hello this is a great site very informative,just a quick question,iplan on taking del. of 06 cummins in nov./dec. with temps.-25/-35f here in the adirondacks im worried about the 15w40 oil,cummins says not to run syn. oil till engine has 15k/20k(broken in) concerned about flow ability @ these temps. thank you in advance for all your help.what oil should i run during brake in,when i have sub artic temps?

 

I'd either run a 15W-40 and use the block heater religously, or look for a 10W-30 diesel rated oil. They're out there, just more difficult to find.

Would running a synthetic blend be acceptable? I guess my take on the "no synthetic until broken in" is that it would actually extend the break-in period of the engine. Schaeffer's synthetic blend Supreme 7000, for example, contains 20-25% group IV PAO, the rest is petroleum based. It's rated as a 15W-40, but it's cold flow specs look more like a 10W-40 oil. Many say you can achieve the exteme temp virtues of a full synthetic, by simply using a blend of it in conventional oil.

At any rate, the best cold flow test that you can do yourself is put a sample of what you plan on using in your freezer overnight, and see how it flows in the morning. Although, you may want to inform your wife what you're doing.......

Good luck!

 

Just run whats in the truck until the first Schedule B oil change and then if you have the nerve change it to synthetic Yes Cummins says not to put in synthetic until about 15-20k miles but most of ust did anyway, beside if you tow heavy and often then your engine will break in sooner.
Even if you switch to synthetic you should be plugging in the winter anyway. It helps alot on overall performance and heat up.
I switched to synthetic at 7k miles and haven't looked back

 

yes, i have every intention of plugging it in ,i was wondering if it would be enough?as far as towing and hauling goes they are always slideing off the road up here come winter,i always go and pull them out-cv joints all over the place! thank you for your help.

 

Just to throw a little confusion into the pot. Rottela 5-40, Chevron Delo 400 5-40, and valvoline extreme 5-40 is called synthetic but really is plain old mineral based oil.

The only pure PAO synthetics that I know of are amsoil, mobil delvac 1, redline, royal purple. There is speculation that even them with todays marketing ploys are not true full synthetics.

Have fun.

 

bluebull thanks for your help,round and round we go! nothing like good marketing skills! lol

 

As long as you are always plugging it in run the 15w40, if you are still concerned you can get a oil pan heater like this http://www.wolverineheater.com/

Carl

 

Heater plug were can I get one how does it install my truck did not come with one Thanks for any info

 

Dealer sells them, but if you are close to a Cummins place...they sell them too.

They just plug into the side of your engine block then you route your cord toward the front using Zip Ties to your location of choice. Mine is zip tied to the passenger side tow hook and tucked away nicely behind the bumper.

 

thanks Tex.

 

nothing like seeing a salesman firing up a new diesel in -30c with 15w40 in her and looking at the first time buyers facial expression.

 

rotell offers a 10-w40 non synthetic. I have picked it up at wal-mart for around $6.00 a gal. I run that in mine all the time!

 

As soon as that motor is broken in you should change to synthetic. Test have shown syn oil flows to the top of the motor 7 times faster than dino oil in cold weather.

 

underwoodtransp, I hope that was a misprint and you meant rotella 15-40. If not your using a gas rated oil and over time it will cause engine damage. It won't be instantanious, maybe even get 100,000 miles out of it but it will cause engine failure sooner than if you use the correct oil.

 

If you look in the owners manuel it actually says that the cummins has no break in time