I just got my oil changed at a jiffy lube type place( it was free ). So I saw the bottles sitting on the front of my rig They were blue from NAPA and said 10w40. I didn't get to read into it any deeper. Do you think they paid attention to the fact that it needs to be a diesel rated oil? Here is why I ask. Yesterday the check guages light came on for a second or two. When I looked the oil pressure was down around 30psi. Then I have noticed at times when I start the truck even only minutes after shutting it down the pressure is low for a while. Then it picks back up after I start driving. Before the other day though it would I would start the truck and the needle would rise steadily up to above 40 within a few seconds. Should I be worried? As most of you know I am new to the diesel engine realm so I get nervous easily. I know these trucks are tough, but I also know they are expensive to repair.

 

I would be....they may not have put enough oil in.......



My 4x4 (see sig) had a 10 qt oil pan on it, and once when the ex edit had the oil changed while I was out to sea (ex navy here), they only put 5 qts in it.

it acted the same way.

 

They had 2 gallons and 2 qts sitting on the core support ready to go in.

 

I don't think non-diesel rated oil would be the cause of your oil pressure concern, but I would sure check in to it. I have looked for diesel rated 10w40 a couple of times, but have never seen any. Unfortunately, I have seen a lot of evidence that many lube shop employees are not "experts" on lubricants or vehicles. I don't mean any offence here; I know there are many knowledgeable lube techs out there too.

 

I would just hope that since they could read a tech book and figure out it takes 10 qts that they could figure out it needed to be a specific type, Unless, the tech book didn't get that specific.

 

A "free" oil change can carry a lot of waivers. They may only fill with available stock (often non diesel rated). The fill quantity is usually limited to 6 quarts.

I would check the conditions of your free change. If it didn't cover the quanity 7 quality of oil recommended for the Cummins, they owe you another free change. If it covered your truck, they still owe you another oil change.

A wrong oil change should not show up that quick unless they under filled.

 

Just checked the oil. It is a 1/2" above the safe fill on a slight nose down slope. Otherwise the ground is flat. The engine is cold.

 

what kind of filter did they use ? any visible leaks ?

 

The grease monkeys at tose quick lube places aren't the brightest individuals (there are exceptions) when it comes to diesel engines. My bet is that they filled it up with gas engine oil (which will froth, and not handle the soot load). Hope they stuck a decent filter on it.

This is the biggest reason I change my own. I know my engine gets the proper treatment and the right lubricants and stuff. Not tryin to bash anyone that doesn't have the time, or it is freezing when it comes oil change time.

 

Gasser oil won't kill your engine. They aren't setup with the correct additives and the TBN is lower but if you change it at real regular intervals any oil will work.
Diesel oils are configured for higher stress and contaminant loads over the long term. I use diesel specific synthetic and supplemental filters,and don't change it but once a year.

 

just for your info when I first got my truck it had a lube service sticker in it dont know what kind of oil they used but every so often when driving down the road the oil pressure would drop to zero changed to rotella and haven't had a problem since

 

The 10W40 oil is not a reccomended oil for our engines, in fact it is not reccomended for a lot of engines. I just went through this myself. The only oils reccomended are 15W40, 10W30, 0W40 and 5W40, they should all be diesel rated with a CI or better rating, not just the S ratings. C rated 10w30 is hard to find at local car parts type stores. I usually go to a farm supply or big truck supplier.
chris

 

Sounds like that FREE oil change might cost you the price of another engine. I can't count how many times a car was brought in to our shop that just came from jiffy lube or quick lube because they tried putting the drain plug in with in impact gun or left two o-rings on the filter or just neglected to put the oil back in it. Sure, they'll buy another engine and have it installed, but whose to say whether the engine they get is in as good a shape as the one you had, meanwhile your without a truck because Jiffy lube is cheaper than having a shop do it.

 

Well I called the jokers. They said they put 15W40 motorcraft in. I know very well that the bottle said NAPA on them. I went out to my truck to get a sippy cup for my son and saw the bottles with my own two very capable eyes. Needless to say I will be doing my own oil change from here on out and I was unimpressed by the customer service. So that won't keep me there either. Thanks for you guy's input. It really is nice to have a place to go to get honest answers and not smoke from a company or corporation.
OK! All of that said, my check guages light still comes on. My oil pressure seems to build kind of slow. The temp has been under 25F for the last two weeks or so. Is or could this be the reason for the slow oil pressure? Along with the 15W40 momo oil? Should I run onother type of oil for winter? I can't afford full synthetic. I wonder about syn blends. What do you guys preffer? Remember I am not rich......yet!

Steve

 

I'm running castrol right now, bought at walmart. I have no oil pressure issues.