Ive added an 04 motorhome with a cummins 8.9 in addition to my Dodge

[navyjoe]

The old question of oil change intervals. My 8.9 oil change cost is quite high. $300 minimum even if I do it myself. So thought I would ask this question in this forum from a group of people who are a lot more intune with a better understanding of Cummins engines than most Motor home users.

First off I must say that this rig spends about 8 months a year under a shed since most of it usage is in the warmer months. It only gets driven 15,000 to25,000 miles a year max. It now has about 130,000 miles on it.

Like i said $300 a change every year. And the way things are going its going to get much higher every year. The filter alone runs $35 to $50!

Do you think it wise to start doing Oil analysis as an attempt to extend the interval. Also, if the oil is ok, what about the filter change?

 

[NIsaacs]

How many gallons does it take? Napa has an oil sale every month. They rotate brands and type regular. Currently, Valvoline 15w/40 is $18 a gallon, or 5w/40 is $28. Sale ends today.

Even at $300 for an oil change, seems reasonable for once a year on a high dollar piece of equipment. Does that include the fuel filters? The new Ram fuel filter (2) change is $127, every year or 15k miles.

 

[Topzide]

@navyjoe, Sounds like to me, with 15k -25k and the weight of motor home would need an annual oil change. Buying you oil ahead of time when on sale would be the best way to keep the cost down. Unopened oil store out of heat and sun will last a long time, just shake it up if been sitting. Time and heat cycles are what breaks down the additives that you need to protect the motor. Going with a synthetic oil and then doing analysis might allow you to extend drain intervals. If the analysis says you could run longer, then yes, change filter and add make up oil. Get the best oil filter you can and maybe relocate it to run a much larger filter or even 2 filters to have extra amount of oil. If you can run 2 filters, 1 could be setup as a bypass filter to be changed every other change. I've done this on my truck even though I don't need to. Like the extra capacity that it offers. Others may have additional info to help with discussion.

 

[AEdelheit]

How many gallons does it take? Napa has an oil sale every month. They rotate brands and type regular. Currently, Valvoline 15w/40 is $18 a gallon, or 5w/40 is $28. Sale ends today.

Even at $300 for an oil change, seems reasonable for once a year on a high dollar piece of equipment. Does that include the fuel filters? The new Ram fuel filter (2) change is $127, every year or 15k miles.

I have always found NAPA to be very high for oil, If you hit Costco when its on sale you can get the Kirkland brand 15/40 for about $10 gal with similar reviews to other Dino oils, I have seen synthetic oils for a good price too every now and then depending on location.

Seems like pushing 15-25k out of an oil change is pretty damn good allready.

 

[navyjoe]

Thanks guys for the input. Looks like I will jut keep on changing it yearly except I believe I will do an oil test this time.

By the way I lucked out on the oil. I was in walmart the other day and they had 5 gallon pails of Mobile Delvac on sale for $49. I bought 3 of them. That will take care of the motorhome (28 qts or 7 gallons) and my tractrors for the next year.