Cummins Oil Change ?

[Ejs4029]

I received 6 free oil changes when I bought my 2015 RAM 2500 with the Cummins……They have all been performed at the dealer and now that they are over with (Presently have 31K on the truck) The owner’s manual says to change every 5K or 6 month or 500 hours…My truck is not a daily driver and only put on about 5k a year now so in 6 months I’d only have about 2,500 miles before RAM recommends it to be changed no way am I going to hit 15K or 500 hours in that amount of time.

My thoughts were to start doing the oil changes every six months myself to save some $$$ instead of taking it to the dealer so my question is should I just use a less expensive DINO oil (Ex: Delo) to save a few $$$ or should I go with synthetic (Ex: Rotella T6) ? Does it really matter in that short of a time frame ?

Or should I even consider just changing it once a year at 5K or less and risk voiding the warranty ?


I have a 7 year 75K extended warranty so I have 3 years left and 44K left on it……

[walaby]

Not sure I understand the 5K mileage interval. 6 months I get.


My 2014 2500 called for 10K or 6 months.


2017 Ram 3500 calls for 15K or 6 months.


Interesting discussion on this link about Delo vs Rotella


https://www.turbodieselregister.com/...elo-400.64964/


Mike

[DieselDrax]

I think, based on saying 15K later in their post, the OP meant 15K/6 months, not 5K.


I run synthetic in all my vehicles, gas and diesel. Synthetic oil isn't much more expensive than conventional, especially if you do the rebates like Mobil does.


A gallon of 15w40 conventional is around $14.
A gallon of 5w40 synthetic is around $23.


Mobil has the following rebates available...


https://mobiloil.com/en/promotion/mo...f-mobil-delvac


Which takes a gallon of conventional oil down to around $8 and a gallon of synthetic down to $13 with a 5-gallon limit for the rebate.


At 12 quarts that puts the oil cost at...


$69 for 3 gallons of synthetic, $39 after rebate.

$42 for 3 gallons of conventional, $24 after rebate.


In the grand scheme, both costs are pretty minimal. Conventional and synthetic oils are both great these days, but the cold flow of synthetic, especially in winter, and its ability to keep engine internals quite clean has me using synthetic.

[Hersbird]

If you are going to do it every 6 months and not have many miles on it, I would use the least expensive Walmart diesel oil I could find. I personally don't buy the idea oil just goes bad sitting after 6 months. That assumes you are heat cycling it still every day and getting condensation in there and not burning it off with longer trips that get the mileage up. If the truck say just sat 6 months the oil will still test perfectly fine.

The problem with the Cummins is that it takes 3 gallons to change so $30 worth of Supertech no rebate needed (which at 5 gallon limit wouldn't get you 2 changes in a year anyway). Actually you can get the Mobil for $10/gal also if you buy a case https://www.walmart.com/ip/9-pack-Mo...BoCbHgQAvD_BwE
without messing with rebates that synthetic is going to be twice as much, twice a year, or as I always thought about it, enough fuel to take another weekend trip. I guess it would be a different story if I ever heard much about lubrication failures on a Cummins.

[moose074]

I agree with other postings in that $200 for two oil changes over a year is not that big of an expense. Also if sitting most of the time every 6 months probably not needed. On the other hand if you are using your truck to tow that’s when the quality of oil comes into play. Now I won’t say what brand or that higher priced oil is better but I will say I tend to stick to brand name oils. Another thing to consider maybe move oil change to every 8 or 9 months still do at dealership it might get you more on your trade in

[inspectorgf]

Cummins only requires the synthetic oil if you live in a climate where the temp gets below 0. If you live where the temps are 0 and above then the conventional oil is fine. I live in Va and never see temps below 0 so i use rotella t6 conventional at about $13 a gallon at walmart and change every 6 months at about 8k miles. I think 6 months is a bit over kill but for a engine as expensive as ours I would rather do whats recommended rather than have to pay for a new engine and I don't want to give the dealer any reason to void warranty as they are always looking to do

[upflying]

For paper trail purposes, I'm doing dealer or independent shop 6 month changes while mine is under warranty..I'll never drive 15k miles in 6 months.
I've always DIY changes since I was a teenager but as my creaky 65 yr old body complains about crawling under a vehicles with 3 gallons of oil running down my arm along with the disposal hassle and with reaching through a fender to remove the filter, has me rethinking my DIY aspirations.
Besides I now have the financial comfort to let someone else do it.

[SlowrideHD]

I use T6 in my truck. Wally World had it on sale last week at $20 a gallon. I use Mobil1 in everything else I have except tractors and dozer gets T4 15W-40.
I'm not going to fret the price of dinner over using a cheaper oil. Everybody makes good oil these days, it comes down to your preference and experience. I like to tinker with my Harleys and often do engine teardowns for cams, heads or big bore. The Mobil1 that I run in them leaves the innards of an engine still looking brand new at 50k miles. I have seen this over and over.

[JPin AZ]

Do you think the dealer used synthetic with their "free" oil changes? Definitely stay within the recommended interval of six months, do not give them a reason to decline a covered claim. Call the parts department and ask them what they have been using, possibly delvac 15W40. My guess most Cummins owners run Rotella. The comment about 5W40 under zero degrees is also something to consider but I do not think anyone makes it non-synthetic.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by inspectorgf

I live in Va and never see temps below 0 so i use rotella t6 conventional at about $13 a gallon at walmart

Did you mean T4? T6 is synthetic, there is no conventional T6. T5 is a synthetic blend and T4 is conventional.

