Calling LubeDude

[RetNav]

I have a 1998 Dodge with the Cummings turbo diesel engine. There is currently 135k miles on it. I have changed the oil, filters, etc at 6k intervals. I have had engine/transmission (auto) work done and by the dyno it is putting out approx 400 hp. The towing I do now is aprox 8k on my boat. No other towing now. <br /><br />Now for the questions. I like the truck and am planning on KEEPING it. I would like to switch to synthetic as many places in the vehicle as I can. Would you give me a recommendation as to what weight oil, where I could use full synthetics, change schedule (ie miles) for motor, transmission, rear end and anything else you can recommend. <br /><br />From the many posts concerning this topic I have seen I have come to value your recommendations.<br />Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Calling LubeDude

I always told myself that if I were in your shoes, that I would use a synthetic with a bypass oil filtering system, change the filters at regular intervals and do an oil analysis once a year and never change my oil. Now Im not telling you to do this, but it is an option. I know there are rigs out ther with 300,000+ mile with the original oil in them. Of course there is make-up oil added when the filters are changed, so its not like there arnt additives being replentished regularly. Bypass filters are a great thing, your oil stays anilitically clean all the time, never gets dirty, allways looks new and fresh if the filters are changed on schedule. <br /><br />The Cummins engine is showing that it can go for near a half million miles on a good Dino oil, I personally like the Chevron Dello 400 15W-40 as its near a synthetic by todays standards with its ISO/SYN formula. I dont see a real reason to change to synthetics anywhere but the diferential because you are not straining your truck on a regular basis if ever. The benifits of a synthetic, would be as youve read in previous posts, slightly cooler running, longer drain intervals, slightly better fuel consuption. I think I would just keep doing what you are doing.

 

[RetNav]

Re: Calling LubeDude

Appreciate the info LubeDude and at the next regularly scheduled change I'll make the change.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Calling LubeDude

RetNav, I'll restress what Lubedude said about additional by-pass filtration. It is definitely one of the single most important inhancements you can make to your rig for longevity, even if you stick with dino oil. Diesels are dirty and the proper bypass filter will constantly filter about 10% of the oil flow at I believe 4 times the effectiveness of the factory located filter. If the factory filter tried to filter that fine it would plug up and go into bypass mode.

 

[BillP]

Re: Calling LubeDude

Check out Gulf Coast Filters. Their filters are used on many commercial fleets...such as Pepsi, etc. <br /><br /> http://www.gulfcoastfilters.com/model_02_by_pass_lube_oil_filter.htm

 

[RetNav]

Re: Calling LubeDude

Thanks for the additional input. I will be changing it over as soon as my wife recovers from the mistreatment in the hospital.