Switch to AMSOIL

[zack_76401]

I am about to switch over to Amsoil oil but have a few questions first.....



1. Which oil should I use? I noticed Amsoil offers several different types for desels. I have been runnning DELO 15-40 for 103,000 miles



2. Is theyre oil really good for 25000 miles with a filter change at 12,500 miles?



3. Will the synthetic oil increase/decrease blowby.



4. Will it affect my milage. I am currently averaging 19-20 on the highway.



5. Has anyone tryed the cetane boost? I am runnin powerservice in the silver/gray jug now. It is suppossed to boost cetane by 8 points. Is the Amsoil stuff better?



6. Can i use the diesel fuel modifier (for cleaning injectors) and the cetane boost at the same time? I use LUCAs injector cleaner but can't get it everywhere. Is Amsoil better than LUCAS?



7. Do I need to flush the engine before switching over? Like i said earlier i have 103,000 on my CTD. What flush do i use?



Thanks for all inputs. Sorry so long of a post i am kinda skeptical but very interested too. .



PS will the Amsoil racing gloves in the back of the magazine make my truck faster? HAHAHA

 

[RHARVEY]

I am about to switch over to Amsoil oil but have a few questions first.....



1. Which oil should I use? I noticed Amsoil offers several different types for desels. I have been runnning DELO 15-40 for 103,000 miles

15/40 Diesel/Marine



2. Is theyre oil really good for 25000 miles with a filter change at 12,500 miles?

Yes. . I change the filter at 5000 miles



3. Will the synthetic oil increase/decrease blowby.

I have not noticed any difference after. . mine did not increase



4. Will it affect my milage. I am currently averaging 19-20 on the highway.

Mine increased



5. Has anyone tryed the cetane boost? I am runnin powerservice in the silver/gray jug now. It is suppossed to boost cetane by 8 points. Is the Amsoil stuff better?

I use Schaeffers. . so far I have not tried the Amsoil



6. Can i use the diesel fuel modifier (for cleaning injectors) and the cetane boost at the same time? I use LUCAs injector cleaner but can't get it everywhere. Is Amsoil better than LUCAS?

Not sure



7. Do I need to flush the engine before switching over? Like i said earlier i have 103,000 on my CTD. What flush do i use?

The last truck I changed over. . I did the flush

 

[Futures1]

Do the flush;

You will need 2 of ADM16 for the flush. Instructions are included, pick up an extra oil filter to use for the flush. Stock Cummins filter is ok and least expensive for the flush.

The modifier will keep your injectors very clean as well as your fuel screens, pump and filters. It will also improve power, combustion, efficiency and performance !! 1 of ADM-BF treats up to 40 gallons!



As for the oil... the 15w-40 HD Diesel & Marine is a great choice for normal to high temperatures !! For low to extremely low temps, you will want to use the lighter weight 3000 series 5w-30 HD !! The oil change intreval depends mainly on your filter setup !!!! 25000 is not unusual. The oil was run in a Mack E7-400 for over 400,000 miles

without a change with less than normal wear by using premium filtration and regular filter changes. I would also suggest a can of HD metal protector "AMH-SC" for the other engine and truck components which seldom receive attention (hood, door & door hinges, solenoid rods, springs, etc, etc. ) and a tube of the Water Resistant Grease "CWR-CR" for those grease fittings !! Hope this helps. . if I can be of more help, just PM me !! Dick S

 

[Extreme1]

My opinion only:



1) Use the 15w-40 unless you are running in really cold temps for a period of time. I started with 5w-30 now I'm using the 15w-40 and it still starts much better than the Rotella I was using.



2) You need to do oil analysis to run over the manufacturer's changing limit. I'd start doing analysis at 10,000 and change the filter when you get the report back if it says OK to keep going. If you add a bypass you can run for a real long time. I just change my oil for the first time in several years, almost 100,000 miles.



3) When I switched to 5w-30 I noticed that my oil consumotion went up to a quart in about 2,500 miles. BUT, my front seal was leaking. After I fixed the seal, the consumption was still about 1 qt in 2,500 miles. This actually helped keep the oil in the engine in good condition because the make up oil adds to the amount of additive package in the engine. This spring when I did the change I refilled with all 15w-40.



4) It migh affect your milage slightly. Some report a gain, I didn't notice much if any but the engine wear is reduced which is what I was after (along with eliminating oil changes because of this. (Read both of my posts).



5) No.



6) Call and ask the manufacturer.



7) I didn't flush the old oil out. Start draining it when it's hot and let it sit overnight.

 

[zack_76401]

thanks for the replies everyone, im stationed up in north utah and its pretty cold here in the winter so i think ill go with the lighter wieght oil... ... godd or bad idea?

 

[Futures1]

How cold does it get ??

Hi Zack...



How cold does it get there in Utah ??



