sae 15-40 only in Cummins?

[AH64ID]

I am more than happy with my FULL 15k oil reports. AMZ/OIL 15-40 FULL Synthetic.

I just switched to DME 15w-40 from AME 15w-40. I like some of the DME specs better, but going away from CI was not an easy choice.

Your UOA’s did help the decision, despite my dislike of black stone

 

[Cummins12V98]

I use the Diesel Marine (non LE) 15-40 in 99 Tahoe 350, DR walk behind mower, Honda 2000, Honda pressure washer and 350GM in my GlasPly Boat. If deleted i would run it in my 15!

 

[DonFitzwater]

I use the Diesel Marine (non LE) 15-40 in 99 Tahoe 350, DR walk behind mower, Honda 2000, Honda pressure washer and 350GM in my GlasPly Boat. If deleted i would run it in my 15!

I've got a commercial boat customer that has run Delo 400 in his Honda 225's for over 6k hours with zero powerhead failures. It's amazing what you can get away with in engines.

 

[Newsa]

What is fascinating, is that Cummins is recommending 10w30 in all their heavy diesels. I know of several folks with well over 500,000 miles and using 10w30 exclusively. Moving up to 80,000 lb of truck and cargo across the U.S. and Canada, year round on 10w30 without a issue. I am surprised that Cummins hasn't pushed 10w30 on the 6.7 lineup.

Ram recommends 15w 40 due to fuel dilution problems in the pre-2013 trucks in my opinion.

Also, because of the many people who run their 6.7's around town, the danger of getting fuel in oil is almost always present. I've had 2 UOA's that show some fuel dilution of sump oil. Because i don't always get a chance to get mine out for a long run. However, since 10w 30 is adequate for all weather, i still have low metals in my UOA's. My oil has never been diluted down to 10w 30 weight.

 

[JR]

The X series Cummins engines that call for 10w30 year round are also overhead cam set up compared to the ISB/QSB flat tappet design.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Switched to this recently our Trucks at work use this and have done well
https://www.schaefferoil.com/700-durability.html

 

[BIGNASTY]

https://www.schaefferoil.com/arctic-shield.html

Haven't had the tanks ran dry in my Dodge so I can add this product to see if I like it, again our trucks use this and have and 0 problems

 

[Larry Sciblo]

I tried converting my UOA to PDF but am having a hard time, here is a link to the web page from Schaefer's site. The page requires a password so if it lets you view it it will likely be time sensitive. If you can't I will dig deeper into the PDF and try to post it that way again.

http://schaeffer.rmrdevelopment.com/reports-printreport.asp?batchno=25776&sampno=626399

Schaeffers 5w40 changed annually whatever mileage that may be. Generally between 15,000 and 18-19,000 at the upper end. I do have a bypass filter as well although I've ran 15,000 mile intervals without one in the past with good UOA's.

My family buys Schaeffers in bulk for the farm so I just throw my order in with theirs. They buy by the drum so their rep sells me gallon jugs at a very reasonable cost. [PDF]http://schaeffer.rmrdevelopment.com/reports-printreport.asp?batchno=25776&sampno=626399[/PDF]

Sorry for the late reply, JR. I am doing my homework about Schaeffers products. We have been in touch with them about me becoming a rep. It sounds like your family likes the products they offer. Can can offer any other insight?

 

[Newsa]

Here is a somewhat older document that tries to simplify the previous recommendations for end users of a variety of cummins engines for both OTR and off road. The document original date was 2009. But it was reposted by cummins in 2013 as noted in the file name

It says 10w 30 is OK if it meets high temp film recommendations for protecting the rings and the hottest moving parts.

Right now, i have amsoil 20w 50 Dominator diesel oil in my sump. I like it, but it is a bit expensive. Costs me $100 per oil change. A bit more than that if I change both the full flow and bypass filters.

 

[JR]

10w30 up to 70*F, that pretty much sums it up. As there aren't any other grades (that I'm aware of) that meet the CJ4/CK4 spec that's the only grade that matters.
I'm quite certain it largely boils down to the ISB being a flat tappet engine and needs that heavier oil film. The ISX, which is FF 10w30 is OHC.

