Simple question about oil changes.
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 71
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Simple question about oil changes.
I am changing the oil on my powerstroke tomorrow. I have 3000 since the last change. So I bought the oil and the filter and $50.00 later I am ready. Then a thought came to mind. See I work as a tech at a car dealership. I am also a firm beliver in changing oil every 3000 miles. I also have the use of the shop and a rack to lift my truck so it is easy to do. But seeing I am the only one with a real truck at work I have no one else to ask. With the powerstroke holding 15 Qts (triple what a normal car or truck take) How ofter do YOU all change your oil?
Steve
Steve
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 59
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I change mine at 5000K but clean oil is a diesels best friend especially with direct injection because your oil is pressured to 3000 plus psi to open the injector. I think the rack will help out because I dropped the damn filter on my antisway bar twice and once the damn thing hit my head and what a mess! I have to post pictures. I'm not a rookie either, over 300 plus oil changes and I own 8 cars. Anyway, 3000 miles is great but as study and test suggest you may just be wasteing oil. 3000 is what oil companies and bussiness want because they make Your money.Hell, BMW, and M-Benz go 10,000-15,000 miles between changes and Toyota says 3,800 for alot of thir cars. so I guess it's just personal preferance. I changed the oil in my bike with a wet clutch as part of the engine oil every 1000.
PS have 20 Quarts around because you'll probably need about 17!
PS have 20 Quarts around because you'll probably need about 17!
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
I have been changing mine at 7000 miles, last oil change I did the UOA, and the TDN through blackstone labs my TDN was 7.2 (out of 12) and they suggested trying 7500 miles next time. Oh and that was shell rotella 15w-40
New User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 23
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Flame away if you want, but I went through a process using oil analysis starting at 8,000 miles, again at 12,000; then again at 16,000 miles all reports came back great. This was over a 6 month process. That was using the Fram heavy duty oil filter. I only changed it because
1. I did not feel comfortable going any more on the oil and<O
</O
2. I was leaving on a trip pulling 10k lbs for over 1000 miles.<O</O
Based on my oil analysis I am going to shoot for 8-10k oil changes.<O</O
<O</O
I did the same thing on my 12v Cummins and it also came back with great results ending at 15,000 miles. <O</O
I get my oil for free so it really does not matter when I change it, but I drive 500-700 miles a week and I just don't want to change it that often.<O</O
If you are worried shoot for 5k you will be fine.
Not bashing Amsoil, but I did an analysis after 6k miles with there synthetic and it came back with high copper. The analysis said it could be caused by an oil additive. I use dello 15-40 now.
As far as changing, punch a hole in the bottom of the filter first, let it drain, then remove the plug and let it drain. I also pour 1 quart or more through till the oil comes out clear.
1. I did not feel comfortable going any more on the oil and<O
</O2. I was leaving on a trip pulling 10k lbs for over 1000 miles.<O
</OBased on my oil analysis I am going to shoot for 8-10k oil changes.<O
</O<O
</OI did the same thing on my 12v Cummins and it also came back with great results ending at 15,000 miles. <O
</OI get my oil for free so it really does not matter when I change it, but I drive 500-700 miles a week and I just don't want to change it that often.<O
</OIf you are worried shoot for 5k you will be fine.
Not bashing Amsoil, but I did an analysis after 6k miles with there synthetic and it came back with high copper. The analysis said it could be caused by an oil additive. I use dello 15-40 now.
As far as changing, punch a hole in the bottom of the filter first, let it drain, then remove the plug and let it drain. I also pour 1 quart or more through till the oil comes out clear.
Last edited by boathauler; Nov 17, 2006 at 03:09 AM.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 281
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From: Sherman, IL
I was doing it every 5k, now I have a bypass filter and I'm having analsys done. I don't pull anything except for a waggon every now and then. The first analsys I had done before the bypass filter told me to try going 7500. Now I'm just waiting to rack up some miles before I send it off again.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 20,589
Likes: 2
From: Charlotte, NC
7500 miles...just changed mine. I only tow or haul heavy stuff occasionally, and not too much stop-n-go driving......If you do a lot of one or the other (towing, stop-n-go), you'd probably want to consider shorter interval. Shell Rotella 15W40.....and just went to the wix oil and air filters.....(NAPA)...
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,111
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
I do a lot of short trips with my truck unless I'm on vacation, so mine's more on a time table. I'll take six months to drive 2000 miles in the wintertime. I change it every 2000 miles or right befor I go out on a trip with the trailer whichever comes first.
It goes without saying that my oil is pretty clean and I like it that way.
It goes without saying that my oil is pretty clean and I like it that way.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 649
Likes: 0
From: Charleston SC
Stretch it out..
I run the Rotella 15w40 but I live in South Carolina so the cold weather is not a problem here. I would suggest that you get a sample to Blackstone when you do finally change it. I would reccomend waiting till 5000 for a base sample for you. Also 2 hints ......poke a hole in the bottom of the filter and allow the filter to drain completely before you remove it.....and get a "Fomoto" drain valve. I got mine at Dieselsite.com and it works great...get the one with the nipple and it wll make it a lot cleaner.....also I have been told by reliable sources that about 3/4 of one quart in the HPOP stays there even when you change the oil, so it may or may not be crystal clear when you start it back up after the change....hope this helps...Dave