My '05 has 108K on the clock and up until now I have never added a drop of make-up oil between changes. It has been 4000mi since the last oil/filter change and the oil level was at the bottom of the "safe" range on the dipstick. I added 1 quart to bring it back up to the middle of the range.

I've been doing analysis at Blackstone Labs every 6000mi or so and they've all come back normal. I've run Mobil Delvac 1300 for the past 50K miles, the engine is stock except for the Smarty, and I have only used the factory paper air filters and fleet guard oil filters since day one... although I did recently change from their standard filter to the Statpore one.

No sign of oil anywhere on the motor and no blue smoke (at least none that I can see mixed in the black smoke )

I don't think my oil consumption is high... I'm just trying to get an idea of what other people are experiencing as normal for well maintained 5.9L CTD's around the 100K mile mark.

Thanks
-Mark

 

Why did you change oil brands? Are there any drips coming from the crank vent tube?

 

I have a 2005 dodge diesel with 73K miles,

I just returned from a 5 hr trip pulling my 27 ft camper.

pulled it about 62-65 mph.

I just checked the oil level and it was right on the full mark.

I use Shell rotella 15w40 oil, Baldwin oil filters, Baldwin fuel filters and std mopar 4" thick air filters.

so far so good,

I will add some diesel Kleen fuel conditioner to the fuel tank when I think about it, but not every third tank or anything like that.

be sure that crankcase filter on top of you engine is clean, but you would know it if it got stopped up as oil would be dripping down the side of the engine.

 

I have 143k miles on my truck and never have to add oil between changes, which is every 5K miles. As best as I can see when I check the oil, the level remains constant.

Hope this helps!

 

I changed from Mobil 1 "Turbo Diesel Truck Oil" to Mobil "Delvac 1300 Super" at around 50K miles. This was based on recommendations from other Cummins owners,cost savings, because I used a fairly short change interval (6K mi max), and because I honestly don't think that my truck needs synthetic motor oil. Again, the oil analyses have all come back 100% fine.

The switch from Fleetguard's standard filter to their Stratpore filter should not have had any effect on oil consumption.

There are NO drips anywhere.

Here's what did change... In the time since the last oil/filter change I did two fairly long trips with a 4000lb camper on-board. It was about 3000mi in total and all of it was at altitude (5K+ ft), over mountain passes, in hot weather (over 100ºF), and pushing hard (70+mph, even uphill). I think Cummins would say that 1qt or less in those conditions is acceptable.

I think that my engine runs great, idles well, doesn't smoke, makes lots of power, and my fuel economy is as good now as it has ever been... maybe better.

Again, what I want to know is;
What is normal for a 5.9L @ 100,000 miles???
-Mark

 

The reason I asked why you switched brands was because different manufacturers use different base stocks and additive packages which can cause oil usage when switching. I honestly dont care what brand or type of oil you use, your choice.

1 qt of oil in those operating conditions does not concern me at all. As far as the actual Cummins spec for oil usage, I don't know it off hand.

 

For what it's worth, my 06 has 96k on it and I haul a 15k 5ver all over the eastern seaboard, it has never used a drop of oil.

 

My 05 with 251,000 uses about a quart in 10,000 miles.

I suggest you check the turbo cold side for oil in the tube. You may have a seal going out on the turbo and it is actually burning oil!!!

 

04.0 with 145,000 miles on the ticker. Never ever had to add a single drop between changes.

 

My ’06 has 120K and has never used any oil between changes. However, if this is the first time you’ve encountered consumption I’d ask; did you check the level immediately after the last OC… perhaps you under filled? If it were me I’d change it again and keep checking. Good luck.

 

So, having just added a quart of oil on Monday my oil level is now at the very top of the SAFE mark on the dipstick... considerably higher than when I had thought it was a few minutes after adding the new oil.
I now suspect that it takes much longer than I had anticipated for the oil to drain from the valve cover to the pan. If that is true then my oil level may not have been low in the first place. D'oh!
I'll drain a bit, check the level after the truck has been sitting on a level surface and then continue to monitor going forward.

New question: How long do you wait before checking the level in the dipstick after shutting down or adding oil??

-Mark

 

The owner's manual recommends 15min after shut down to measure. So that ought to give you an idea of how long it takes for oil in the engine to settle. Also it says the bottom of the Safe line to the top is 2qts.

Oh, I am curious what your OA results look like with the Delvac. I ran that last oil change and got my results back. I'll put them up and we can compare if you're up for it.

As for your oil level, I'd leave it where it is. Don't worry about draining it.

 

Do you have an exhaust brake? I did not see one in your signature. (edit - Sorry I see you have a PacBrake) I installed one on my 03 and although it does not smoke at all I noticed there was an oily soot inside the down pipe from the turbo mounted exhaust brake when I pulled the pipe off the exhaust brake last time.

I think what could be happening is the backpressure on the exhaust side of the turbo when using the exhaust brake can cause the turbine shaft seal on the exhaust side of the seal to weep a bit of oil; especially when the exhaust back pressure goes from 35 psi to almost zero (not the air pressure on the butterfly valve actuation cylinder from the on board air compressor) when the exhaust butterfly valve opens up.

I use about a pint every 10K miles but I have less than 61K on the clock. Using Amsoil synthetic 15W-40 (AME). Oil Anaysis by Blackstone Laboratory.

I would not be concerned about your useage as usually the analysis lab asks about your makeup oil since your last report. I suspect they would point out 'excessive' comsumption. A quart or so every oil change is nil compared to rebuilding an engine. "... if it ain't broke don't fixit ..."

Good luck,..........dogger

 

I have 99,000 on truck.

I was 1/2 quart low at last oil change which was 12,000 miles since prior change.

Using Rotella

 

My 04.5 has 152,000km (94,000 mi) while my 05 has 122,000km (76,000 mi). Both run Amsoil & I change it every 12,000km (7500 mi). Never a drop of oil added between oil changes.