What helped you decide diesel or gas?

[mike.t]

Would you go 15k "under a certain set of conditions" between oil changes?

[dustman_stx]

Though not verified, it seems as though starting in 2013 they did away with the severe service recommended 7500 oil change and are going with a 15K/ 6mo change interval across the board. Considering the vast majority of non commercial users will likely travel 15K or less in a year, that will still translate to a 7500 or less change for most if you are adhering to the 6 mo. part.

[pwrstroke2012]

I went from F150 gas to F350 diesel for following reasons.

1. Recommended by a Ford diesel mechanic who has been a good friend for many years. He wasn't too impressed with the gas motor performance
2. My current trailer weighs around 8500 # but bought truck in case I found a bigger TT that I couldn't live without.
3. Planned on keeping this truck for a long time which justified the extra cost,at least to me.
4. Went with F350 because cost wasn't that much from a F250

I have had truck for 3 years now and have towed around 8,000 miles with it and couldn't be happier. Much less stress towing especially long distances. What impressed me most is when I am towing on flat road at 65 mph...the tach is at 1600 rpm and I get close to 13 mpg. When I hit upgrade in road, it rarely downshifts, the turbo just increases.
Hope this helps. Good luck!
PS. this is my daily driver and no issues.

[LANShark42]

Originally Posted by mike.t

Would you go 15k "under a certain set of conditions" between oil changes?

If the manufacturer states in writing that I can, why wouldn't I?

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by LANShark42

IMHO, if Bubba Joe Backyardmechanic tells me I can go 15K between changes, I'm gonna question that number. But if the MANUFACTURER gives me an oil change interval under a certain set of conditions, I should be able to take that as gospel.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a mechanic. I do not play one on TV. And I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

It's a "tree hugger" deal.... or some people call it GREEN. Yes, the metallurgy and fuel management has improved several hundred percent in the last 30 years... but facts are facts oil gets dirty and detergents break down...especially in a diesel.

[LANShark42]

So, The Big 3 auto companies have bitten so hard into the "green effort" that they will allow their customers to potentially damage their engines. And all in the name of "being green"? Is that what you're saying??

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by Jim34RL

In fact working the Cummins engine towing a heavy trailer is better for the engine rater than using it has a grocery getter.

dont take this the wrong way but I always chuckle when I hear this. As a certified diesel mech since 1983, can you explain this reasoning to me? cylinder pressures, gear train, bearing,rings, valve train and just about everything in the engine including the oil is getting it`s life shortened with heavy use. driving 2 miles is not good for any engine and the diesel takes longer to heat up and burn off the condensation from sitting idle, as a diesel owner for a long time, if I was looking for another it would be a non towing vehicle, one that was just driven around town to get grocerys

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by jevanb

dont take this the wrong way but I always chuckle when I hear this. As a certified diesel mech since 1983, can you explain this reasoning to me? cylinder pressures, gear train, bearing,rings, valve train and just about everything in the engine including the oil is getting it`s life shortened with heavy use. driving 2 miles is not good for any engine and the diesel takes longer to heat up and burn off the condensation from sitting idle, as a diesel owner for a long time, if I was looking for another it would be a non towing vehicle, one that was just driven around town to get grocerys

I agree.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "6 nights"

[elind]

I was driving a fleet delivery truck when the 15k oil changes became popular. What happened was the oil started to break down after 8-10k and consumption increased to the point where a low oil usage engine went to high usage. The lazy driver that didn't to check the oil was now in trouble. At 15k the usage was so high in some cases the engines ran out of oil due to the lack of monitoring it. So the 15k oil change went away in our fleet.

[mike.t]

Originally Posted by LANShark42

If the manufacturer states in writing that I can, why wouldn't I?

Let me rephrase that. Do you go 15k between oil changes following what the manufacturer say's?

[LANShark42]

Originally Posted by mike.t

Let me rephrase that. Do you go 15k between oil changes following what the manufacturer say's?

Not sure of the point you're trying to make... Again, if the manufacturer states, in writing, that 15K is the acceptable oil change interval, why would I change it more often? Warm fuzzies? Pi** off the "tree-huggers"?? Just to make the guys on the RV forum think I know a lot about engines and the way they "SHOULD" be maintained??? I really don't understand the logic here...

