Svnthetic oil change intervals?

[6naline01]

Greetings all, I have a question for the membership or any visitors that are using sythetic oil with by-pass filtration and that is what kind of milage are you getting between oil changes and do you believe the added cost is worth the investment? Thanks in advance

D N

 

[Futures1]

Synthetic oil;

Hi Doc. . While I could go on for a while about synthetics, the savings is substantial in more ways than one over the long run.

This site explains a lot about the advantages of synthetics !!

http://www.go-synthetic.com/cummins/cummins.html

No, it's not mine... but I sure wish it was ;o)

 

[Riflesmith]

I have a bypass filter and have gone as long as 40,000 on the same oil. I have settled on a 20,000 mile change interval because there is no sense in pushing the oil to its absolute limits. Besides, at 20k I have received my money's worth from the oil.



Surprisingly, our engines are quite easy on oil. Gasoline engine oil analysis reports show that these engines are quite a bit tougher on oil.



I would never recommend extending drain intervals without the benefit of periodic oil analysis. It is vital to ensure everything remains OK. Extended drains with a good synthetic oil isn't for everyone, but it works for me. I wouldn't want to do it any other way.



Brand choice? There are certainly more choices than there were even a few years ago. Mobil Delvac 1, Amsoil, Redline, Royal Purple offer Group IV/V synthetics. Shell, Valvoline, Chevron and others offer group III synthetics.

 

[C Schomer]

I got my Oilguard at 1/2 price, so that really helped the cause! I sample every 5k, then change full flow when I see the report is good. I just got my 20k report back and the oil chemistry is nearly like new oil. The bypass filter might finally be getting filled up. Soot is usually . 1% and it was . 2% this time. I'll change it, if soot goes any higher. I was told to expect about 25k out of the Oilguard elements and about 50k out of the oil. I compared ($) petro oil and filter changes every 3k to my syn. program and got a surprise. Even with tests every 5k, the syn program is cheaper. I compared $1. 50 petro oil to my $4. 80 RP syn. . The bypass will be paid off at about 35k miles - then it's money in my pocket. I wasn't expecting any savings! I did it so I wouldn't have to change on the road anymore and I didn't care if it would have cost more. It's working better than I expected and I have full trust in the reports now. I've been doing a similar syn. program on equip. at work for 15 yrs. now. The reports have identified bad batches of new oil (insufficient additives) and there's no way anyone could have known without analysis. I'll take the reliability of a well tailored syn. program over blind faith any day! Craig

 

[rustyrod]

When to change syn oil

I have a 1994 2500 Cummins. don't suggest this is the correct method, but since the original owner was already up to 278,600 miles wihtout an oil change and the engine was running great, I figured I would keep it going for a while. The oil is filtered through a bypass with two filters. Oil is Amsoil Marine Oil for Diesels. I have many test results from this engine on the condition of the oil and those were done every 25,000 miles. Every 50,000 the filters were changed and the oil topped off. Since around 225,000, the engine oil tested very low on soot and metallics and has not varied more then a part per million or two. At 375,000 I decided to change the oil because I wanted the warm and fuzzy feeling of actually doing it on this truck. It is still running strong. I use diesel additives always and the injectors have never been replaced. The valves are clean and you can easily read the part number on the valve cover. As you already surmised, I am sold on syn. oil and super filtration.

Over the road trucks use this type oil and filtration for 100,000 between changes. I've read many reports about water contamination, but having sold large pumps to the paper industry, I saw a test pump run with 50% syn oil and 50% water for 18 months and the bearings tested factory spec. Good stuff we now spread over our cyclinder walls and bearings.

Rusty

Waiting for a 2004 - without EGR!! On this one I'll change oil every 50K miles.

 

[Texas Diesel]

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/newsletter.html

 

[Deezul1]

Better stuff to have in the engine in case someone doesnt let the EGTs cool enough before shutdown too, help the turbo live longer.

I have 38,000 on my Amsoil and dual bypass and the anaylisis comes back good to go

 

[DJb]

Hi all, I'm brand new to the site and fairly new to diesels. Great place here! Can y'all tell me more about this filter system and where to get it?

 

[6naline01]

by-pass filters

I got mine at a truck &rv show in LA. DN

 

[Barbieri]

Oil Change

I hear of people changing oil every 3-4thousand miles. With syn that is like the pre-historic dinosaurs. I went 30thou the first time and I am now up to 39thous the second time. It took me a while to get use to it. I use Amsoil with dual bypass filter plus I had an analysis done for peace of mind. Lets put it this way. To me frequent changes are a thing of the past. I save money and the environment to boot. I don't want to hear about frequent changes, and how good it is. If you monitor the engine and do an analysis (for peace of mind) then you should never have to change the oil again. Peace

 

[Texas Diesel]

To my knowledge ONLY the trucks with regular changes (dino and OEM filters) have made the 1,000,000 mark. If I missed a syn oil truckwith dual filters or whatever let me know. There is something to be said for what works in the real world. I'm not saying we shouldnt be trying to build "a better mouse trap" but dino oil and OEM filters have an impressive and yet to be matched record.



Read down a little to "synthetic oil" and see what Cummins says about exteneded drain intervals.



http://www.southernplains.cummins.com/na/pages/en/distributors/arlington/customerservice/qtips.cfm



http://www.cummins-sp.com/new_web/tips/tip.htm



Read down to "oil analysis" and see what Cummins says about oil analysis and extended drains.



http://www.cummins.com/na/pdf/en/products/rv/isbrvom.pdf

 

[DJb]

That first link doesn't work.....

