Recommend Oil Change Interval - Triaxle Dump Truck

Start with the intervals that Paccar recommends in their manual. Then start sampling and adjust your OCI according to those results over time. Pay close attention to silicon (air filters) if that dump will be seeing lots of site work or excavations. There are several threads about this here if you use the search function.

 

I used CAT for my 3406e because it was convenient but you can use whoever you want. Install a valve on your oil pan for easy access.

 

I use an oil filtration system and it makes sampling easy and keeps my oil cleaner. There are numerous systems available and pick one that suites your needs. I have used the OPS system for nearly 9 years and have been pleased with how it performs.

 

The sample kit I use comes with a prepaid UPS mailer and sample bottle. It’s a very small bottle roughly the size of a large prescription bottle. The system has a valve on the side of it to draw a sample out easily. I am strictly on highway use so my changes may not be the same as yours. I generally sample at 15,000 miles and then sample and change the oil at 30,000. The system is designed to only change your filters, sample and as long as the lab says the oil is good you can run it. I change my oil myself and my rig starts to use oil after the oil gets alot of miles so I change it before it really needs it.

 

Oil analyses is a great way to keep an eye on things, BUT you need to know what is "normal" or else all these numbers won't mean much or you could misinterpret what you're seeing.

Like during break in, the first oil change you're going to have more metal than normal. This is not cause for concern. But you get that elevated level of metal at 250,000 miles, you got problems.

 

I would go off engine hours for that sort work rather than miles.

 

Yea, you can definitely do that. I guess theoretically you can do ALL maintenance based on hours, kinda like with a plane or a boat. If you do a lot of idling I would think hours would be better than miles anyway.