[Jim34RL]

I have 10 + years of driving my Dodge with the 6.7L Cummins. I have only used Shell Rotella 15W40 T4 oil since new, I do an oil analysis on my engine oil ever six months. This has shown no abnormal wear or fuel dilution of the engine oil. The oil is changed per the oil analysis report, which is usually around a 9 month time period. I keep every oil report and sales recite for warranty purposes. Until my warranty period ran out. I still do oil analysis ever 6 months and keep the report to determine when I need to change.
I also use the best Fleetguard engine oil filter when I change my oil. My oil changing cost is around $70. ever 9 months which includes the oil analysis cost.

I would stick to one brand and grade such as synthetic or regular oil for your needs. Buying the oil when it is on sale and store it for your needs. I also purchase my oil filter from Geno's garage along with the oil analysis kit. The kit goes to a Cummins oil lab near your area and you will receive the report in a day or two on line after the lab receives it.

[Leatherman]

A while back I got an offer from MOPAR for a set of prepaid oil changes at the dealer. It offers 4 changes with ROTELLA Diesel oil in a 24 month period for $265.

I had to prepay the $265 and I got a "registration/plan number" that I provide any dealer for the oil changes. The unused changes expire so I will have the 4 done in the 2 year period or the few I have done are more expensive.

I figured for the $66 each it was worth it not to have to mess with it.

I went to this URL to purchase the plan if anyone is interested (and if you can still purchase it): http://www.moparvehicleprotection.com/

As a note, I was offered this by email from MOPAR just after my 3 year factory warranty expired. I do have the extended warranty as well.

[free83118]

I purchased the oil change contract from the dealer for my 2014 ram. 6 oil changes for a little over $300 which was paid upfront. I believe it came to just under $60 per oil change. Even with getting the rotella oil on sale and finding my best price on mopar filter I might save $10 when doing it myself. It wasn’t worth my time spending an hour or more changing the oil myself.

[Jim34RL]

Have you ever checked your oil level after the dealer has changed your oil?

The Cummins holds a lot of oil on the top end and takes longer than a dealer will wait for the oil to drain out of the engine! I have had two oil changes when the truck was new by two different dealers and both times the engine was overfilled after my oil change. One was about a quart over filled and the other was almost a 1/2 gallon. After that no one but I will change my oil.

I remove the drain plug and slide out from under the engine letting the oil drain in too a 5 gallon catch basin. As that fills up I go in and have lunch, when I am done with lunch the oil has drained out of the engine. I than change my filter and fill up with fresh oil. I also grease all of my grease fittings on the truck. Brakes are checked at that time too plus I look for any leaks from any oil filled compartment. Than both differentials are checked for oil level and any fines that are on the magnetic dipsticks.

[John Maryland]

Originally Posted by JPin AZ

Do you think the dealer used synthetic with their "free" oil changes? Definitely stay within the recommended interval of six months, do not give them a reason to decline a covered claim. Call the parts department and ask them what they have been using, possibly delvac 15W40. My guess most Cummins owners run Rotella. The comment about 5W40 under zero degrees is also something to consider but I do not think anyone makes it non-synthetic.

New IH trucks and Freightliner with cummins engines that I have looked at have a sticker that says 'factory filled with Rotella t oil.'

[W5CI]

You guys paid too much for your oil change contract. I got 4 changes from my RAM dealer for $180 that is $45 per change. I can't change it myself for that. but I have no ideal what oil they used

[free83118]

I usually check mine before I leave the dealer. I haven’t had a problem with over filling yet.

[free83118]

That’s a great price W5CI. I haven’t seen an offer like that. If the dealer is doing it, I would think it’s got to be a quality oil.

[tuckerdog1]

My brother got a sweet deal when he bought his 2015 3500 CTD. $900 for lifetime oil changes. I think he said it's 3 times a year. No such deal where I bought my 2500. Best I could find was 6 changes or a 3 year period ( I choose when ), and tires rotated at each change. Cost was $400.

[Ejs4029]

Originally Posted by Leatherman

A while back I got an offer from MOPAR for a set of prepaid oil changes at the dealer. It offers 4 changes with ROTELLA Diesel oil in a 24 month period for $265.

I had to prepay the $265 and I got a "registration/plan number" that I provide any dealer for the oil changes. The unused changes expire so I will have the 4 done in the 2 year period or the few I have done are more expensive.

I figured for the $66 each it was worth it not to have to mess with it.

I went to this URL to purchase the plan if anyone is interested (and if you can still purchase it): http://www.moparvehicleprotection.com/

As a note, I was offered this by email from MOPAR just after my 3 year factory warranty expired. I do have the extended warranty as well.

Thanks for the tip I called the # at Mopar.com and got two quotes for the oil change program the cheapest being 8 oil changes over the course of 5 years for $430 so that's $53.75 per oil change.

The other was 6 oil changes in 4 years for $355 that comes to $59 I think those rates are pretty good

I am thinking I will sign up when my next oil change is due in October. You pay the full amount upfront and you can cancel at anytime and get a pro-rated refund.

I called my dealer and they use Rotella T6 I figure I can't do it that cheap myself I guess the only negative if you can call it that is laying out the $$$ upfront.