Synthetic Oil at 3000 miles?

[RRees]

I've read a few posts where its not recommended due to extended break-in times due to running synthetic. Is it ok to run synthetic engine oil at 3000 miles if I can live with the extended break in time.



I changed the factory oil out at about 1500 miles along with the filter.

Since it is starting to get cold here in Iowa (not extremely cold yet), and due to the fact that I have already bought 3 gallons of the Shell Rotella synthetic I figure I would ask all the experts out there in TDR land.



Note: I have about 1500 miles on the 15-40 Shell Rotella T in the engine right now. I'm not worried about the added expense of changing the oil out prematurely since my truck is only driven about 25 miles a day, except on weekends.

 

[CarlsonR]

Drained my oil as soon as I got new truck home to get rid of whatever cheap bulk oil DC uses at the factory. Had 12 miles on the odometer. Used Rotella syn and new filter, contrary to the long breakin rumor's you hear about, my 2005 owners manual advised "no break in required" other then advising not to tow any thing heavy for the first 500 miles. I have no issues related to rings not seating ie; oil consumption,blowby, or poor fuel milage. Most piston ring seating(99. 9%) takes place in the first 30 minutes of operation and I imagine this is mostly complete by the time the motor leaves the cummins factory bound for Mexico for install in the truck.

 

[RRees]

CarlsonR,



Thanks for the quick reply. I'll probably change it out this weekend.

 

[coobie]

Drained my oil as soon as I got new truck home to get rid of whatever cheap bulk oil DC uses at the factory. Had 12 miles on the odometer. Used Rotella syn and new filter, contrary to the long breakin rumor's you hear about, my 2005 owners manual advised "no break in required" other then advising not to tow any thing heavy for the first 500 miles. I have no issues related to rings not seating ie; oil consumption,blowby, or poor fuel milage. Most piston ring seating(99. 9%) takes place in the first 30 minutes of operation and I imagine this is mostly complete by the time the motor leaves the cummins factory bound for Mexico for install in the truck.

Are you sure it was cheap bulk oil you got rid of?I was under the impression the oil that came with the cummins motor was valvoline premuim blue. From what I have read do not use syn. until your truck has at least 20,000 miles on the OD. coobie

 

[klenger]

Two oil changes in 3000 miles? You're going to wear it out just doing the service. Remember, these are 500,000 engines running dino oil.

 

[RRees]

klenger,



The main reason for changing to synthetic is because my truck will sit outside in below freezing temps during the day this winter. I don't think it will wear my truck out by changing oil prematurely. Alot of people run bypass filters anyway. I know you were stating that in jest.



This is my first year with a diesel. And I don't want to have a bad experience because I took a shortcut somewhere.



I might wait a few more weeks to change though. Since I might be starting my gauge install, depending on honey-do list.

 

[JohnsonG]

I asked the question at Cummins.com and got the below back. .



*******************************

Details:

How long should someone wait to change to synthetic oil in a 2005 dodge 5. 9?



Thank You

Greg Johnson

Counter # : 68006

Subject : Changing to Synthetic oil

Serial # :

User : JohnsonG

Date/Time : 11/01/2006 - 8:57 PM

City : Las Cruces

State : NM

Solution:

Thanks for your Email message.



You should wait until after the first oil change interval.



We thank you for your interest in Cummins products. Please let us know if you need assistance in locating the nearest Cummins-authorized Dealer or Distributor Service Provider. For assistance in locating a Service Provider, feel free to use Cummins Service Locator, which can be found on Cummins website:



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=========================================================================

 

[DPKetchum]

I changed first oil at 3k and it was free. They used the Mopar 15w40. Second at 8k with a $54. 95 coupon(Mopar 15w40) Third at 13k(coupon deal again) At 18k went with Amsoil full syn. 15w40 and Fleetguard filter. I like a new engine to get what I call somewhat burnished in on dino oil and a few miles on said oil. 20 years ago the industary liked to see a new engine first oil change at 1000 to 1500 miles. Machining is better then then. Most of the guys I know around here waited till 5k on their trucks for first oil change.

 

[JERRYKAM]

Believe what you want and do what you will. Its your $40k investment.



Most experienced and here is a key word "reputable" desiel mechanics, subscribe to a break in period of at least 10K miles using dino oil if towing prior to shifting to full synthetic oil. 15-20k miles if you only occasionaly tow. If you never tow then it is irrevelent. Diesels utilize extremly hard rings that require heavy loading to fully seat. The heavyer the load the soomer they seat. A sure sign of incomplete breaking and worse yet of cylinder wall glazing is blowby and oil consumption. If you are unfortnate enough to experience cylinder wall glazing then you will find yourself in the unenviable postion of owning a diesel that may never acheive optimum fuel mileage.





