Oil Changes and Synthetic

[JCotte]

Hi All.

I have a December 3rd 03 press release from DC that says the oil change interval is double what the 04. 5 Owners Manual calls out. it clearly states that it is 15000 for an A schedule and brags how it is twice as good much as the competitors. Anyone know anything about it?

Also at 5000 miles when I had it serviced the dealer switched me to Premium Blue Synthetic and my oil is pitch black at 2000 miles. I have had it serviced every 5000 miles and the truck now is 15897. The reason for extended intervals was the new engine did not soot the oil so bad. I told the dealer about the oil being so dirty and they said it was running fine. Maybe the interval should really be 1500. Any input from anyone. All of my other CTD's were changed at 5000 and the oil was still pretty clean then. :-{}

 

[klenger]

I am of the personal opinion that a visual inspection of the oil is worthless. I see three options to make sure you have good oil:



1) Regular oil sampling and analysis

2) Change the oil every 3000 miles and don't worry about it.

3) Change the oil per the recommended service interval and don't worrry about it.



I intended to use plan number 2. 5, ... change the oil every 5000 miles. For me, that's about 6 months.

 

[JCotte]

Thanks Klenger. Oo.

But when you start paying 100 dollars for an oil change because of the price of the synthetic it is a waste to dump it down the drain. I do about 40K a year on mine and it is not realistic to expect to need to change the oil at 3 or even 5K when they published 15 as a selling point against DuraMax and PowerStrokes. Like I said this is my 4th CTD in a pick up and have owned 8 in Semi's.



The same article has the exhaust brake statement that does not disqualify the automatic transmission.

Seems Like more propoganda that is coming back to haunt us and cost us more than we bargained for.



SEE ATTACHED FILE



Notice that nowhere has DTC come out and told us to expect fuel mileage that is 20-25% lower than previous model year trucks.



As for the color, I agree that it can be a false indicator but if the sooting is really reduced (and that is what Blackens oil) then why is it not staying cleaner longer than it did on my 97, 99 and 02? Why should I have to spend MY money to prove what DTC stated in their press release.



When you start putting on some real miles let me know if you feel the same way.

 

[klenger]

JCotte:



I agree with everything you said. Oil change intervals do change based on annual milage. When I had my oil changed a couple of weeks ago, it was starting to get black within a couple of days. I did not check the color immediately after it was done. I know that it did not have much time to accumulate any significant amount of soot, so I assumed that the black color was from residual oil that was not drained out at the oil change.



My point on the previous post is that an oil analysis is really the only way to know what is happening to your oil. I don't think a visual inspection really tells you anything.



In your case, extended drain intervals with regular analysis, might be the way to go. You could go the full 15K between oil changes using synthetic oil with no risk of voiding warranty. After 2-1/2 years, you will be out of warranty and then you can do anything you want.



As to why the new engines seem to turn the oil dark sooner, I have no idea why that is.

 

[SOLER]

Years ago auto makers said to change your oil every 3mo/3,000 miles, and to change the filter every other oil change. I had a wise autoshop teacher that said they put this in the owners' manual so that you would do this, wear out your engine sooner, and buy a new car sooner. These new trucks may go 15,000 miles per oil change, but it's my money, and I'm going to keep doing it every 5,000 with Rotella and OEM filters from the dealer.



To each his (or her) own

MHO



SOLER