How many miles do you run before changing oil?? Dodge says 7500 for heavy and 15000 for light is this correct??

 

5000 I use rotella if i used a syn. motor oil itd be 7500 Ive not worked it out yet to see witch way is cheaper

 

Well, mine is no virgin any more. Had it changed with 2300 miles on yesterday. I got the unlimited/lifetime oil change with my purchase (what a deal). When I was in there yesterday, I asked the service tech "How often do you guys care that I use this premier service?", he replied "When ever you feel like it, but @ least give it 2K.". I don't know how they do this, it's too good to be true. I have a contract though...He stated that I was lucky to have that, they were using it as a promo to move trucks, it sure moved mine....

 

I've never heard of it, but lifetime oil changes are to cool - especialy on a diesel!

lets see 12 quarts @ 2000 miles @ 12000 miles/year @ 10 years = +/-720 qts of oil!

 

I think I would inquire what kind of oil and filter they are using...

 

When I bought my truck, they gave me the option of pre-purchasing oil changes. For 350, I bought 14 at 25 each. I figure I couldn't change it myself for that price. Including filter and 12 quarts of oil... I am saving money. And, it is good at any dodge dealership, not just the one I bought the truck from.

 

Jeff, the filter is the dodge oem one, same one that came on it and the oil is the recommended Mopar 15-40 oil as in the owners manual. Didn't actually see them pour it, but I asked and that is what they told me. Should be good and I got my maintenance stamped on my official Dodge maintenance schedule hand book. My oil changes are only good @ the Dealership. Lithia Dodge in Grapevine, TX. Awesome service too, I really like them and that's hard for me to say about a Big 3 dealership.

 

I've had dealer coupons for free oil changes but after finding that they used the same oil as they put in cars (10W30) I declined the offer. At any rate, I use Rotella T 15W40. I also worry that the dealer will "top off" the differential with a non-synthetic oil instead of using GL-5 full synthetic.

 

If that dealership used CAR oil in a diesel then I would pack my truck and leave town
Make sure you don't take your car there, they may put DIESEL oil in it

 

Roaddawg, to answer your question, yes. As long as you drive your truck long enough to get it fully warmed up most times you drive it, don't idle excessively, and aren't towing heavy all the time - change at 15k. Short trips, lots of idle time, and lots of heavy towing, any of these put you on the 7.5k schedule.

 

WannaDiesel thanks for firming up what I thought!!

 

I'm wondering if I got the wrong maintenance book with my truck. I have the new Cummins 600 and my maintenance book calls for 3750 oil change intervals (schedule B). I noticed that the Cummins web sight claims 7500 mile intervals for heavy duty service and that is what everyone in this thread is saying. I have sent an e-mail to Cummins and am waiting on a reply. Anyone here have any advice?

 

Or better yet... change your oil based on hours of operation, not miles... that will automatically take into account freeway vs. slow miles, etc. All 3rd gen trucks have an hour meter already built-in... just turn the ignition to 'on' (but do not start the engine) and hold the odometer/tripmeter button in for about 10 seconds... then the odometer will display hours of operation. I change my oil every 200 hours which comes out at around 10k miles for me (I don't do much city driving). If you do a lot of city driving the oil change interval in terms of miles will be shorter, or if all freeway will be longer... just like it should be.

 

An excellent suggestion!

 

We went through this on a thread a few months back. The '04 maint book that is included with the "600" engines ALSO has information for CA SO's - the 3750. Look at the fine print.

All 04s, 555s and 600s, have a 7500 mile severe service, and 15,000 if all you do is go on the highway.

That being said, I'm still doing mine every 5000.