I just changed the oil in my '06 Cummins. Amsoil 5w/40 with a Baldwin filter. The last time I changed it I installed the drain valve. Love it. Makes the job so much neater and easier. Anyhow, back to the question. I change the oil at 15000mi and this time I measured what I removed and found just about
10qts. taken out. I'm happy with my results but am just wondering what others find with their oil consumption between changes. For me it's mostly around town driving with the occassional long trips towing a travel trailer.

No complaints from this Cummins user,

 

sounds like you dont like your cam and lifters very much. I've seen bad things from running that long between oil changes with amsoil

 

15k miles is the "normal" change interval for my model year.. what "bad things" do you refer?

I run 10k intervals, with delo 400 LE

 

^^ Yes, this smells

 

I use Rotella 5-40 synth, and get back about 10.5 quarts every 10k miles. did you add the quart in the filter to the 10 quarts. I used amsoil for a while but got too expensive up North, even as a preferred customer, the oil tests came back the same.

 

I use the Valvoline premium blue and 6500 to 7000 mile intervals and including what is in the filter I get about 11qts back out. I always check the level before draining and it is always in the "Safe" area but towards the bottom. After a change and 12 qts it is always right at the very top of the "Safe" area.

 

So I guess my engine is going to self destruct very soon on the 1yr/25,000 mile (backed up by analysis) interval I am on..... uh oh.


To the OP... I burn some over my 25,000 mile interval. Never have measured. I fill it shy of the full mark and haven't ever had to add any make up due to the engine burning it. I may drop 1/4" is all.

 

extreme amounts of cam and lifter wear on a low mileage motor following the high mileage synthetic oil change/analysis program

 

I noticed you run a drain valve. Have you tried removing the drain valve after it finished draining to see how much oil is "left" in the pan due to the drain valve design? Som e of those valves leave quite a bit of oil because you are not draining from the bottom of the pan anymore. If your pushing the recommended drain intervals it does help to get all the old oil you can out. Just a thought.

 

Did you take into account that the filter holds about 2qts?

MikeyB

 

Uhhh, that depends on your average speed and how you drive it.

If your doing the above then 6-7k is all you want to run it before changing. If its a DD and few long trips one is much better off at the 3500 interval.

The amount of soot that is put into and held by the oil is the problem. No oil is going to run long change intervals without some degradation and problems. If you want to trust the UOA's thats your choice, but, its not an exact science.

 

Do you log your average speed?

just saying that most people are going to follow what's in the manual... Schedule A is 15k, schedule B is 7500.. It's perfectly reasonable to expect many people to follow schedule A and be within manufacturer's recommended service interval.

To come on here and start spouting that "extreme wear" (as 6speedcowboy did) will result, is ill-informed and spreads unneeded bad information.

 

For what it's worth, I changed my oil last night after a "RIDICULOUSLY' long 10k mile interval, and my dip stick reading was right where I last filled it.. not burning a drop of oil.

 

I don't have to log my average speed, the truck does that for me and access is at my finger tips.

Better go pick up your manual and actually read the definitons for schedule A and B before starting to spout off about what it is and isn't. The manual actually does a decent job of pointing out the differences. FYI, there is also a schedule C that is a Cummins specific rec about changing oil and maintenance.

Now, if you had actually KNOWN something about it you would have known just how ill-informed and wrong your information actually is. Thats the real danger, people seeing your comments and actually believing them.

6speedcowboy is dead on with his comments and cautions as am I. You would know this if you had enough actual experience and information to make an informed decision.

 

Care to elaborate on what i said was WRONG??? you're coming on pretty strong here, and triggering my 'crazy person' meter..