Ask yourself the question. What is driving me to switch to synthetic oil? If breakin periods are important then use that as your guide. If breakin isn't important then do what you will.



Don't get me wrong, I'm a strong proponent of synthetic engine oil and run it in all my vehicles. As for my CTD, I have the patience to wait until it hits its third scheduled oil change at which time I will switch over. Lost nothing, and guranteed myself of a full breakin.

 

[DPKetchum]

A longer message required! YUP!

 

[RRees]

I'll probably wait until next spring or next oil change interval. Hopefully I'll get some towing in early next year and help the break in. I can be patient (I guess).



I joined the TDR to learn. I guess I better pay attention to my teachers.



Later,



Bob

 

[Diesel Nut]

To each their own. I changed all my trucks out the first change. No, I never had them to 500K, but they drove great, made power, towed like mad, and still got good fuel mileage. Amsoil specifically states it is perfectly safe to install in a new vehicle. I have excellent results.



I guess if you really wanted a thinner oil for mornings you could find a Dino 5W40. That would start a little easier. Another idea is to get one of those heavy duty plug timers and plug your block heater in, and set it to turn on 2-3 hours before you start the truck every morning. That will help knock some frost off at startup.

 

[DPKetchum]

These trucks come from the factory and sold in every state in all types of weather and temps. Cummins must not be to concerned with them having thinner weights in the dead of winter any where. 15 to 20k is not that lomg a wait tio swich.

 

[2broke2smoke]

question i've always had was:

don't vipers ... corvettes ... bmws ... and lots of other high end cars come with mobil 1 in the motors from the factory ?



rotella dino has been used in all of million mile motors i've heard of ...



1st oil change in the wifes '06 i did at 1500 miles ... oil was coal black and dealer handed me the filter and oil for the first change so it got mopar ...



was coal black again at 5k so that's when the rotella synthetic went ...



i believe that if you use a diesel oil at the normal intervals that these motors will outlast any owners who can afford a 40k dollar truck ...



i can't imagine anyone in here driving their '06 cummins 20 years from now with 500k miles on it ...

 

[DPKetchum]

Yes Vipers and Vettes,BMW's etc.come with synthetic oil. BUT Cummins says not to until 15 to 20k. Apples to Oranges. Obvisouly something is differant. Ring design or cylinder wall finish etc.

 

[John Boyce]

I changed to synthetic at my first oil change at 7500 miles. The dealer didn't seem to know what I was talking about when I mentioned that the owner's manual recommends synthetic 5W-40 for cold weather. Apparently all they use on other diesel trucks is 15W-40. They went ahead and put Mobil 1 5W-40 because I asked for it, and charged me accordingly! I feel better going into this winter with the Mobil 1, but the fact is that I went through last winter just fine on the factory oil, and my truck is parked outside all day. It gets plenty cold here in Bismarck, and I had no problems at all starting it at the end of the day, even on days where the "high" didn't get above zero.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hi John, did you have them put in the diesel spec Mobil 1 (which is Delvac 1) or standard Mobil 1? I don't think it's diesel rated.



In my experience running synthetic oil and doing oil analysis I got the lowest wear numbers using Delvac 1 and Amsoil 15w40. Living in ND synthetic is the right thing to do



Vaughn

 

[pwr2tow]

John,
From one North Dakotan to another, Welcome.

 

[pwr2tow]

This is a confusing and to some a sensitive issue.
My owners manual states this.

QOUTE
Your cummins 24 valve turbo diesel engine does not require a break-in period due to its construction.

Because of the construction of the cummins diesel engine, engine run-in is enhanced by loaded operating conditions which allow the engine parts to achieve final finish and fit during the first 6,000 miles.

Where there are no provisions to keep the engine warm when it is operating in ambient temperatures consistently below (-10F/-23C), use 5-40 synthetic engine oil.

The proper SAE viscosity of engine oil for the expected ambient temperature range should be selected, as indicated in the following chart.
NOTE: The same oil change interval is to be followed for synthetic oil as for petroleum based oil. Also, synthetic oil must meet the same performance specifications as petroleum oil.

0 degrees to any temps over 30 degrees use 15-40
any temp under -20 degrees to any temp over 30 degrees use 5-40 synthetic.
Sorry I couldn't draw a graph . UNQOUTE

 

[CarlsonR]

Any one who has ever seen a actual cummins document(or any other engine manfr for that matter) that specificly states to not use synth oil due to break-in issues please post it. please, no second hand my third cousin in alabama who's a cummins rep stories.