I have seen a bunch of threads regarding Amsoil. On their website they claim 25,000 miles per oil change. I don't know anything about the product but I might be interested in giving it a try. In regards to the tranny fluid. Will it make the 48RE shift any better or last longer??????? Any suggestions would be great...Thnx

 

I ran the same oil in my 89 for 4 1/2 years up to 60000 miles. I am changing it in this truck at 25000 but I also have the dual remote system. One fellow I met in NC has over 300000 miles on the same oil the last time I talked to him.

 

Amsoil does not have an ATF that that meets Chrysler ATF+3 and ATF+4 specs. This is not to say that Amsoil ATF will kill your 48RE, just that Chrysler will have cause to deny any warranty claim you might have on the trans. I think the 25k or 1 year oil change is perfectly reasonable on a Cummins, as long as you don't make mostly short trips (less than 10 miles at a time). You don't need to use Amsoil to do it, either. Any of the brand name diesel oils (synthetic or not) can go 25k or 1 year. Based on oil analysis, I'm running Delvac 1300 (not a synthetic) for a year - at 7 months, the analysis report looked almost like new oil.

 

Wannadiesel suggest you go to the Amsoil Corporate site under ATF and it does recommend Syntec ATF for DC ATF+3/4, more false advertising???? PK

 

This is a similar situation to the oil filter controversy. You can use something not on "The List", and it may cause no problems. If you have a problem, you are your own warranty station. If it were my (hypothetical) brand new truck, I'd use what the factory approved (even if I thought it might not be the best product available) until the truck was out of warranty. On my real world, long out of warranty truck, I use unapproved oil filters (Donaldson ELF) and transmission fluid (Redline MTL) because I think they are the best for my truck.

 

Ok, I run the Chevron Delo now and it works fine. I do an oil change every 5000 miles. Can I go longer???? Dealer told me about 5000 miles. I do a lot of city driving down here in L.A. but its a pain to change the oil.

 

If you are doing short trips where the engine does not get up to proper operating temperature for very long, I would stick with the 5000 mile interval. I have run the regular oil for 10000 miles before with no apparent problems. I did change the oil filter at 5000 miles though.

 

Chrismez, if you have a california spec cummins, it needs oil changes sooner than the normal models. I think the interval is 3750/7500 for severe/normal duty. 5000 is probably just about right on dino oil. You could go longer on an extended drain synthetic like delvac 1 or amsoil, however I'd recommend oil samples to determine the proper interval first..

 

Wannadiesel Wrote:
Any of the brand name diesel oils (synthetic or not) can go 25k or 1 year. Based on oil analysis, I'm running Delvac 1300 (not a synthetic) for a year - at 7 months, the analysis report looked almost like new oil.

My salesman said as we reviewed the maint book "We recommend you use the 'Schedule B' ", 3500 mile services.

I surpass all the items on the B sched

-40 mile to work, very limited <10mile
-Very limited towing over 90F
-Very little ops under 0F
-Normal Dust
-No Commerical Use

I posted the question to this group and got my head bit off, telling me "If you start your truck you need to follow sched B"

The research I did before buying the diesel suggested there was a longer time between services. Now I don't mind using the B sched if I need to and if I were from FLA or Nev I would agree with that statement. I live in NH.

What's the skinny here?

Kevin

 

Can you go longer? I'd say almost certainly. BUT, since you're still in the warranty phase, whats' the manual say? If push comes to shove and you've got a major problem, and the dealer says to produce your records on oil change intervals; if it isn't within the prescribed intervals, you might have to put on your tap dancing shoes. Or buy some non-petroleum jelly.

Like you, I'm well within the warranty period myself. I've got my paperwork in order.

 

It sounds to me like schedule A would be a better choice for you. Many people have a hard time letting go of the 3 month or 3,000 mile service intervals that have been pushed for the last 25 years. Oil is better and engines run cleaner now. I feel that the "A" plan is actually very conservative. However, I would not try extending out to longer than 7500 miles until you are out of warranty. Also, don't extend the oil changes blindly, get your oil analyzed when you are ready to explore the unknown. For more info, visit the oil nerds -Lightman, you know what you are - here.

 

It seems 50/50 on the oil change times. I think I will stick with the 5000 miles. Costco has the Delo for $30.00 (6 gallons). I appreciate the imput....................

 

just do an oil analysis after 5k on the oil and see how it looks. For 15 bux you can know if you are wasting your money dumping that early or if it's shot....

yes, thanks wannadiesel, I love diesel oils and biodiesel

 

Can I buy these kits at the local auto parts store? What is the name of them?

Thanks

 

any amsoil dealer can sell you an oil analysis kit, or you can get them from www.avlube.com , blackstone labs, genos, etc. Beware kits/tests that don't include TBN, it will usually cost a few bucks more, maybe 16 bux... I dunno. I bought 10 kits a few years back from amsoil for 11 bux a kit, including tbn. Dunno where they are now..