 

[Texas Diesel]

Well, links dont always work. It worked for me but might not in a few minutes, here it where the link goes:



"Synthetic Oil -

Synthetic oil may be used provided it meets performance and chemical requirements. However, the use of synthetic oil does not justify extended oil change intervals. "



This is from the Cummins site. Another consideration is if you have a oil related failure your warranty will come into question.

 

[Riflesmith]

It should not come as a surprise to anyone that Cummins is going to have a very conservative official position on this issue. They have no control over how people practice extending their drain intervals. It is an established fact, proven in many engines, both gasoline and diesel, that extending drain intervals using oil analysis works.



How many Cummins engine failures that could be blamed on oil quality have the TDR membership heard about? I certainly haven't heard of any.



It was my impression that the originator of this thread had already decided to go with extended drains and was seeking some experiences of the TDR membership to guide him.

 

[fest3er]

I'm at 135K miles now on my truck. I last changed the oil at 65K miles when I switched to Amsoil and installed the dual remote bypass unit. All analyses have always come back saying the oil is good for continued use.

I usually try to change the full flow filter every 7K-10K miles, and the bypass filter every 14K-20K miles. Changing the full flow filter introduces a new quart of oil in the engine, and changing both introduces two quarts (or more) of new oil. Adding make-up lube replenishes the additives.

As of now, I still have no plans to drain the crankcase.

Fest3er

 

[illflem]

One thing to remember with synthetic and extended changes is that the quart or so added every 5-10k as makeup oil when changing the filter(s) is very important.

Any brand of oil will eventually deplete it's additives and they should be replenished.

 

[amsoilman]

I just returned from Superior Wisconsin where the Amsoil Company is located. I went there for their 30th year anniverary. Wile there, I spoke with a gentelman that had a 92 CTD 3/4 ton with nearly 600,000 miles on his truck. He had only change the oil ONE TIME! He was using the by-pass oil filtration system and doing oil analysis every 8,000 miles, and changing oil filters every 16,000 miles, He had recently taken the valve cover off to do valve adjustments and claimed the insides looked like new.



In my own case, I also use this system, and I do the oil analysis every 10,000 miles... ... ... ... ... ... as I beleive the oil analysis is the only way to go when extending oil drain intervals.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Extreme1]

Oil analysis 10,000-15,000 miles & change the full flow filter when the report comes back good.



I just did my first change in several years, 90,000 (?) miles.



I changed the bypass shortly (several thousand miles) before the oil change. I have the bypass return dumping into the filler tube so I can keep an eye on the flow and see that the filter isn't full. You can get a good idea about how full it is by where the hot spot is on the bypass.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Originally posted by amsoilman

Wile there, I spoke with a gentelman that had a 92 CTD 3/4 ton with nearly 600,000 miles on his truck. He had only change the oil ONE TIME! He was using the by-pass oil filtration system and doing oil analysis every 8,000 miles, and changing oil filters every 16,000 miles, Wayne

amsoilman

Sounds like he might be able to match (after 400,000 miles more) the performance of Dino and OEM filters. What is the point to all this extra plumbing and stuff? I just dont get it, why? With just OEM maintenance the engine will out live the truck. What am I missing? If this was worth the extra $ then owners should be getting twice the mileage on an Amsoil truck, right? If dino will yield 1,000,000 then all the extra $, work and filters ought to make it last 2,000,000 miles.



My wife's 98 12V was owned by an amsoil dealer/user, it had Amsoil oil filter, oil, and Amsoil airfilter. When I got it everything got changed to OEM stuff except I used a K&N air flter, one bad oil analysis and it is back to OEM filter now (silicon was 34). The guy obviously liked to maintain his truck. He never adjusted the valves and they were quite a bit wide. If the oil he used was superior to dino oil why didnt the valve train show little or no wear instead of expected or normal wear after 100k miles? The valve covers were not clean on the inside either nor was the timing cover clean (did the KDP fix) but they seemed to clean up easier. I know many members have paid $50 to become Amsoil dealers and sell the product here as well, nothing wrong with that, but "newer" members need to hear both sides of the extended oil drain debate. Especially the warranty issues, then they can make their own minds up based on all aspects.



The cons of doing this are:

Amsoil is not API certified.

Extended drain intervals violate your warranty.

Extended drain intervals violate Cummins policy.

Extra filters, bypass filters etc have the POTENTIAL to leak or rupture at the fittings / hoses. I know of one case this happened.



If an owner chooses to accept these risks, then go for it, have fun, it's your truck. But you should make an informed decision.



I know this is off topic and I apologize to the thread starter but it seemed to fit.



George S.

 

[OTRPU]

I doubt I ever need to change Dino Oil...

when running I drive an average of 500 miles 5 sometimes 6 days every week. I check the oil level every day. I've been adding a quart of Rotella T every other day. That's 2 quarts this week, 3 quarts next week. At this rate I turn the total volume in 6 weeks. Far as I'm concerned I change my oil every 6 weeks. Sometimes this is 300 hours, sometimes 500 hours. I'm going to install an hour meter, engines that run like mine should have one anyway. Wish some engineer would tell me how often I should replace the oil filter in my particular situation. I do it every 6 weeks, but probably overkill.



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Be Safe,

Steve J.