Oil Change results

[deaner70]

Changed the oil finally and went with Premium blue 15w40. Huge difference. THe first thing I noticed is the hard starts after work setting all day in the cold. It takes a lot longer for the engine to warm up. I'll most likely be going back to synthetic next change due to the above reasons. Not sure if I'll go back to Amsoil, or use Schaeffers.

 

[AnOldBiker]

That is why I stay synthetic only. Actually for everywhere I use oil on my truck. I checked with reports from oil analysis labs and it seems that it really doesn't matter which synthetic oil as long as it's a brand name one. I use nothing but Mobil1 full syn 5w-40 in my Dodge, and from my lab reports, I'm very very happy with it. My friend uses Rotella full sync 5w-40 oil in his Ford and as with his reports he's very happy. Just get and keep a good brand name oil, and a quality filter.

 

[rscurtis]

With that 305 engine, assuming it's stock, you can leave the oil in it way beyond recommended change intervals and it will still be OK. I use Amsoil series 3000 5/30 in my signature truck, and even at 18K miles, it has plenty of life left when sampled.

 

[AnOldBiker]

I'd recommend adding a 2 micron bypass filter and go way pass 18k to 20k on each change. I know people that have sampled their oil and have gone well over 50k each change with changing only filters when recommended and adding oil only enough to keep the level full. (There are people with more than that and still getting good lab results. Just make sure you do lab testing.)

 

[brods]

Slower cranking due to thicker oil makes sense. A lot longer warm up due to thicker oil?? The thicker oil takes more energy to pump therefore the engine with dino is doing more work compared to the same engine with synthetic. More work somehow making less heat makes no sense. If it is truly the case that dino makes an engine take longer to warm up then the explanation of why would be very interesting.

 

[AnOldBiker]

Is it actually a thicker oil ?
Take a 15w-40 oil, either sync or dino, it's still a 15w-40 oil. When 1st started, it flows as if it's a 15w oil, but is still a 40w oil the entire time. Sync oil flows and protects the metals faster than standard oil, but is still a 40w rated oil. Same if it is a 5w-40 oil. Flow through the system when 1st started is faster to protect the metals, but is still a 40w rated oil. If this was a single rated oil of say 40w dino only, flow would be slower, and then I can see where this would cause it to work harder and produce more heat.

And how much longer is the time frame compared to before ? 2 minutes ? 5 minutes ? Half hour ?
Originally not mentioned was this in comparison with the same weather conditions ?
Or did the conditions changed from when last driven and the next start up after the oil change, say two days later ?

 

[deaner70]

When I say warm up, I mean the engine and how it runs or "feels". You know when you start one that has not been in a warm shop or plugged in compared to setting in a 70 degree shop all night. I had run it a year in all kinds of warm and cold conditions. It takes the west wind all day at work, so basically setting out in a open field. Both oils were 15/40, I just think the synthetic is "slicker" and easier to spin. Once warm, it runs fine and sounds fine

 

[brods]

Got it. When you say warm up I think of water temp and when heat will finally start coming out of the vents.

OldBiker, one of synthetics advantages is its ability to flow better at extreme low temperatures. Viscosity (thickness) is a measure of a fluids resistance to flowing. As you can see in the chart below synthetics are thinner at extreme cold temps than dino oils even though they are rated the same 15W40.
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[CToney]

I run 0w40 synthetic year round. I also use oil pan heaters on my trucks to speed engine warm up and reduce wear. These trucks are cold blooded and only seem to warm up quick if you're hauling a load. There are times I can't plug in my truck hence the 0w40 or if the power were to go out. The faster your truck gets up to temp the better mpg you're going to get.

 

[AnOldBiker]

BRODS, I agree with the info you gave. I have sync oil everywhere I can put it in ever vehicle I have. I just use a different brand oils.

Now I don't know if Cummins did this by themselves or have a deal with Valvoline. I call Cummins about 2 years ago discussing oils. The guy at Cummins 800 phone number said they have been turning out the engines with full sync 15w-40 from Valvoline Blue from the assembly line for a while. AND if you maintain Valvoline 15w-40 full sync Blue, (as for my vehicle) instead of the 15k oil change, I can extend to 20k for the normal use oil change interval. If I pull heavy all the time, instead of the 7,500 miles, I can go 12,500 miles to the next oil change. Of course he kept mentioning Valvoline Blue, so I can only assume they have a contract with them and advertising there name was part of it.

Pardon me people, I need to get my second cup of coffee, hard starting the mind this morning.

 

[deaner70]

Alright, dumb question from me....... dino oil? what is that?

 

[brods]

Oil made from dinosaurs
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[Prairie Dog]

I tried syn in both the DC's I've owned and it made no difference what so ever in performance or fuel efficiency.
So since this eng will go 500K to 1 million+ miles anyway I don't bother with it.

 

[spin05]

I been using the Rottella grey bottle my last 2 oil changes. Its like a hybreed half synthetic. Did a oil anylsis with 7900 miles on it and came back great. I tow pretty heavy half the time so im sticking to changing it around the 7500 mark

 

[AnOldBiker]

Oil made from dinosaurs
#ad

Being retired from the oil industry, I like this answer with the picture.

The so called Dino oil is primarily made from the vegetation & a small amount of other carbon based things like dinosaur remains and such that have been under pressure deep in the belly go the ground for millions of years.
The so call synthetic oil, if you look at say the Shell website for their Ultra Synthetic blend, is made from natural gas and processed into oils that are blended into the synthetic oils of today.

 

[deaner70]

I should have known that ..DUH