Do you have a block heater ??



If it gets below 10 Degrees quite a lot, and you do not have a block heater or garage,, then the 5w-30 is a good choice.

Otherwise stay with the 15w-40.



Dick S.

 

[zack_76401]

it goes below freezing for extended periods of time in the winter... ... . last january we went 30 days without getting above freezing..... so yes i guess 5-30 is the best bet the only heater i have is the one that came with the truck and i plug it in religeously

 

[BillGotthelf]

Yes the gloves will make your truck faster if they put a new Inj pump plate in.

 

[zack_76401]

well i wasnt wearin them gloves when i slid the plate forward and put my spring kit in so i dont think ill need em this time

 

[Extreme1]

The Amsoil 15w-40 is way easier to start in below ZERO (like 15-20 below) temps than the petroleum stuff. I had no problems. I'd go with the heavier stuff (it's cheaper too) unless you have problems starting it when plugged it or if you can never plug it in.

 

[Futures1]

Below freezing,

If you are talking 20 or 30 degrees, that really is not bad !! The 15w-40 will work well for you down to about 10 degrees, and even a bit lower with the block heater which it sounds like you may have. In the winter here in NH I plug my heater in to a "make on fall" adjustable thermostat which I set for a bit below 20 degrees. (Available at home depot)

When the temperature drops below 20, the heater goes on and keeps the engine just fine.

I have 3 diesel powered vehicles, (Ram Cummins, WV TDI and Benz 300 SDL 6 cyl), and seldom have a winter problem with either of them unless I get caught with a really low temp drop without knowing that it's coming. Four things that I do during the winter months.

1/ The synthetic oil. 2/ A bit of kerosene in with the fuel during the coldest months. 3/ My heater thermostat. 4/ I always buy the biggest & strongest battery that that will fit into my vehicles when I have to replace one of them !!



Dick S

 

[JCyrbok]

I started at -5 with truck sitting over night un pluged with out a problem with the Amsoil 15-40HHD. She took about a second longer to fire but started no problems other than being loud and smoking for a while. The pour point for this oil is minus 56 degrees I think? Wouldnt recommend this as the usual way though.



J-

 

[klenger]

I used the 15W40 in when I lived in Denver. Temps there would get down to close to 0. No problems with the oil. The turck doesn't want to run real well at cold temps, but I doubt that the oil had anything to do with that.

 

[Sled Puller]

The only time I noticed a difference with the cetane boost, was if I got a batch of bad fuel, it helped to clear up the stumble/white smoke.

 

[1tuffram]

I have lived in Montana and Colorado and used both Amsoil 15W40 and the lighter 5W30. I started with 15W40 and ran it for 10,000miles and only changed the filter as recommended. Oil analysis showed oil was in excellent condition. I then swithched to the "better" 5W-30. Oil anaylsis results showed good results for the 25,000+ miles I ran it, only changing filters as recommended. Last spring I went back to the 15W-40 for a few reasons: 1) I saw no real benifit of the Series 3000 to justify it's high cost, besides I'd feel more comfortable running the cheaper 15W-40 and changing it once a year. 2) I notice LESS misting and oil drips from the breather tube with the 15W-40.



Since switching to a synthetic oil I have not needed to use the block heater for cold weather starting in Montana or here in Colorado.



I used both Amsoil Cetane boost and Heavy Duty Diesel Fuel Concentrate for several years without complaint. This spring I bought a 5 gal pail of the Amalgamated stuff and giving it a shot. Can't say I notice any difference, but when you figure out cost the Amalgamated works out to be quite a bit cheaper in how much it cost to treat each gallon of diesel fuel.

 

[JJW_ND]

5W is better in Real cold weather!

I have ran both Amsoils and now Mobils syn oils. I went from PB2000 (semi 15W40) which became hard starting much below -5. The Amsoil 15W40 seemed OK down to -15 or so but it two real begain to drag down. The 5W oils either Amsoil or Mobil real seem to shine from -10 and below. I would not worry about being plugged in with 5W oil. Even when plugged in, straight 15W40 takes for ever to get oil pressure. Syn 15W40 takes longer then I want in really cold temps. I want a yearound oil. All the above do fine in extreme heat from my experience.



If cost is an issue (amsoils 5W is pretty expensive) I would look at the newer (psudosynthetics) like Valvoline Extreme 5W40 or Rotella's.



jjw

ND

 

[RDHamill]

I've been using the Amsoil 5w30 for a couple of years, never had a cold start problem.

We get from about -40 to as high as 90F, even over night at a hotel at -40 it will start just fine, and that's with no block heater, only use that at home.

oil has been testing fine with bypass filter system on for almost 100,000miles.



seems like the way to go to me.



had timing cover off last week and noticed everything was very clean, nice to see with 150,000 on truck.