wick

What has everyone been using? Brands and weights....

admin

I use Shell Rotella 15-40. There are a lot of different brands of oils out there, and most of them will do just fine but I've always been happy with Rotella.

yz

I also use Rotella

pwabbott

I'm using Pennzoil 15w-40. There are lots of good brands of dino oil available. I debating whether or not to go to a synthetic at 15,000. I think they hold up much better when towing. 8)

bulabula

I plan on using Shell Rotella 15W-40 when the time comes for me to do the first oil change. My buddy with his large Bertram and pair of 3208's swear by it, as well as another with a Ford PSD.

Hunter

I plan on using whatever in heck the dealer is gonna put in her!<br><br>Why should I get my hands dirty and have old oil to get ride of when I can get the entire service done, have a record and warranty safe for $39.95?<br><br>Got me too! <br><br>Tired of doing my own thingie, gonna let the young boys do their work.<br><br>And, Sierra, will ask you this one. What in the HELL is with the Cali engine? only 1/2 of the miles for the &quot;B&quot; service on the truck?<br><br>Sheesh, instead of 15,000, or 7,500 you poor Cali folks gotta change at 3,500. What gives with that?<br><br>Wondering about Californians Hunter

Commatoze

I've been using Shell Rotella T 15W40 in mine, but I've got a stock of Rotella Synthetic for the next few changes.

[quote author=Hunter link=board=20;threadid=6455;start=0#60291 date=1036126965]
......
Why should I get my hands dirty and have old oil to get ride of when I can get the entire service done, have a record and warranty safe for $39.95?..........[/quote]

If you can get it done, with a Dodge equivalent Stratapore filter, and API CI-4 oil, more power to ya. That's a great price. Rotella and the filter alone cost me around $32.00. That's why I'm suspicous.

wick

[quote author=Hunter link=board=20;threadid=6455;start=0#60291 date=1036126965]<br>I plan on using whatever in heck the dealer is gonna put in her!<br><br>Why should I get my hands dirty and have old oil to get ride of when I can get the entire service done, have a record and warranty safe for $39.95?<br><br>Got me too! <br><br>Tired of doing my own thingie, gonna let the young boys do their work.<br><br>And, Sierra, will ask you this one. What in the HELL is with the Cali engine? only 1/2 of the miles for the &quot;B&quot; service on the truck?<br><br>Sheesh, instead of 15,000, or 7,500 you poor Cali folks gotta change at 3,500. What gives with that?<br><br>Wondering about Californians Hunter<br>[/quote]<br><br><br>$39.95 where are u getting your oil changed? It cost me just short of $90 in chicago.. u sure they are not putting regular oil in it... seems to cheap to me...

Bluedresser

I have always used STP as an additive to every engine I have ever used (stationary Diesels, marine engines, CTDs, my 1968 Plymouth Fury III, setc.). From hands on experience I know that it keeps the engines clean. I did a valve job on the old Plymouth at 103,000 miles (the unleaded gas didn't work with the soft valve seats) and when I pulled the intake manifold off, the valve valley was as clean as when it came off the assembly line, no sludge at all. I'm a believer.

pwabbott

Hunter and Wick, <br><br>A Calif. engine is engine which meets both federal and Calif emmisions standards. Calif. standards are high standards (fewer emmisions) than the federal standards. The California standards are about 2 years ahead of federal ones. Cummins has not produced a High Output engine to meet Calif. standards for this year. When they do meet Calif standards, Then the buyers can be assured the will be able to buy High Output engines for at least two more years.<br><br>I had only the standard output engine available. Here are comparisons in stats.<br><br>Power: Federal - 250 bhp @ 2900 rpm<br> Calif. - 235 bhp @ 2700 rpm <br><br>Torque Federal - 460 lb-ft @ 1400 rpm<br> Calif. - 460 lb-ft @ 1400 rpm<br><br>It appears from these stats that the torque curve starts downward at 2700 rpm for Calif version. For the Federal, 49 state version the torque curve starts downward at 2900 rpm.<br>Since horse power is the rate of doing work there is no difference in their performance at 2700 rpm or below.<br><br>As to why the maintenance interval is 1/2 the federal engines, it is not because the oil is breaking down sooner, breakdown depends on operating temperature. It may be that the engine is breathing dirtier air. More likely it is that the modification of the engine to meet Calif standards produces substances which are dissolved in the lubricant.<br><br>For myself, I use the Heavy Duty Service schedule. If my oil is remaining clean I will extend the interval up to the 49 state version. If I use a synthetic oil I will consider extending to 15,000 miles. 8)<br><br>Seems the dealer changes oil and filter around here for $80. That's 3 gallons of dino oil and their filter. Wally world sells dino name brand oil for $5.50-$6.50 per gallon. ($17-$20 for oil fleetguard filter $10-$11) Dealer markup 30-50%, cost of oil and filter brings it up to near $40 without shop time @ $75 per hour. <br> :'(<br><br>I figure changing my oil I'll save $50 per change plus at least an hour of my time. Second I'll know it is done right. The guy changing oil this week was washing vehicles last week, minimum wage jobs.

UTAH

8) Yeah - put me down for what Phil said.

I buy a 6-gallon case of Rotella T at Sam's for $33 a case and the filter from Cummins at $11. I use 1/2 of the case of Rotella to change the oil (12 quarts = 3 gallons).

So: Cost to change own oil =

Rotella = $16.50
Filter = $11.00
_____________

Total = $27.50

And, I've got the satisfaction of knowing it was done right.

Best to y'all
Bill

Hunter

Wick and all<br><br>The dealer uses the Mopar oil and the Mopar filter that is requred for the Cummins<br><br>Price is normally $45 off the street, but if you buy from them it is $39.95<br><br>The oil guy seems pretty knowledgeable so not worried.<br><br>One reason I bought from the local dealer at $300 over invoice (coulda got it at invoice in the big city)<br><br>Local dealer on the Oregon Coast has to take care of their customers as they rely on repeat and word of mouth. In the big city, screw them once, sell them once, heck, millions more out there I think is the attitude.<br><br>Happy to let them get dirty while I read the paper<br><br>Hunter

Commatoze

[quote author=Hunter link=board=20;threadid=6455;start=0#60719 date=1036187714]<br>...................<br>Happy to let them get dirty while I read the paper<br><br>Hunter<br>[/quote]<br><br>At that price, you bet! 8)

alabat

Just did the first one on my '03 at 2500 miles and used 15w40 Shell Rotella-T and at 15-20,000 miles will switch to Mobil Delvac 1 synethic. I am also doing oil analysis on a scheduled basis cause I want to.<br><br>My dealer did the first oil change and filter for free, but I did supply him with my oil.<br><br>I would advise one and all to change the oil at 500 miles, because the oil lab showed high silicon (dirt) in the oil 32PPM. This is probabily from the engine assembly. So change early<br><br>Do you guys know that the 2003's take a different filter then the older Cummins.

bulabula

BYURAM,<br><br>I'm not familiar with what is acceptable silicon levels in our engines. Is 32 ppm high but within limits, high and outside of limits, or high and out of sight?