[peterbilt]

drove tractor/trailer for 40 years is the main reason and more power i guess just used to them diesel

[madmaxmutt]

Originally Posted by LANShark42

So, The Big 3 auto companies have bitten so hard into the "green effort" that they will allow their customers to potentially damage their engines. And all in the name of "being green"? Is that what you're saying??

I just don't understand where the 15K miles came from. Since you have a Ford, I looked up the F350 Diesel Supplement. It doesn't give anyone 15K (but one of the other manufacturers might). As you can see from the chart the high mileage changes are only for DD and GG, not for towing or hauling.



Basically, this whole argument is another marketing myth.


Wait 15K if you like, but try to explain why you didn't change according to an accurate schedule when you have a warranty problem.

[mike.t]

LAN. That was a simple yes or no question. If you prefer to dance around it fine but you will have to another dance partner though. I'm out.

[LANShark42]

Originally Posted by mike.t

LAN. That was a simple yes or no question. If you prefer to dance around it fine but you will have to another dance partner though. I'm out.

So what you're saying is you can't give an acceptable answer as to why I shouldn't follow the manufacturer's intervals. Fair enough. Have a good 'un!

[madmaxmutt]

So the Fiat Diesel manual says

"

Change engine oil every 15,000

miles (24 000 km) or six months

or 500 Hours or sooner if

prompted by the oil change indicator

system, whichever comes

first. **"

I gather the oil change indicator isn't just a mileage counter? If it is, I wouldn't trust it as far as I could throw the truck."500 Hours"??? I gather they have hour meters? How fast does that go by? . . .

[LANShark42]

Originally Posted by madmaxmutt

I just don't understand where the 15K miles came from. Since you have a Ford, I looked up the F350 Diesel Supplement. It doesn't give anyone 15K (but one of the other manufacturers might). As you can see from the chart the high mileage changes are only for DD and GG, not for towing or hauling.

Attachment 77453

Basically, this whole argument is another marketing myth.


Wait 15K if you like, but try to explain why you didn't change according to an accurate schedule when you have a warranty problem.

You'll have to read upthread to figure out where that 15K figure came from. And while you're at it, reread MY posts. My ENTIRE point is that I plan to follow the manufacturer's recommended intervals. I only said I'd wait that long IF (and only IF) the manufacturer recommended it IN WRITING. Pretty sure I said that more than once. I'm trying to find someone who can give me a GOOD reason not to allow the maximum recommended interval. I'm guessing this is the mechanic's version of an old wives tale.

AND - if you check my sig, you'll see that my truck is neither an F350 NOR a diesel. Your chart is irrelevant for me.

[schrederman]

My owner's manual says 15K miles... OR... 6 months... whichever comes first. It takes 12 quarts of oil instead of 5. This makes perfect sense to me, especially with the oils available these days. It also says that this schedule must be followed regardless of the oil used, (ie synthetic). So... the guy trying to sell you Amsoil and telling you to go 25K or a year between oil changes is out to lunch if your truck is still in warranty. Mine's going about 10K miles every 6 months so it looks like I'll be doing oil changes at 10K intervals.


What blows me away is the aft fuel filter. The guy at NAPA said the same filter fits large trucks and has a replacement schedule of 50K miles, but for my truck it's 15K... and it's an $80+ filter. Even worse, I went to Quick Kar and they charged me $88- for the front filter. It's just a paper cartridge that I can buy on Amazon for $16-. Needless to say my truck won't be going back there. I'll be doing my own from now on. It's just not that hard.


And... yes, my truck has an hours counter...

[madmaxmutt]

Originally Posted by schrederman

My owner's manual says 15K miles... OR... 6 months... whichever comes first.

And... yes, my truck has an hours counter...

The quote above is for your truck (2014 6.7), so the 500 hours should count for you also. How fast does 500 hours go by?

There were always hour meters on the military equipment, but have never seen one on a gas powered civilian vehicle.

[LANShark42]

Originally Posted by madmaxmutt

The quote above is for your truck (2014 6.7), so the 500 hours should count for you also. How fast does 500 hours go by?

There were always hour meters on the military equipment, but have never seen one on a gas powered civilian vehicle.

My 2015 gas powered F250XLT has an hour meter.