Switching Engine Oils - Opinions?

I’ve used them for 9 years. 15-40 semi synthetic 7000.

I like the sales rep, he came and visited in person.

Sample kits are $15 from their lab. Oil is now $900+ for a 30 gallon barrel, delivered to my door. I change my own.

I get their grease and fuel additives too, free delivery over $500.

I only change based on samples. Usually 30k to 40k miles. Sample every 10k. Usually the base number (acidity) is the reason for change. Sampling just lets me know if bearing/liner/piston/rings/injectors are an issue.

It may be more expensive oil, but slightly extended changes with sampling tamps down the extra cost.

I believe oil is oil - only the additive packages are different. Schaefer’s sells on molybdenum. I ain’t no chemist. I dunno.

Information above is based on a 2000 N-14, and a 1995 12.7 . Total miles 700,000.

 

Mine was factory filled with delo 10w-30, use 5w-40 deli XSP by the drum now.

 

I'm switching to Shaffers 722 10w30 Synshield. Advice I've received is just about the same all across the board regarding the weight of oil in these newer cummins motors which is to stick with 10w30. This truck high idles about 2-3 hours total a day for about 5-6 days a week which is why I wanted to fish around for oil. I pull #### grades and run back highways about 50% of the time, lots of load, shifting, engine braking, etc. and so the shift into something like this came up.

 

Is it really that bad? We have a few owner ops running Philips66 15w40, Rotella 10w30, I ran Delo up until now, but everyone else hasn't had any issues and those are all 565/1850 or 605/2050 2019+ Cummins, same application.

 

I just ordered 4 cases of 6 for the free shipping off 722 Synshield 10w30. And the lab kits are now free after you hit a total of $1k in total purchases, with 3 tests?

I'll paste an email from my local rep:
#722 Synshield Ultra Performance 10w30
55 gallon drum
$1,57025
$28.55/gallon

6x1 gallon case
$187.02
$31.17/gallon

Schaeffer pays for shipping on orders $500 and more.
At $1,000 orders, you received 3 free oil analysis kits.
Let me know if you have further questions.

 

So how far do you go thru intervals? (Oil changes)

 

15k miles or 500 hours which is what I did for OTR 80k gross, which I was told and felt was premature for even that type of haul and I’ve stuck with that for this haul I’m doing now.

 

Pay attention to detail.
How does the motor sound.
Oil consumption.
Gasket leaks.
Motor running hotter.
Taking longer to cool down.
Fuel economy.

I've seen 2 oils only drop temp 30* after sitting for 10 hours. One was semi and company replaced alot of cracked heads coming out of Phoenix.

The other was my car after a dealer Oil change. And sitting at work all day.

I recently drove a 2020 Cummins that got a new head at 175k. That motor sounded like a tank and dropped 1 quart after 2 weeks total usage.

People say oil is oil. And that's probably true. But the additives package. Is not the same.

 

Rotella in bulk is $27/gallon depending on your shop discount, so it’s really not that bad.

I get a 30 gallon drum. I like the rep, like the delivery, grease is good.