I went to the local Brewbaker Dodge dealer today to get the oil in my 04 HO CTD changed and he informed me I should be changing the oil every 3000 miles. Isn't this a bunch of BS. I have 7500 miles on it w/ only about 600 miles of towing a 3 ton boat. I thought it was way within the suggested oil change schedule. My truck has the early 04 engine what does every one think about this. Also on the ticket it read they put in 15w40 bulk oil castrol do you think this meet the requirements??? thanks everyone

 

I'm assuming the '04's have the same oil change interval as the '03 "555". The oil change interval is 15,000 miles "regular" service and 7,500 miles for "severe" service on the 555's. Double check your owner's manual.
I'd arrange an appointment----no, just drive in and insist they re-do the oil change with the proper stuff. May even want to stand over the guy and ensure it gets done correctly this time. Never heard of 15w30 Castrol before. You need some 15W40 oil that meets Cummins Spec's as stated in the owner's manual.
Last but not least, only take your truck back for warranty work and do the oil changes yourself. It's apparent the service writer has no clue what's going on inside a CTD. You'll have great satisfaction knowing the job was done right in doing your own oil changes.
If you don't like doing the oil changes yourself, ask around and find a business that does a few diesel oil changes. Apparently this dealer is retarded.
(I change my own oil & filter every 5,000 miles and rotate the tires....I use 15W40 Shell Rotella-T and a MOPAR oil filter)
Greg

 

RoadDawg,

I agree with Maynard3. Change the oil yourself or find a shop that can do it for you. I have never heard of Castrol bulk 15-30 either.

Make them change it if that is what they put in it. I bet the oil they used will not meet the requirments demanded by your CTD engine.

Castrol makes a good oil, but I don't know about it use in a diesel like ours. I use Castrol 20-50 in my bikes, and my wife's GMC uses Castrol 10-30. My son uses 5-30 Castrol in his Passport.

Your CTD should use a 15-40 oil such as the Rotella T mentioned by Maynard3. I use it and it does the job.

What does your manual say about the oil ? Good luck at the dealer.

Tom

 

it was 15w40 bulk

 

If it meets API specification CI-4 the oil is fine. The change interval on my 555 is 3,750 severe, 7,500 regular service.

 

I change mine every 10K miles....right between the "servere" 7500 and the "normal" 15,000.

 

Speaking of retarded....

You guys crack me up. Yep everyone at the dealer is stupid. Yeah stand over the guy. You like your customers doing that to you?? Everyone has a place to do oil changes and everyone disposes of the waste oil in the proper manner right?? Sure........
Seen lots of screwed up oil changes, brake jobs, engine work by mr backyard mechanic. Lots. Where do they tow it when the job becomes an abortion?? To the dealer. Gotta remember that service depts make profit by selling stuff. Changing the oil any sooner than 12k or even 15k is a waste of money and natural resources. IF you are really concerned about "what is going on" inside a CTD have an oil analysis done.

 

The change interval on my 555 is 3,750 severe, 7,500 regular service.

This number is incorrect. It's 15k / 1 year or 7500k for oil and filter changes, unless you have the California Engine. Look at the Maintenance Book and I bet there's a little Cross-like Icon next to the Schedule B 3750..which means it's only applicable to the California engine. Gotta read those footnotes.... Dealers are making a killing telling people they have to change the oil every 3750 miles....

Cummins homepage:

What maintenance is required with the 24-Valve Turbo Diesel?

The only maintenance required is regular replacement of oil and oil filters at 7,500 miles and fuel filter replacement at 15,000 miles. The air filter should be replaced when the "Filter Minder" installed on the air cleaner box indicates a dirty filter. Valve adjustment is not required until 150,000 miles

BTW, I change mine every 7500 miles or 6 months whichever comes first with Amsoil 15w-40 Marine Diesel Oil and FleetGuard Stratapore filter. I do not do oil analysis.

 

I'm sticking with 3-4,000 mile oil changes. I've never lost an engine or a transmission (I have the fluid exchanged every 30K miles in my auto trans) Have you seen the oil coming out after 7K? Wasting natural resources? You are driving a 3/4 ton diesel truck. Get the bike out of the shed and hook it up to your trailer if you are concerned about the environment that much. Geeez!

 

I've NEVER lost an engine or trans either with extended drain intervals and oil sampling.(275 to 300k on all my other trucks) Have you seen the oil coming out after 15k? Still clean on my machines. I am in construction so kinda hard to haul lumber and concrete on a bicycle but I guess I can try...

 

I have to agree....When I drain my oil at 10K miles, it looks almost as clean coming out as it did going in.

 

I just changed my oil this afternoon. After 5,000 miles the oil that came out was blacker than the ace of spades and 1 quart low. But thats what I expected. It was always that way on my old '96 CTD and I see no reason why it would be any different on my '04. You guys whose oil comes out clean should think about getting a job for your truck, and driving down town to the parking garage next to the office doesn't count.

 

My truck does work. Alot. More idle time than you can imagine, dust, mud, loads etc. If you drain your oil and it looks like crap in 5k you'd better get that fixed. I can fax you my oil sample results if you like. All are excellent. None changed sooner than 12k. Alot different technology between your '96 and the new common rails. My old powerstrokes would be dark oil but still the sampling was usually good. This CTD has never used oil between changes. 43k now in a little over a year. Sure glad I bought an '03.

 

Spots, Fix what? It runs great although mpg is only around 15.5 The truck only has a total of 10,000 miles on it and it either has a 4,000 lb. work trailer or 8,000 lb. tractor and low boy behind it every day of the week. What should I tell the service guy? I can't go in there and say the oil is dirty so I think something is wrong. I would really get one of those looks Any suggestions?

PS, I always smell the oil for raw fuel but can't detect any.

 

If you drain your oil and it looks like crap in 5k you'd better get that fixed.

I concur with SPOTS. The 3rd generation engine does not burn/use oil between at least 7500k changes.

I would highly suggest have an analysis done to see what's going on with your engine.

I change mine every 7500k, as per Schedule B and the oil isn't black, just a little darker than when Virgin and it doesn't use any oil between changes.