Is anybody still doing a 10-15K oil change?

I was giving reasons why I choose to not do 15k on oil. The only real reason to go longer is to save some money.

I wouldn't say the 15k oil change is a waste of money every time. Depends how you look at it. Its a lot different from a single truck perspective than a fleet.

I do not run any bypass filtration. I feel that 1,000hr interval is enough for our needs. The T800 with the N14 that mixes feed gets just under 3,000 per year. On that one if it would do 1500 I would do it. However 1000 has been a safe limit of what it likes. Our most used tractor runs just over 1000hrs per year and our 3 most used skid steers each run 1000hrs per year. Aside from those pieces of equipment, not much gets run over 1000hrs per year much less 500hrs. I am not a believer in changing every year by any means, but I think two years is enough. Our trucks for hauling feed and milk on road put on 50,000/year. So we really aren't racking miles up that fast. The Detroit was just overhauled so I do not have a baseline interval set for that yet. The C13 I am still working on finding one. At 20,000 miles the UOA was perfect. I don't think I'll go to 50k with the cheap oil we have now, but who knows where it will end up.

All of our equipment is either at home or returns home every night. This means I get a chance to go through them weekly or bi-weekly at a minimum. I don't synchronize everything with the oil change.

Maintenance is always a fun topic because there are a million ways to go about it and no one way will suit them all. I like learning new ideas from others on it to find ways to improve my program. When it comes to scheduled maintenance and determining when things need maintenance and how much, I have probably learned more about that through industrial maintenance people. Their machines are often running 24/7 and are very costly to fix. They have ever grease gun calibrated and the precise amount needed at a certain amount of time for each zerk. Its pretty interesting to say the least.

 

I retired in 2007, from Freightliner, they did a Drop and Go oil change for $59.00 plus the filter, spinners or bypass filters extra, from memory a complete service was around $125, plus filters.
I do not know what you pay for an oil sample but we were charged $75.00 when I was involved with the early N14s. They could get an oil change for the cost of the sample, and when they did the sample they were changing the oil filters and spinners.
To me it was an interesting test that proved to me that Synthetic oils were a JOKE in a class eight, but also not cost effective.
I did notice that no one in their cost analysis included the cost of the sample and tubing.
Personally I believe in changing the oil, I look at the oil filler cap if it has foam on it their may be coolant in the oil, if there is metal on the oil pan plug, that is a problem, I cut apart filters looking for brass or aluminum.
Also I am a firm believer in changing bearings, first time early then going by what you see advancing the mileage interval, Knowledge is King, But spending a hundred dollars in oil samples to save the cost of an oil change that is not cost effective.
When figuring out the cost of an overhaul you have to include the cost of the tow, say 25% of the time you will need it.
I would never leave a filter in a unit for over a year, I really would like to know what you pay for an oil sample?
Just a thought!

 

I pay $19 per sample . It is costly when determining the initial interval but after that as long as you doubled the OCI it paid for itself. Its also worrh something knowing if dirr is getting into your system somehow or small fuel or coolant leaks.

Its also one of the best ways to determine if an oil is worth extra money.

I run synthetic gear lubes but never run synthetic engine oil. I am with you in the fact that it is too costly with minimal return.

 

I run a 3406C cat and change the oil at 15000 miles, but It has three oil filters on it and I take samples also. It has the regular cat oil filter and old 777 spin on bypass filter and the ops ecopur filter at 15000 miles my oil is black but not dirty. If you rub it between your fingers it is basically clean.

 

Huh? Who lost their engine? Wasn't me. In fact, the last truck I had passed me the other day on the way to Indianapolis, and they haven't done a thing to it since I sold it. It had roughly 930K on the engine and never had a rebuild or inframe in the time I owned it. I have to inform you that you are mixing me up with someone else. Now it is true I lost a cam at around 860K, but that was addressed in a Cummins TSB. Had to do with quality of a run of cams and rockers. Nothing to do with the oil. So laugh away funny man, sooner or later the white coat squad will stop by and give you a lift. What is funny here is how you are not absorbing oxygen like other folks and are suffering from hallucinations.

 

You just live for stirring the pot don't you? You really ought to apply to work for a politician. They could use you.

That might be true. After 30 years, still not sure if I will make it in trucking. Stay tuned.

 

I run a bypass unit and my oil samples are roughly $19-$20 also. I am in the same camp. I believe in having synthetics in the drive train, but the engine, I have not experienced any oil samples I have run when testing it out to show that it was of any real benefit. No mpg increase, no change in wear numbers, no change in rate of TBN depletion, etc than running conventional oil. I don't, and never have, taken oil change intervals out to extremes. Most I have really been comfortable with is about 50% longer than the OEM recommended drain interval. Oil still looked good in the sample, but I had reached my own personal comfort zone. My Detroit 60 I have now is getting oil changes about 30% longer than OEM drain interval in the manual.

 

What's the best bypass unit, sorry for the hyjack. Thanks dually, your posts are great well explained. I am oooking to get my new to me truck to save some money, look to go from 15k to 25k oil change, but i dont trust the oil without a secondary filter or spinner element.

 

10k miles for the last 20yrs.
Too cheap of insurance IMHO.
Not only the oil and filters, but thoroughly greased, nitrates checked, boxes, and so on.

Martin