Oil to use???? Delo 400??

[PHX ATC]

I know this subject has been ridden into the sunset and back around into the sunrise. But... first time I'm going to attempt my oil change in the beast. The dealer did the first one for free because he is a moron.



I'm going to go down to Cummins Southwest here in Phoenix and pick up an oil filter. If they have a choice, what would be the best one?



I've plans to buy a case of Delo 400 oil at Costco to use. Has anyone had experience with this oil? Good, bad, indifferent? I think it is 15W-40, but I'm not sure. I do remember reading that it is a heavy duty oil and rated for diesels. It has been blessed by all the appropriate blessing houses.



I've bookmarked someone's webpage on how approach this adventure and will use that. To whomever it was (I can't remember), thank you. (Murdock, I believe)



If anyone else has hints or ideas that will have me smiling in my 75 degree driveway wearing shorts and a tee shirt, feel free to lay it on me. Did I mention I will be performing this feat outside with shorts on, in January???



Thanks in advance.



Toby

 

[SOOT]

Toby

I used Delo in both of my trucks for the first 100,000 miles with no problems. Rottella is also a very good oil.



Heres a little tip: before you pull the oil filter off put a ziplock bag around it to keep the oil contained. You might need a small cheeter pipe or a breaker bar to get the drain plug out.



75 is hot!

 

[LSMITH]

Toby, keep rubbing it in that you are doing it in shorts in January and you will be sentenced to ... . I will think of something!



Just kidding. Delo 400 is good oil, no doubt about it. If you go to Cummins get the 3894 Stratopore filter. If it isn't the best full flow filter on the market it is tied for first. Good luck and hope you burn your butt on the concrete. Oh sorry, I didn't mean to type that out loud.

 

[M Barnett]

Why not do this, ask Cummins Southwest about what kind of oil to use. I stay out of these oil debates, cause I use an oil that nobody else uses, I guess. I use the Valvoline Cummins semi-synthetic oil. I am not an expert and not a chemical engineer. I have got a lot of experience with this oil though and I'm gonna stick with it. I started using it about 15 years ago in my big trucks. I have over two million miles with this oil and never lost an engine. The last one I sold had 844,000 miles on it and only had the head off to replace a gasket once. My new truck has over 500,000 and no problems. My trucks go 30,000 between oil changes and that is what the Valvoline technitions told me to do and Cummins backs it with their warrenty. These are the only very cold, very hard facts I can give you. Asking about motor oil is no different than asking what kind of underwear do you wear? Use a good oil and change it often. If your truck is a new truck, Cummins has the same oil that is not synthetic, and you would want to use this oil for at least 10,000 miles so the engine can properly break in, then go with the synthetic. Cummins Southwest also has a better filter to run with the semi-synthetic. I think its the Fleetguard # 3553. As a disclaimer, I'm not affilated with anybody but myself. Just one of those guys you see around Phoenix in one of the big milk tankers.

Good Luck

M Barnett

 

[Dreher]

The best tip I can give you is go to an auto parts store and pick up a $20. 00 ratchet called a Sidewinder. It allows you to break the plug loose by using it as a regular ratchet, then spin the plug out by rotating a lever on the end of the handle while keeping the tool stationary and the plug against the hole until it's unthreaded (it works similar to an air ratchet but you provide energy). Put a bucket under the pan, spin the plug out and all the oil goes in the bucket. It can be a real mess if you try to take the plug out by hand. Some guys just loosen the plug and let the oil drain around it before taking it out but the ratchet works great.



Delo is a great oil.



Bob

 

[LSMITH]

M Barnett, I think you are referring to the 3552 which is a microglass filter. It will fit on the 24V, but was the high end filter for the 12V. The best filter made by Fleetguard that fits our trucks is the 3894, it filters a little better than the 3552 and quite a bit better than the standard paper filter. Hope this helps clear any confusion.



Thanks for the tip on the ratchet Bob, sounds like a good thing to have.

 

[illflem]

Delo, Rotella, Valvoline they are all good oils. Best advice is to use the one that is easiest for you the acquire and stick with it. I find Delo the easiest, it's worked excellent for 30 years for me.



I never fully remove the plug, just a coule of turns. Let the oil drain over night, then clean remove and clean the plug. You will see, it is meant to be used this way. By allowing the oil to drain overnight some oil is siphoned out of the filter so no plastic bag is necessary to keep the mess down.

