first change, so I still think I'd go to the dealer for the first change whether before or after your trip. This is assuming you have access to a quality dealer that you feel comfortable with. Obviously, my dealer is very cool.



A hard tow will be good for your Cummins. They love to work. Try to varie your rpms, and avoid sustained. I tried to vary speeds on the freeway every 10 miles or so.



I'm on a 5K schedule by choice, and I've done two changes on my own with no problems.



Good luck.

 

[BV]

Congrates on the peacup



Like 24-dsl, I too like to change out whatever the factory put in there just incase and because I want to raise my baby on a certain oil and why wait for 7,000 miles before doing so. BTW - My first oil change was at 2,100 and again @ 5,000 and every 5,000 there after with fuel filters every 10,000.

 

[Puff]

SixPac,



OK, here is my version. I would change it now, before you pull.



I changed my oil 5 times in the first 10,000 miles, so I’m a bit fanatical about it, but I’d get rid of the crap DC put in, and put in something you know is good. In doing so, you will also be getting rid of any metallic particles that might be in the oil due to break-in.



I changed my oil at 1,500, and then after every time I towed. I worked it really hard when I was towing, and it just made me feel better to get rid of that oil. This is probably a serious overkill, but when you spend $35K on a truck I think you should do what makes you feel good, whether there is a good reason for it or not.



So do what you are comfortable with. If that is changing the oil every 500 miles…go for it. If you adhere to the “normal” schedule of oil change, you will probably do no harm.



This topic is much more a religion than anything resembling a science.



Have fun with your truck...