I am coming up on 5k on my new 2011 3500 SRW 6.7 Cummings and was wondering if I need to chang it every 3k, 5k or wait until the change oil light comes on. With my old 1996 Ram 2500 12 valve cummings I changed it every 4k. I live in Fla so heat is always an issue.

Any views on synthetic vs standard oil in the new cummings?

Thanks for any help you can give.
Ed

 

Cummins, no G....

IMHO I'd just run 5000 mile intervals with 15w-40 Valvoline Premium Blue, and look into an additive.

 

my 05 model, i go 7500 miles between oil changes with mopar filter and shell rotella 15w40 oil, 15K on fuel filter changes

truck runs good and get great fuel mileage.
however my truck is used for light work and pulling a 6000# camper so it's never really stressed.
so far so good,

 

I use Amsoil every 10000 religiuosly. have for the last 40000 in my 06', towing a LARGE 5th wheel. never any problems. the maintanance manual for the 2011 says every 8000. FYI

 

@Horatio
What type of an additive would you put into the oil? Just curious, I change my oil every 3K, I have a 08 6.7 with 41k miles. And while we are on the subject of services how often would you recommend servicing the tranny? have a 5th wheel and do light truck stuff with a 80 mile each way commute 10 days a month.

 

@fcfinc, I was informed not to use synthetic oils til your 3rd or fourth oil change. Info from a dealer and an Amsoil Rep.

 

ZDDP

Interesting read: http://www.ttalk.info/Zddp.htm

 

If your not testing your Oil your waisting your monies. I run 5/30 Amsoil synthetic send it to to Blackstone Lab. I'm running 10K oil intervals with a full filter new oil and the numbers look great. Don't run long oil intervals till your truck has about 30K on it after that don't listen to anyone let the Labortory set you free don't **** your monies away. This is what the Fleet and heavy equipment guys do. They can't affort to waste time and monies with with propaganda. They go by hours! Doesn't matter how many miles. Good luck

 

fcfinc

I would go by the change oil message to get an idea of when to change. You can't necessarily go by the old standard of every so many miles with the 6.7's. Except you can't go over the mileage in the owners manual.

I do a lot of highway driving, very little if any idling. At 4000 miles I haven't got an oil change message yet. When I had my '08, I never got an oil change message. I changed it and reset the computer every 6000, because it was easy to remember and plan for. Some guys get the message every 3000. All depends on driving habits.

While the oil sampling might be OK after the warranty is up, or if your willing to take the chance. Dodge won't care that every sample said the oil was still good at 20,000 miles, they only care that the maintenance oil was changed.


Oh, and like was said earlier, wait til at least 10,000 miles before switching to synthetic. Maybe longer if not towing much.
Jeff