Oil Change?

[p-wizzy]

Hey, I just got an '04 2500HD D/A and she's beautiful. However, this is my first diesel, when should I change the oil? Every 3K?

[revrnd]

Read the manual. Does it have the Oil Life System? If yes you can just wait until the Change oil message comes up & do it then.

[CMNTMXR81]

LOL!! I wouldn't wait until that light comes on personally. I've usually changed my oil two sometimes three time before that light comes on.

[LARSONEM]

The light is kind of scary. I changed it in my 2003 DMax the first time at 3000 miles. I'm thinking that 5000 mile intervals are what I'd like to run in the future. The book says to change it when the oil change light comes on or at least once a year/10000 miles. I know this is an increased interval from the pre-2003 DMax which suggested 5000 mile maximum change interval.

[p-wizzy]

Thanks for the advice!

[revrnd]

I posted this elsewhere, but the previous posts bring it up again. People put their faith in the "electronics & software" controling the ECM & PCM, but don't have any faith in the Oil Life System. You can't have it both ways. Oil has advanced since the 60s. Do we still change the oil like we were using 10 or 20 weight oils?

 

Stepping down off my soap box.

[422 SS]

I posted this elsewhere, but the previous posts bring it up again. People put their faith in the "electronics & software" controling the ECM & PCM, but don't have any faith in the Oil Life System. You can't have it both ways. Oil has advanced since the 60s. Do we still change the oil like we were using 10 or 20 weight oils?

 

Stepping down off my soap box.

My thoughts exactly.I change the oil in my Duramax every 7500 miles.I feel confident it will last for several hundred thousand miles.Many owners change oil excessively because it makes them get a warm fuzzy feeling.The only reason I could see someone changing oil at 2000-3000 miles is if they drive in dusty conditions.The oil companies have millions of people convinced that if not done at 3000 miles your engine will blow up.I have ran several gas powered vehicles past 200,000 miles with changes at 5000-6000 miles.My old 96 K2500 5.7 vortec has 360,000 miles and runs strong with a 1/2 qt consumption every 6,000 miles.A friend of my owns the truck and will drive it till it lays down.I never used synthetic in it either.

[CMNTMXR81]

There's a difference between relying on the electronic to mind all the emissions control devices, adjust spark timing (for us gassers) and adjust fuel needs accordingly and relying on some electronic sensor that computes oil change intervals based on time, how hard the truck is driven, etc, etc.

 

Now diesel's and their oil change intervals are different than gassers, so I'm not speaking from diesel oil changing experience on this truck. We did have diesel semi's and straight trucks that we ran on Mobil Delvac and ran them for extended periods of time between changes.

 

However, I've drained oil from my truck at 2,000, 2,500, and 3,000 miles and there is a definitive difference in breakdown and general quality of oil between the 2,000 and 3,000 mile oil. Even my G/F noticed this and she's automotive ignorant. The 3,000 mile oil poured out thinner, was less slick when ran between the fingers, and was more water like.

 

I'm not a chemist, but if I can tell that difference within a 1,000 mile interval, that means my engine lost out on a declining amount of protection in that extra 1,000 miles. This does not make me happy.

 

Valvoline dino oil is $1 a quart. Multiply by what? 6.5 quarts! I can break the bank and change the oil a little more often, know I always have a "fresher" reserve of oil in my pan and it doesn't take me long to physically change it.

 

It's my piece of mind, not yours. If you feel happy waiting for that little "idiot light" (no pun intended) go for it. I realize you having a diesel there are different change intervals, but even if I had one, I still wouldn't wait for that light to come on.

 

But then again that's why several of my gasser cars over the years have exceed 200,000 miles and one exceeded 400k. Do what you feel is best for you and your truck.

[bowtiepatroit]

The oil life system is only computer code. That is all, there is no sampling done of the oil none. I am not sure the cost of a oil anilist machine but I am sure it cost much more thanthe trucks so and is big enough to fit in the bed.

 

It all depends on how you drive, the only way to know for sure of what is going on is to have the oil tested, or change it often.

 

Here is something to think about.

 

3 identical trucks, same miles same condition, options everything.

 

1 used cheap old generic oil and PF filter ever 3000 miles/3 months. Never missed a change.

 

2 had its oil changed at extend intervals using the most expensive syn oil on the market. I have heard some say 15,000 or 20,000 miles or once a year. Take you pick.

 

3 went to the shop for a change when the light came on.

 

 

Which truck would you buy?

[Colorado Kid]

My '91 gasser with 200,000 miles on it has had LOF at 5,000 mile intervals since new, 5W-30 Penzoil until about 150,000 miles then switched to 5w-30 Valvoline Long-Life to see if what I thought was a rear-main seal leak would get better. It didn't because the oil was leaking from the input shaft seal on the NV-3500 instead of the engine. They ought to put dye in it if they're going to run something resembling 30 weight in the tranny! (GM "Syncromesh" GL-S).

 

My D-max got the first change at 1,000 miles, second at 5,000 miles, third at 10,000 miles and since then followed the monitor, always using Chevron Delo 400 15W-40. By the way, the manual for the 2002 Duramax says when the light comes on or at least once a year, nothing in there about a 5,000 mile (or any other number of miles) interval. GM is going to stand behind it for the first 100,000 miles so I don't think they want it stretching things too far. The service I give it is pretty light too, totally stock and gentle enough driving to average just over 20 MPG, so soot buildup should be no worse than average for me. The minder called for the next change (after resetting it at 15,060 miles when I did the change) at 23,225 miles, so I think 3,000 or even 5,000 mile intervals are overkill. You paid your money and I paid mine, we each have to make our own choices. . . I'll let you know the day my oil pressure falls or I experience an oil related failure, on either truck.

