what oil are you guys useing

[CarlesHicks]

I own a 2003 ram and I'm curious what oil guys are running that have 400,000 miles or more, and what mileage between oil changes.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

If you search around on oil questions you'll find it can start quite a war and most people won't answer now a days. Any oil that meets the spec CI-4 whatever and is 15w40. Anything like Delo or Rotella that is easily available from Wally-World. I personally used Cen-Pe-Co but you won't find much info on that. Most people go 5,000 miles unless they have a bypass system but I don't know much about those. Anywhere between 3,000-7,500 is what you'll find people do normally. My 2 cents

 

[TravisG]

Schaeffer

I use Schaeffer Supreme 7000 15w-40 semi synthetic. It is made here in St. Louie, and they have been around since 1890 or something like that. You can check them out at www.schaefferoil.com. I go about 9000 miles between changes, but I sample the oil and get a TBN number ( I think that is what you call it. ) I have never got a sample back that said that the oil was even close to being worn out.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

Amsoil 15W40 Full Synthetic Marine Diesel for the past 165,000 miles - haven't used more than a quart in between 6000 mile oil changes. All oil analysis show a CTD in the same condition now as it was 165,000 miles ago.



Bob

 

[JFitzgerald]

Rotella 15W40 and a Fleetguard filter every 4,500 - 5,000 miles.

 

[dan brooks]

Rotella 15W40, have been changing at 3000 miles (just because I've always done it on my other vehicles... probably overkill, though). I normally run Fleetguard filters but put a Mobil-1 on the last time because the local KW dealer was closed.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

Tim is right, oil can cause serious aspersions to be cast in all directions... . but not in this group... in here, it's a team sport...

Been using Amsoil 15W-40 HDM just like buddy Bob above... .



The Pastor...

 

[JLEONARD]

Rotella 15W40 and a Fleetguard filter every 4,500 - 5,000 miles

Me too, but I only have 130,000 miles on her.

I'm almost ready to declare her "broken in".

 

[Greenleaf]

Shell R T, every 4,000 miles... . 'cause I like the smell of it



Fleet engines; somewhere between 9,000 and 16,000 miles. Some buses will barely see 9k in a year, so I change it once per year. while others will see 9k in a few months. These are changed upwards of 16k.



Scott

 

[Mel Fuelling]

247k. I've been using Rotella 15w40/fleetguard @ 5k change intervals(its easy to remember). Just changed to Rotella 5w40 synthetic for cold weather. Plan to change back after cold weather. Tempted to try Rotella 5w40 synthetic in Getrag next change.

Mel

 

[bgilbert]

Well I probly only run 6,000 miles in a year, but since I'm stop and go city driving, that puts me in the servere service, PM or periodic maintanence every 6,000 miles or 6 months which ever comes first, I use Chevron Delo 400? 15w40 and change it every 6 months, plus fuel and oil filters. Probly overkill. I don't quite believe its the brand of oil you use, aslong as you change it at the proper interval. Bill

 

[RGT]

Rotella @ 10k miles, may drop down the miles between changes as job location change has eliminated the amount of daily highway miles put on the truck... .

 

[sparks57]

I use rotella, and I change between 3k-5k depending on driving.

 

[fritzimax]

Rosmella 5w-40 synth and change @ 5K

 

[JApplegate]

well... with all this oil talk i talked to my dad (coast guard 4 years, engyen fixer person *laughs*) the ship he work on was 23 years old and it has never had an oil change and yes there is still oil that was 23 years old in it. oil really never breaks down. it just gets dirty and get water in it then you have to change it so if you are cheap or lazy just keep checking the dip stick for dirt or water my thoughts

 

[sparks57]

I thought thermal breakdown was the issue, and that over time the oil loses it's protective properties...



But I'm just a dumb college kid...

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

Oil does break down and in applications like the coast guard has they have purifiers to clean it up in uses like reduction gears. Also there are companies that come in and remove all of the oil from the sump and clean the sump and then put in new addative packages. Oil left un-treated will turn acidic and destroy things. In industrial turbines we watch the TAN which is a measurement of acid and this is one of the things the TBN of the oil takes care of.

 

[JLEONARD]

over time the oil loses it's protective properties...

It does. Some thermal breakdown, lots of dilution due to fuel getting past the rings, soot, lots of chemical dilution or should I say chemicals being added due to wear of cylinder walls, rings, bearings, etc. All that stuff's not good.

Look at an oil analysis sometime and see all the stuff that ends up in the oil even at normal change intervals.

But to each his own.

Jay

 

[DBF]

Premium Blue 15w40 every 6,000 with oil analysis every 12,000. Fleetguard filters. Still going strong.



DBF

 

[jhutton]

Mobil 1 Delvac with Militec added. 6,000 change intervals with filter change at 3000. K&N or Mobil 1 Filters.