Cummins oil change intervals and oil recommendation at 600k miles

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Xenergiserx, Jun 20, 2022.

  1. Xenergiserx

    Xenergiserx Light Load Member

    107
    60
    Feb 2, 2021
    0
    Thanks in advance.
    My truck just turned 600k
    I was wondering if I should get a thicker oil 15-40
    I’m using delvac
    Also oil change should be done at 35k on 3000 miles a week ?
    That’s what Cummins recommend ( i think is way too much) Should I do 20-25-30k miles .?? I’m confused. I know people doing it every 10k but everything is too expensive right now


    Truck is deleted so no egr.!
     
    truckdriver31 Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

    16,470
    53,809
    Aug 8, 2015
    0
    I’d stay with recommended weight/viscosity, shorten up the interval maybe. Especially if it burns a second added gallon quicker than the first, between changes. No scientific evidence here. Just that worn oil seems to burn faster, as it loses viscosity. I usually change mine, a gallon low. Keeping it topped to the low mark, when close to oil change time. Doesn’t hurt it. Using the gallon towards the oil change. Helps with cost. Have to be careful, don’t want to get too low. I’ve went 2 gallons low often, on an older engine. Watching oil pressure. Since the added oil seems to burn up quickly. Then change ASAP. Old worn out engine on its last leg, I’d go up to 15-40, even add some Lucas. That’s old superstition, they say. May not apply to newer tighter tolerance engines. Exactly why I’d stick with original recommended oil now. Thicker’s not always better with new engines, from what I’ve heard. My old Detroit’s had 50% Diesel in the oil, from a bad injector, and excessive Lucas used towards the end. Only thing affected was the amount of oil leaking, and some eventual sludge built up on the rockers. I think the newer engines aren’t as forgiving. I’d go by the book. My old Cat used to burn a gallon between oil changes once it hit 600k. That was at 12k intervals. Over time, oil usage would increase, as it got closer to 1 mil miles, typically adding a gallon, and being low a gallon again, using 2 gallons, then changing it. That all was considered normal oil usage for the miles on the engine. It was cost effective to not add the second gallon, instead just change it. Since added oil would just burn up quickly anyway. Keeping it changed was better for the engine, and discourage increased oil usage. That’s why I still believe it applies to even newer engines. Though tolerances and intervals have changed. The basics still apply. Oil pressure, and amount used between changes tells a lot about the amount of wear on engine. All these Fleet oil programs, extending changes, changing filters only, adding clean oil etc. Seem like a gamble. The fact that oil samples must be included in these programs to justify warranties proves it to me. Just change it, cheap insurance as they say.
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2022
    unloader, JolliRoger, 88228822 and 5 others Thank this.
  4. Dadetrucking305

    Dadetrucking305 Heavy Load Member

    954
    2,558
    Sep 15, 2011
    Cibolo,Texas
    0
    That’s straight from Rawze the Cummins guru. 0DE7A28F-EEB4-40C4-B6FE-20267E8208C7.png
     
    Diesel Dave, baha, Xenergiserx and 4 others Thank this.
  5. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

    6,985
    8,340
    Sep 18, 2013
    0
    You can go 50k. We do at work
     
  6. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

    16,470
    53,809
    Aug 8, 2015
    0
    Werner used to change oil based on hours, not miles. I can’t remember the set number. That was 30 yrs ago. 11.1 and 12.7 Detroit engines. They always made good reliable O/O Trucks, purchased at a decent price, through their Highway Sales used Dealer. In 1996, I could have bought a 95 Condo from them, 12.7/10 spd. Truck had 305k, been Team Driven. $53k. Instead I bought a 92 WS with 500k mikes for $40k. It was a nice Truck at a good price. Should have bought the Condo. Newer, better mpg and lower miles. I’m sure I’d made more money with it. But nooooo, had to have that pretty WS, with the 5.2 mpg 425 Cat.
     
    truckdriver31 and Xenergiserx Thank this.
  7. TruckerPete1990

    TruckerPete1990 Road Train Member

    8,623
    5,374
    Jul 16, 2012
    Bentonville Arkansas
    0
    Oil sample and see what it say to change. I've gone 100k miles before draining oil. I would just change my bypass filter and my engine oil filter every other service. Honestly with today's technology there really isn't a need to keep draining oil and wasting money...
     
    truckdriver31 Thanks this.
  8. Dadetrucking305

    Dadetrucking305 Heavy Load Member

    954
    2,558
    Sep 15, 2011
    Cibolo,Texas
    0
    You can can extend it as far as you want but it doesn’t mean it’s good for the engine.Fleets don’t care they extend their PM’s as far out as they can then dump them after a certain amount of miles.
     
  9. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

    20,658
    100,386
    Dec 18, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    8000 miles?

    what a waste of oil.

    try 18,000 miles with a OA.
     
    truckdriver31 Thanks this.
  10. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

    20,658
    100,386
    Dec 18, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    A lot of fleets care, they are not on the 500k and out cycle for trucks, some truck fleets will do 45k oil changes with a million mile trucks. Oil now isn’t oil in the 90’s and engines today are not the engine of the 70’s.
     
  11. mustang190

    mustang190 Road Train Member

    2,717
    5,801
    Jan 18, 2011
    Florida Panhandle
    0
    Hours not miles. I would research the numbers and change the oil/filters at that interval. And dropping in a gallon of Lucas oil treatment won’t hurt.
     
    truckdriver31 Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.