 

Now if I had a 6.5L soot maker I'd change it every 3,000 miles, but the D-max just stays cleaner, and it holds nearly twice the oil.

[pacodiablo]

There's a difference between relying on the electronic to mind all the emissions control devices, adjust spark timing (for us gassers) and adjust fuel needs accordingly and relying on some electronic sensor that computes oil change intervals based on time, how hard the truck is driven, etc, etc.

 

Now diesel's and their oil change intervals are different than gassers, so I'm not speaking from diesel oil changing experience on this truck. We did have diesel semi's and straight trucks that we ran on Mobil Delvac and ran them for extended periods of time between changes.

 

However, I've drained oil from my truck at 2,000, 2,500, and 3,000 miles and there is a definitive difference in breakdown and general quality of oil between the 2,000 and 3,000 mile oil. Even my G/F noticed this and she's automotive ignorant. The 3,000 mile oil poured out thinner, was less slick when ran between the fingers, and was more water like.

 

I'm not a chemist, but if I can tell that difference within a 1,000 mile interval, that means my engine lost out on a declining amount of protection in that extra 1,000 miles. This does not make me happy.

 

Valvoline dino oil is $1 a quart. Multiply by what? 6.5 quarts! I can break the bank and change the oil a little more often, know I always have a "fresher" reserve of oil in my pan and it doesn't take me long to physically change it.

 

It's my piece of mind, not yours. If you feel happy waiting for that little "idiot light" (no pun intended) go for it. I realize you having a diesel there are different change intervals, but even if I had one, I still wouldn't wait for that light to come on.

 

But then again that's why several of my gasser cars over the years have exceed 200,000 miles and one exceeded 400k. Do what you feel is best for you and your truck.

Agreed.

 

We had an '86 Ranger. Oil changed every 3K. Engine was still very strong when the truck was sold and never needed a rebuild.

 

At my former place of employment we had a '92 Econoline. Oil changed every 10 to 12K (this was a gasser). Ran like crap and would often run hot.

 

I would rather spend a little more time and money to do it too often than to not do it often enough and pay for it later.

[LARSONEM]

There are lots of good points presented here. Again as many have said, do what makes you feel comfortable. Personally with the Duramax I just can't see waiting for the oil change light to come on or once a year/10000 mile intervals. I changed mine the first time at 3000 miles to flush it out. I'm thinking that 5000 mile intervals after that should be adequate. Presently I have 4300 miles on the oil change and the DIC says 60% on the oil life, so looking at it that way the DIC is planning on a 10,000 mile oil change for me presently. What I believe the DIC can't account for is short trips, stop and go driving, trailering, etc. For my application I think the 5000-7500 mile range is more acceptable, however for me I'd rather do it sooner than later.

[SalvageZR2]

I just changed the oil on my 6.0L Sunday at ~2400 miles. The oil looked beautiful (almost new), but the "chunks" I wiped off the drain plug magnet made it worth my while. My father has always been a big fan of changing out the "break-in-oil" early, and has passed that on to me. Maybe an old wives tale, but the first 3-4 changes will be around 3k. After that I'll start toying with the electronics...never had anything of these fancy options before, but it is hard for me to go longer than the old-school 3k.

 

Does anyone just change the filter w/o draining all of the oil?

[CMNTMXR81]

My friend does with his Amsoil then just tops off for whatever he lost. He physically changes it at 10k intervals. I have layed into him over this method but nope, he was right (By the way, he knows little about cars). Well his 96 Grand Prix SE turned 116,000 miles and the engine grenaded. I laughed in his face and I knew he was pissed about it in general. Needless to say with his brand new Taurus, he won't be doing that method anymore.

[Black02Silverado]

My friend does with his Amsoil then just tops off for whatever he lost. He physically changes it at 10k intervals. I have layed into him over this method but nope, he was right (By the way, he knows little about cars). Well his 96 Grand Prix SE turned 116,000 miles and the engine grenaded. I laughed in his face and I knew he was pissed about it in general. Needless to say with his brand new Taurus, he won't be doing that method anymore.

I do the filter changes in between the oil and filter change. But I also do an oil analysis to make sure the oil is still good. So far the first year I put 18k on the truck with the AMSOIL and it was due for a change. The oil's TBN was getting to the point of being to low, 2.5 TBN and it starts out at 12.

 

I send off a sample to Blackstone when I change my filter as well. If it reads well then I press on, if not then I will change it then. So far it has read well and no change needed at the filter change. Only at the one year oil and filter change.

 

Vehicles are all different. You can have the exact truck come off the line one right behind the other built on the same day and do an analysis on the oil at the same interval and they will come back different. It all depends on area of country, driving style, gas used, weather and other factors, as to how the oil holds up.

 

If you do an extended drain past 6k then have the oil analysed. It's a good idea to make things last. There are some on bobistheoilguy.com that have made it to 20k and the oil still looked great. So it is possible. I'm learning a ton just reading the UOA (used oil analysis's) on that site.

 

You definatly can't go wrong at all with the 3k oil and filter change.

 

Just not for me since I drive so much. It would put me under the truck way to often and I can't afford it. I have to many other things I need to do, with work, the family and school. Now that summer is just about over, my pool mainenance time will open up to some other task needing done around here.

 

I was doing 6k oil changes on my old 93, Sonoma with the 4.3 untill I traded it for the Silverado. It had 128k on it and ran great with no problems at all. That was with Mobil 1. I'm going to give AMSOIL a try now and see how it holds up. Can't be a dealer if I don't believe in the product now can I. Everyone rags on me at work, just because I run it in everything I own. I guess in ten years I will be able to post on here how my equipment will have held up.

 

To be continued.....