I just got off the phone with the Rotella Sales rep in Central Texas. Some very important items to be aware of;
1) 2004 HO Cummins has a CI oil required rating.
2) Rotella Synthetic Blend and the 5-40w Full Synthetic is NOT...I repeat, NOT rated for the 2004 if it calls for the CI rating. This has changed from 2003 models that were CH rated.
Rotella has just completed upgrading the 5-40w Synthetic for the CI rating, but may not be available in your area yet. Make sure you are checking the rating at Wally World or SAMS before you buy the oil. And, the use of a CH rating oil in a CI engine WILL void the warranty.

Oh, My service manual calls for 3500 and 7500 changes. Maybe, they're selling the CALIF engine here in Texas????

Just thought I'd pass this along...I wonder what the Dealer installed at 3800 miles when I had the oil changed. Heck, it took the parts department almost 10 minutes to figure out the part number for the fuel filter..

 

Personally, Im not a fan of Rotella.....so much better products are out there...JMO....

 

Okay, gotta ask, and I know it's been beaten to death on this and other sites..What are you using and what change intervals?

 

Mobil 1300 delvac at about 7000 mile interval probably drop down to 5000 mile interval 23,000 plus miles on rig. I straight piped mine the other day what a diff. it made getting rid of that garbage can muffler. Boy it sure sounds like a big truck now mileage went up also. The throttle response is almost like a gasser.

 

OK to start off with the 2003 are CI rated for oil and NOT I repeat NOT CH rated for oil. Check the books

 

I use Shell Rotella 15w40 in every Diesel engine around here. Alway have, Always will.

 

Rossn, you may be mis-reading your manual. Read the keys down on the bottom, and you'll see different symbols for california intervals and non CA intervals. It threw me off at first as well. If you have a non CA 03+ HO, you have 7500/15000 intervals.

 

Yep you're right....it was the Dodge Dealer telling me that "Schedule B calls for changing oil and filter every 3750 miles..." when I bought the truck. Of course it's the same service rep who told me I had to buy the cold-weather package to get the block heater cord, had to have them install it, and that the block heater was not installed from the factory, it's a dummy plug"

That's why I like reading this thread....I learn something new everyday....

Waiting for my Bushwacker Street flare to arrive....

 

Anyone use RED LINE OIL products?

 

I have always used Rotella, I like the smell

Just kidding. I guess I use Rotella because so many other people do. I know that's not a very scientific reason to use it, but I've never heard of anyone who wasn't happy with it.

 

THIS GUY?

 

I know lots of people use it - just said that im not a fan....I read somewhere that Rotella (conventional) is one of the least refined oils and tends to have more waxes/parafins and less additives than most other oils...plus it really does stink...

 

OK, at the risk of totally flogging a dead horse... but what about time frame?

I'm running premium blue, cummins filters, and do a fair number of short runs especially in the winter... Will switch to synthetic after a few more miles.

I noted the book doesn't seem to list a time frame for oil changes, and if I were to do the 7,500 thing I would only be doing oil changes every 10 months or so.... A guy at the dealer said that they were recommending 6 months on the older engines, but that is up to one year/7,500 for schedule B.

That seems too long to me, so I've been doing about 3,500. I know Diesels don't have the corrosive byproducts that gas burners do, and wonder if I'm being paranoid, clinging to the obsolete 3 month/3,000 mile thing...

Opinions? On the one hand, the worst thing that can happen changing oil too frequently is wasting the cost of the oil change, on the other hand, I suspect the engine will outlive the rest of the truck on 7,500 oil changes...

Jeff

P.S.

Lightman, you are right. It almost appears the maintenance book was designed to confuse everyone into using the CA milage. I wonder what is different about CA engines?

 

I posted this on the other oil thread, but I don't get what the big whoop-de-doo is about using *only* CI rated oils for the 3rd Gen trucks. I guess maybe it has to do with allowing longer drain intervals. But I used CG then CH rated oils on my last truck and with the power cranked up and used hard my oil analysis numbers always came back excellent. Very low wear and excellent soot control with my DD2s and van Aaken box. Bottom line. . . "outdated" CG and CH oils are more than up to the task IMO.

Vaughn

 

Well I found some comments about the Classifications:

CH and then CH-4 was developed to handle greater amounts of soot generated by more retarded timing brought on by demands for lower NOx emissions. This was around 1999.

CI is targeted for even HIGHER soot control and the ability to provide adequate lubrication with high soot content, due to the EXPECTED EGR systems most engines were going to starting October 2002. Well since Cummins doesn't use EGR and the HPCR system produces very little soot I'd say CH is very safe to use in our trucks.

But I'm no tribologist and I'm not saying to take this lightly, it's just that doesn't make sense to me

http://www.highwaystarmagazine.com/y...ture.cfm?ID=58
Vaughn