MTC

The free oil changes at the dealership are over....now Im gonna do them myself.

The local Autozone has Rotella and Valvoline premium Blue...both dino and full synthetic. Id like to use one of them because ofthe easy availability.

I have done the hours of searching and both are good possibilities. Which one would be my better choice? Is synthetic really that much better? Also, I change the oil every 5K. Any input is appreciated.

1985cucv

rotella makes your truck stink so i would run valvoline. i personally use mobil delvac 15 40 from wally world

MTC

Actually, Autozone sells that also, at the same price as the Valvoline. You happy with the Mobil Delvac?

Lost Lake

I think you should use Rotella and Napa filters....

Look at what they did for gofastman:

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...e-t264759.html

Seriously, if you are changing every 5,000 miles (good for you! ) then any old oil will be fine, and you should be able to get a million miles from that engine.

Torqfan84

with a 5k drain interval synthetic would just be a waste of money, i am a very happy user of the valv premium blue oil, and would recommend it to anyone. Just my opinion

bansh-eman

I normally run Rotella but I picked up some Delvac 1300 while it was on sale. All the name brands are fine to use. The synthetics are not full synthetics. They are semi-synthetics. I run mine to 9k and change the oil and filter. I am about to start running Amsoil full synthetic soon as I have purchased a bypass and I want to maximize my oil change intervals.

Oils at Walmart and Autozone are about the same $$$. I like buying things like that at Autozone becasu the rewards thing. Just make sure you break up your purchase into 20 dollar segments to get all your points. It is kind of stupid that if you buy something for 60 bucks you still only get 1 point, where if you make 3 20 buys you get 3 points. Every 5 points is 20 bucks worth of stuff.

MTC

Great info...thx guys

1985cucv

i like the delvac plus my buddy works at peterbilt and he says like 99 percent of big rigs run delvac so if its good enough for a million miles its good enough for me

Dieseljunkie

I run Amsoil, but I don't change every 5k. If you are set on changing every 5k, rotella or valvoline will be fine.

DaveB.inVa

If the Valvoline is the CI4+ Premium Blue Classic definitely go with it!

HMX-1

My dealership in Boise is doing 4 oil changes for $160, so I told the wife to get it for both trucks. They're putting in Valvoline Premium Blue in both and are running great.

SuperGewl

Yes it's true if you don't mind wasteing money by changing your oil every 5k then run the 100% synthetic. The one good thing about doing that is that you engine will run cooler and much better. Personally if yo are going to run 100% synth then change the filter every other 5k. Save your self some money and put a By-pass system on and do oil analysis done every 5-7k. You will be surprised at the results and the cost savings.

bansh-eman

I have to disagree. If your going to spend the money every 5-7k to do an analysis, by the time you should change the oil and filter, you have already paid in analysis what it would have cost to just do the change. You can get a very good idea of what intervals by talking to guys on here.

10k seems pretty normal for most guys running dino
18-22k for true full synthetic
upto 25 with a bypass and full synth

Change your filter ever oil change and if you run a bypass change it every other change. Keep in mind the bypass filters are like 35 bucks by them selfs. That's why most guys will reccomend full synth. Allows you to extend your intervals among other added benefits of the oil.

If you like to change your oil more frequently than 20k, stick with dino and a good filter like the Baldwin BT7349 or the Fleetguard Stratapore.

MTC

I only drive approx. 20K miles a year...and alot of that is towing. I just feel better changing the oil at 5K. Just changing once a year (with syn) would scare me. I think Im just gonna stick with the dino and change every 5K. I may be wasting $, but it'll make me feel better.

AH64ID

I just did a UOA with 22K on my oil, was cleared for another 7K miles.. thou I will change it at 25K since thats what the filter is rated for. Only about 15% of that was towing...

Synthitic is much better for towing as it handles the heat produced much better.

But if I were on the dino/5K boat I would probably run Delo or Valvoline and Fleetguard stratapore filters.

You can do a bypass on that setup too, and keep it for two oil changes, or 10K.. your motor will really like you for it.

OEM filter is 35um absolute
Stratapore is 25um absolute
Napa7620/ WIX 57620XE is 95% at 25um.
Amsoil/Donaldson is 15um absolute.

So Wix is better than OEM, but bang for buck on 5K changes is the Stratapore.

Personally I wouldn't ever go off the masses for extended oil change intervals. I do UOA every 7,000-7,500 miles (the severe service OEM change interval)... This is $23 every 7500 miles, so when my oil lasts 25K miles I have tested it 3 times and have documentation that its good. And at $160 an oil change its nice to know I can extend. Without UOA I would be changing my oil every 15K.