interval between oil changes

[ReelDuel]

my new 04 cummins say to change oil every 3750 or 7500 depending on conditions. How often should this oil be changed?? I thought it should be more like 7500 or 15000 what do ya think??

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I recommend changing at 1000, 2500, 5000 then every 3500-4000 depending on conditions.

 

[tajensen]

That's odd, I thought the recommended interval for the 03's was 15 k. I wonder why it was changed for the 04's? I would change the oil after the first 500-1000 miles, and then do what DC recommends after the initial break in. If you're worried about getting the most milage out of each oil change, you may want to start getting oil analysis results.



-Tim

 

[ReelDuel]

filter

should the filter be changed also every time??

 

[barbwire]

sample

What is a good way to get eng. oil sample without contaminating it??

 

[socal_rattler]

I have always changed oil and filter every 7500 miles per owners manual. I get my filters at Cummins, but you can also get them from Geno's.

 

[elamb]

I change my oil and filter every 5,000 miles.



Eric

 

[tajensen]

FMichaud



I would recommend replacing the filter at each oil change, they're not too spendy. When you think about it, $60-80 every 7500 miles is fairly cheap assurance that your engine will not sieze on you.



Barbwire



When you change your oil, let it drain from the pan for about 5 seconds and then put the jar (or whatever you'll use to send the sample in the mail) underneath the stream of oil. I've read that you can also hand pump a sample from above, but I can't tell you exactly how to do it.



-Tim

 

[DDT]

I sampled mine at 4000 miles and at 7000, I followed there directions.

I run 7000 miles between changes, I do a sample at the end, oil still good but filter needs changed so I drop the oil to. I use oil sample kit from John Deere, it comes with a long tube you run down your dip stick hole. Works for me, but I am still learning.