 

['956Wheel]

DELO

166K+ Delo... never a problem and very little oil consumption. Got an uncle who put 497k on a '94 CTD towing TT's and fifth wheels from mfg. to dealer... Delo, no other! Jack sold it for a CAT Frieghtliner , NICE!! If the boyz wanna argue with success so what, most are dealers... they should be on the thread shortly! Go with dino rather than snake. . IMO. Costco has a good price on the six pack.



Mike

 

[Bob Cochran]

I agree with all the above all good advice. I get the 4-2-1 kit from Geno's can't beat the price. I use Delo and get at Costco being cheapest place.



OH by the way almost got sunburned last week rotating my 6 tires and adjusting the rear brakes. I back alot by the way and only got one click before staring to rub so guess self adjusters are working after 27,000 . Sorry got off topic!!!

 

[dmurdock]

As Illflem mentioned if you let it drain overnight (or at least a couple of hours) enough oil will be siphoned off so that the filter doesn't spill any when removing. I've started removing the air hose (between the turbo and the airbox) to keep my arms from getting nicked up. I've used delo400 in the last 2 trucks and all the oil analysis looked fine although i'm sure rotella is just as good. Remember to check after a week or so for leaks, I had one filter back off on me once...

 

[Ken B]

PHX ATC,



Lot's of good advice shared already. I would echo most. I'm currently using the Delo 400 from Costco... best price. I've used the Valvoline / Cummins Premium Blue from Cummins... excellent oil, just a few more dollars! A choice for you to make... . bottom line I don't think you'll go wrong with either. Let us know what you end up going with. Hope this helps, -Ken

 

[wcaldwell]

I did my first oil change this past Saturday. I must say that all of the posts on changing the oil and filter stuck in my mind. I could almost hear you guys telling me each step. I did have to go purchase a different filter wrench - my old one wouldn't go on the filter because of the coolant line in front of the filter. Then when putting the new filter on after filling it with oil, and topping it off, and topping it off (that thing really soaks up the oil), I also "heard" your advice that the filter is not mounted exactly vertical - it has a slight tilt - kept coming to mind. I also remembered the admonition to be extremely careful about the aluminum seal on the oil bottles to make sure all of it was removed from the bottles to keep it from falling into the engine when pouring the oil.



I bought Delo from WalMart, remembering what you all said about the "odor" from Rotella, and the filter from Cummins.



Thanks a whole bunch from all of you who have posted over the past year or so regarding changing our oil. You really help more than you may realize.



Wayne

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I heard that Sams Club has Rotella at almost half the price of Costco's Delo 400 if you buy a 55 gallon drum of the Rotella. I've been using Delo 400, easy to find and good price at Costco. Also nice to pour a gallon at a time. I formerly used Castrol RX super, and had to empty 11 of those buggers for an oil change. I suspect that any diesel 15-40 oil meeting API latest specs, or specs close to the latest, would be fine.



I found that if I wait around an hour after shutting down the engine, enough oil has siphoned out of the filter thant it won't leak any when being removed. I use the strap wrench to remove the filter, like a piece of seat belt that wraps around it. They cost a few $ at parts houses.

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by Joseph Donnelly



I found that if I wait around an hour after shutting down the engine, enough oil has siphoned out of the filter thant it won't leak any when being removed. I use the strap wrench to remove the filter, like a piece of seat belt that wraps around it. They cost a few $ at parts houses.

Same here. If I wait an hour or three it's afe to pull the filter off without a mess. (Filter is 3/4 full)



DELO 400. great oil, and doesn't smell after oil change,



DELO = D. iesel E. ngine L. ubricating O. il



MerrickNJr

 

[Sled Puller]

You can't go wrong with Delo and Fleetguards.



My question, is, how many of you guys have seen the shoulder on the plug split, from the dealers's changes or by yourself?



It seemed kind of cheap to me, just too thin. I bought another one. I also keep two gaskets on hand, just in case. Nothing worse than draining oil then notice the gasket is shot and your taxi is out of service!



Gene

 

[PHX ATC]

Thanks fellas.



So here I am this morning at Costco with a big grin on my face practically running down the dad aisle (as my daughter calls it) to get the Delo 400. I look, I search, I pull aside some Castrol, I begin to sweat, I panic, I cry, I run out of the store and comfort myself in my truck, listening to the engine purr. For heaven's sake, how could they be OUT OF STOCK!!!!



Then I cheer myself up with the fact that I now am forced to drive my truck to the Costco next to work tomorrow. Oh, bummer, we all now what a pain it is to drive the truck some more, don't we?



I am going to go with what the Cummins shop suggests and am going to use Delo 400 for the oil.



Thanks for all the little tricks. I shall post my results when I get done.



Toby