Oil Change Intervals

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by kwforage, Sep 12, 2009.

  1. Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

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    Lots of things I agree with here...
     
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  3. Kansas

    Kansas Road Train Member

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  4. Krooser

    Krooser Road Train Member

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    Gotta look today but I think I still have a supply of sample bottles from a local lube outfit US Oil...
     
  5. heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

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    I have always changed my oil at 10,000 go close to 11 at times. the way I see it. oil samples are good. but if the oil sample say's , everything good at 10,000 then I go to 15,000 then it is determined I need to change it, at what point did it go from not needing changing to needing changing? I dont want to drive 200 miles if my engine is less protected by too mamy miles on oil. I look at my oil at 10,000 & I say NO WAY is this oil in this condition as effective as when new. it it just a peace of mind thing with me. oil analys, I would use to tell me if anything is going on in engine. not when to change oil. at 10,12,000 it, may be ...may be.. too early. but at 10,000 it would never be too late & I want to error on the side of caution. I may be wasting some money, but peace of mind for me is worth it. just a habit with me.
     
  6. heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

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    wether you agree aor disagree this post.. it was a well thought out ,well caculated, good in theory & add's some good advice.
     
  7. Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

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    I would agree that it might just be a case of "stickler for details". :biggrin_25525: In the real world today, the group III synthetics are pretty darn close to, though I would agree not quite, to the Group IV synthetics like Amsoil. Group IV Amsoil synthetics are made from natural gas, wherease group III are severly hydrocracked petroleum oil. I tried the Group IV based synthetics for a while in my engine, but would get spikes in wear metals I couldn't account for. After going back to Group III blend, everything settled down.

    If something like Amsoil, Delvac 1, whatever, and it shows good results in your engine and you can justify the cost, then by all means, use it. No problem with me. It didn't perform anywhere close to cost effective for me in my ISX. My Jeep Diesel shows good numbers using Amsoil.

    Cost does not always imply the best to use for every situation. I use a cheap shampoo compared to the high ticket stuff and get better cleaning and no dandruff. Similar situation happens to be the case with my engine. I get darn good wear numbers and performance from my supplier's branded blend of oil at a darn good price and didn't get results I liked with a higher priced oil like Amsoil. When I shelled out the high price for Amsoil, I sure wanted it to perform well, it just didn't and the oil sample results showed that.

    I think if everyone would approach their choices based on results instead of what looks good in a brochure, they would be much happier. Doesn't make anyone inferior for their choices, just responsible.

    Fortunately, we live in a country where we can do all the "what ifs" and have a broad selection of choices and argue the merits of the our choices.
     
  8. Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

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    The question this post sparked in me is... how would you know if you couldn't go to 15,000, 20,000 or whatever unless you gave it a one time try? True, the lab will tell you when to change, but even they have criteria that determines this and is not just when the oil is no longer doing its job. TBN would get down to a level they say it is time to change, but there is still a safe amount of TBN in the oil when they say it. Oil just doesn't one day do its job, and then at mid point the next day it no longer will perform. The changes are so gradual.

    If you chose 10,000 miles for OCI, go for it. I have no dog in that hunt. I was doing oil samples anyway, so it was logical for me to look at those results and then decide I could take my oil drains longer. I didn't extend the drains trying to prove a point, the oil sample results helped me make an informed decision to extend the drains based on my oil was clean, not breaking down, and wear metals were low.

    I get the idea that oil change intervals are based more on "that's the way we always have done it" than based on information. Oils, regardless the brand, are light years ahead of what they were a couple of decades ago, yet we still do the same things that we did in the 80's. Fine, I guess, but I thought I would move on and see the results I was getting and base my oil changes on that. Fortunately, I learned I could double or even triple the length of time on my oil. And comfortably to, without coming anywhere close to a danger level in my engine. And any saving in time and money makes those decisions better to live with as well.
     
  9. CaliforniaOvernight

    CaliforniaOvernight Light Load Member

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    Extending oil drain periods is pure lunacy and done by people who don't have a clue about engines.

    Oil ability to absorb dirt is limited.
    You can test it all you want, thing is if you reach certain level of "saturation" and still keep it (because your lab see nothing wrong with it) the soot will start to build up inside your engine instead of being transferred to oil filter, as oil doesn't have capacity to carry it no more.

    Oil is cheap. Drop it
     
  10. chalupa

    chalupa Road Train Member

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    This might help all: A former carrier was interested in knowing what's what with oil change intervals and since everyone had a different opinion he decided to run his own.

    The specs: 50 tractors, 45 cummins and 5 cats, mixed use on local / line haul.
    Oil : 15w40 from Shell, Royal purple, Cummins blue and Delo.
    Filters : Baldwin, Wix, OTC dealer.

    Results: ( by spectro analysis ) at 12000 miles all metal content from all engines regardless of oil / filter combo in the oil went straight up on the graph. (+ / - on mileage )

    Other data: Trucks were mid 90's versions with avg mileage around 150k so yes the data is old and engines have changed somewhat however it's a good baseline to start from.
     
  11. Smalltruck

    Smalltruck Light Load Member

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    If you really wanto learn about oil check out>> http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php

    I suspect Blackstone labs may have a hand in here but have NO proof. My point though is they have the best info out there on oil from an unbiased point.
     
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