Oil?

[JBournes]

I just wanted to ask everyone and see what the average was for oil use. And by oil use i mean do you have to add any between oil changes. If so how many quarts. I change my oil every 5k and rarely have to add a quart in between changes. I also wanted to comment on the other topic about black oil after 500 miles. IMO it might not be normal to be black that soon, but our oil does not get changed as often as gassers. Plus the soot that our engines produce play a part in the color of our oil. I havent heard of anyone having problems when going 5k between changes, and as long as you have the right amount of oil it should be just fine no matter what color it is at the change. That is unless there is metal in the oil or some other problems like water. Just my 2 cents.

JEB

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

When I do my oil changes I run the truck afterward and top up the oil until I have a healthy 1/16" over the "full" mark.

From that point I add no oil at all on normal 5000 mile change cycle.

Also, I find my oil turns color pretty quick too... it is as noted, I think, that the soot and other contaminants that cause the relatively quick color change.

I'm going to start doing a filter and top up at 5K and then a full change at 10K.

Synthetic is getting expensive.....



Pastor Bob.

 

[sparks57]

I change mine every 3k religiously. I'm ussualy two quarts low, and a local diesel mechanic said that is a normal amount for a truck with 210k miles. Mine changes to black pretty quick too.



I use Rotella.

 

[CDegner]

My truck has 243K miles on it and if MAY burn a quart of oil every 5000 miles. I've recently switched to AMSOIL with the bypass filter so I do not anticipate having to add oil inbetween filter changes. I will just make up during my refill after the filter change.



As for turning black, My oil stayed clean for about 3000 miles after a oil change ... that was until I started BOMBing the truck. Now my oil is dark but still clear after 500-1000 miles. Keep in mind this is with the bypass filter setup though.



Carl

 

[sparks57]

Oh man... so is something wrong with my truck???

 

[jbolt]

I change mine every 6 months regardless of mileage. I average 10-12K a year. In that time I usually have to add 1or 2 quarts depending on how hard I run it. Delo-400 15w40 since new.



Now that this has come up how the hell would you know if it was burning engine oil?



Jay

 

[AlK]

I change the oil and filter every 5,000 km. Yes it does change colour fairly quickly, but I have never had to add any oil.

---

Al

 

[RGT]

I add about a quart every 4-5k, two quarts before my 10k change oil stays pretty clear for couple thousand miles.....

 

[JLEONARD]

I change oil and filter around 4000/4500 miles. I use Rotella 15-40.

Oil gets dark at maybe 1000/1500 miles but I don't get anal about that. (I used to own a rabbitt diesel)

Whether or not I have to add between changes depends on how I drive... lots of miles over 75 mph means I need to add a quart between changes.

Jay

 

[PPeters]

I run between 3-4. 5k, rotella 15/40, 12 in the crank, 1 in the filter. So far, not using any between changes. Just checked it last night, have 2200 on this oil, still pretty clean on the stick, and right at the full line.



Pat

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I've got 173,000 on my '93 - change oil every 6000 miles - I use Amsoil 15W40 full synthetic and have never had to add oil between changes. I usually use a 1/2 to 1 quart between oil changes.



Bob

 

[MMiller]

I guess I'm old school and pretty anal about oil changes.



I change it every 2,000-2,500 miles. I do not add any oil to the engine between changes. I use 15w40 valvoline all fleet plus. I always believe that oil is cheap, engines are expensive, and downtime sucks, thus the reason I change oil often.



I like engines to not use enough oil to add during the time between changes, but compared to some of you I change my oil 2-5 times as often. If I ran 7,000-10,000 miles an oil change then I wouldn't mind adding a couple of quarts.



The heavy and ag equipment I work on specifies 250 hrs on an oil change. IF the oil sample comes back with high percentage of soot in it(ie fuel from long idle times etc) then the oil needs to be changed sooner. Don't really know how this comes back in miles, but hours seem a better measure then miles sometimes too.



Just my $. 02 worth.



Michael

 

[Withers]

I change my oil every 5000km/ 3200miles, and have never had to add between oil changes, I use Castrol RX super, can get a case of it at Costco for about $25. When I do change the oil, I first drain it, then when it stops draining I add one more quart to grab any more dirt that may be left behind.

 

[dslcummins]

I have a 92, 290,000 miles. I have used Delo ever since it was new, change the oil every 5,000 miles. I don't have to add any oil between changes.