Oil change intervals

[ACF]

I know this subject has been beat to death but I just wanted to see if there are people out there with really high mileage trucks that have stuck to what Cummins recommends for oil changes. I have no idea what was recommended for the 1st/2nd gen trucks. I have had an 04 and now a 05. The 04 required changes at 3750 on schedule B and 7500 on schedule A. I let it go 8000 once with about 1500 miles of towing a 5k load and it was murky but not dirty. Still I seldom go that far between oil changes. On the 05 Cummins recommends 7500 for schedule B and 15000 for schedule A. That is a long way to go and I know these trucks are still way too new to find real high mileage examples that have stuck to this schedule. Cummins states that the increase in intervals comes from a much cleaner running engine. I would like to know how if at all it affects long term durability. This is a hard subject to really get good info on because of the varying agendas that automobile and oil companies have. Big oil would love to see everyone change their oil at 3000 miles and I do think that is excessive for most new engines and most peoples driving habits..... but 15000 miles is a long way to go on the same oil. It's always to a car companies advantage when ones engine wears out and needs major repair or replacment. Just wanted to see what people are thinking on this matter. Would really welcome some hard data if anyone has it.

 

[GerryDrake]

The 04 required changes at 3750 on schedule B and 7500 on schedule A. On the 05 Cummins recommends 7500 for schedule B and 15000 for schedule A.

My 03 requires 7500/B and 15000/A as you indicate for the 05. I can't believe they reverted back to the more frequent changes for the 04. I don't have an 04, but would suggest a close re-reading of the manual. The special characters in the chart are a bit confusing and I thought for quite a while that my 03 said 3750/B and 7500/A, but a careful reading showed the longer intervals. As we do tow a bit, I usually go somewhere in the 4500 to 6500 range. . based on the book saying 7500. .

 

[p-Bar]

Remember the new oil we are using is a low ash oil. They talk about this in the desiel owners manual

 

[JVolkmann]

At 10,000 miles I switch to synthetic. Now I change the oil filter at 7500 miles and add a quart, then at 15,000 miles I change the oil and filter. I have the oil analyzed at 7500 and 15000 miles and the oil shows fine. I don't do alot of towing, just alot of highway driving. Extended oil changes is what helped me decide to buy this truck.

 

[RollOver_Pete]

Regardless of what the odometer says, I change my oil at 250 hrs.

 

[SSage]

If you drive on a public road you don't qualify for 15K. I use the B/7500, but usually change around 6K due to time. I like to change oil at least twice a year. Thats long enough for me. I have run up to 7K with no oil burn and the oil still looked good to the eye.

 

[RPotter]

My manual for my '04. 5, definitely states 3750 on Sched B, and 7500 on Sched A. Being that I live around the Seattle area, and traffic here is the pits, I end up doing more stop and go than I like. The dealer I bought my rig at, gave me oil changes free for the first 60,000 miles, so I follow sched B and do it every 3750. As long as they pay for it, what the heck... I'm in and out in less than an hour most of the time, and they handle the full check up including draining the fuel filter each time. However, when I have to start paying, I'll probably go to the 7500. Even though they are not too bad, they only charge $49 a change, as they give you a coupon good for a discount on your next change when you do pay, just to keep your service business. So they treat you fairly well, I must say, compared to some dealers.

 

[LightmanE300]

My manual for my '04. 5, definitely states 3750 on Sched B, and 7500 on Sched A. .

Most likely you're reading the manual wrong, no offense, unless they've shortened the interval for the 600 engines compared to the 555's. The 04's were ALL 7500/15000 oil change intervals EXCEPT the california specific models. Many people misread the chart in the owner's manual because they fail to see the little symbols in the chart that denote CA trucks etc.

 

[bpenrod]

I run extednded drain intervals and get the oil tested. My longest was a little over 20K (I know, too lazy!) but I was changing the bypass filter every 3 or 4k. The oil report said all was fine and the oil looked great, still had a lot of active ingrediants (good TBN) and they thought I could go more. I'm tring to keep them around 10 or 15k now.

 

[RPotter]

Most likely you're reading the manual wrong, no offense, unless they've shortened the interval for the 600 engines compared to the 555's. The 04's were ALL 7500/15000 oil change intervals EXCEPT the california specific models. Many people misread the chart in the owner's manual because they fail to see the little symbols in the chart that denote CA trucks etc.

Thanks LightmanE300, you have opened my eyes. Once I pulled my head out, I just went and re-read my manual..... I totally missed the symbols. So much for having my eyes focused. I must have first dieselitis or something. :-laf

 

[klenger]

It took me a while to see the meaning of the symbols too. At best, the way they have commented on them is confusing.