 

[AH64ID]

Amsoil has a couple oils, 5w-30 and 10w-30, that meet Cummins spec.... but why?

I can't think of any benefit over 15w-40 or 5w-40.

Even then I prefer 15w-40 synthetic over 5w-40 synthetic, unless you see below more than about -25°F.

 

[Newsa]

I wouldn't put 10w 30 in. Any fuel.dilition could cause huge wear problems (if putting in 10w 30).

But if the 15w 40 dilutes out if grade a bit and it is a high quality oil with extra additives like most 10-15k oils have, i wouldn't expect 6-8% fuel dilution to cause enough problems with the film strength of the oil to cause damage. My UOA's showed very low metal content with Kendall Suoer D XA 15w 40 even after 6-8% fuel dilution. I did change the oil immediately though once the fuel dilution of crankcaae oil was identified.

 

[AH64ID]

Thats a lot of fuel!

Cummins limit for the ISB is 5%, and even that’s high IMHO.

If you can’t go an OEM OCI without that much fuel dilution I would guess something is wrong.

 

[JR]

I wouldn't expect 6-8% fuel dilution to cause enough problems with the film strength of the oil to cause damage.

And Cummins would disagree with you. 5% maximum, anything more and you are taking an unnecessary gamble .

 

[JR]

Thats a lot of fuel!

Cummins limit for the ISB is 5%, and even that’s high IMHO.

If you can’t go an OEM OCI without that much fuel dilution I would guess something is wrong.

When Newsa posted this before I said the same. Certainly not normal, especially given the very short service intervals he posted - going by memory here but it seems like it was around 5k miles.

 

[AH64ID]

When Newsa posted this before I said the same. Certainly not normal, especially given the very short service intervals he posted - going by memory here but it seems like it was around 5k miles.

Yikes!

 

[Newsa]

I had 8% once. It is likely true that my DPF is not actively regenerating properly. An UOA after 1500 miles showed less than 0.5 % fuel dilution. A subsequent UOA after 2500 miles (1000 mikes more on the same oil) showed 8% fuel ddilution. So it seems there IS a problem, but i doubt it is a leak in the fuel system. I think the problem is it is struggling on occasion to bring the pressure down in the DPF. Thus after it finally clears the soot in the DPF, it goes for awhile without having trouble actively regenerating and then gets stuck in regen mode after a while.

Oil analyzers has been my test company of choice because there are reports of Blackstone not correctly identifying fuel dilution. I imagine there are a few Blackstone customers who have fuel dilution and are never alerted to it. Plus, i don't really like the way they complement (have high opinions) of the engines. I think that is ridiculous.

Oil Analyzers said changing the 8% diluted fuel was critical and i did. But they said the viscosity was still not out of grade. Turns out that Kendall Super D XA starts with a viscosity index at the top of the 15w 40 scale.

I have the Max Care. But i doubt FCA will consider excessive fuel dilution a problem until it causes something to fail.

 

[jhenderson]

I’ve strongly considered Schaefer’s but the lack of a local dealer puts it out of reach due to shipping costs and convenience.

 

[ofelas]

Not to mention their high minimum order for cost effective shipping.

I tried some of their 5w40 synthetic series 9000 a couple years back.

I was less than impressed, dumped the remaining 15 gallons or so into various gen sets/gave it away to friends in milder climates.

Oil pressure took noticeably longer than Amsoil's 15w40 AME to register on the mech gauge in -25F or so.

Perhaps the Schaffer's does OK in milder conditions; I was underwhelmed with their grease as well, but I like their SoyShield diesel additive.

 

[JR]

Not to mention their high minimum order for cost effective shipping.

I tried some of their 5w40 synthetic series 9000 a couple years back.

I was less than impressed, dumped the remaining 15 gallons or so into various gen sets/gave it away to friends in milder climates.

Oil pressure took noticeably longer than Amsoil's 15w40 AME to register on the mech gauge in -25F or so.

Perhaps the Schaffer's does OK in milder conditions; I was underwhelmed with their grease as well, but I like their SoyShield diesel additive.

There is no minimum order if you have a local rep.
But it sounds like your mind is made up for reasons that have nothing to do with Schaeffer's.