Today while shopping at Walmart I noticed Shell Rotella 15W40 oil was selling in 1 gallon containers for $9.76 Walmarts brand of oil was $7.45 The military specs are exactly the same on the 2 oils. Is there a reason to stay with Shell, or is the tech oil which is Walmarts brand basically the same? I am running the cummins engine and only change oil once a year, or every 15,000 miles so the savings is not really that much, but why pay more for something that is basically the same?
For me it's just a comfort issue using name brand. I use AC Delco filters when others use Wix or NAPA. Say you change your oil every 15,000? A friend of mine has a ton cummins and the dealer suggested every 3750. I think I have him up to 5000 like me.
manual on my 1 ton ford and 3/4 dodge say 5000 mi if worked hard or in dusty enviroment . other than that 7500 mi. i have gotten use to every 4000. just me and what i feel comfortable with. my gas engine vehicles is every 3000. motorhomes, don't know. 15000 miles sounds like a lot to me. bigger oil pan, more oil. i don't know. bob
For my gas vehicles, I just have Wal-Mart put in the oil they have in bulk, but I do go with high-end filters like Wix. Even at a 15k oil change when you are talking 19-24 quarts of oil for the motor home the Wal-Mart brand savings would be enough to buy a gallon of oil. It would be interesting to know if Wal-Mart oil was actually Rotella. Perhaps it’s kinda like Sears stuff. They just put their name on someone else’s product. Or a Ford vs a Mercury.
QUOTE(RLM @ Dec 28 2007, 02:35 PM) [snapback]9675[/snapback] For my gas vehicles, I just have Wal-Mart put in the oil they have in bulk, but I do go with high-end filters like Wix. Even at a 15k oil change when you are talking 19-24 quarts of oil for the motor home the Wal-Mart brand savings would be enough to buy a gallon of oil. It would be interesting to know if Wal-Mart oil was actually Rotella. Perhaps it’s kinda like Sears stuff. They just put their name on someone else’s product. Or a Ford vs a Mercury. Just going by the book. Since I don't drive a lot of city driving, and stay off dirt roads, most highway driving book says 15,000 miles with filter change every time. You are wasting oil, money, and natural resources if you change more often. Same with car. My Olds Silloutte van has a computer that tells when to change oil. I used to go every 3000 miles. Now it is around 7500 using the computer. I believe what the engineers programmed into their product. Follow the recommendations in your service manuel....save your money.
QUOTE(dog bone @ Dec 28 2007, 11:39 AM) [snapback]9673[/snapback] manual on my 1 ton ford and 3/4 dodge say 5000 mi if worked hard or in dusty enviroment . other than that 7500 mi. i have gotten use to every 4000. just me and what i feel comfortable with. my gas engine vehicles is every 3000. motorhomes, don't know. 15000 miles sounds like a lot to me. bigger oil pan, more oil. i don't know. bob Here is a direct quote from Cummins web site on the ISB engine The ISB offers industry-leading fuel economy, and its 24-valve centered injector cylinder head delivers exceptional performance. With a 15,000-mile (24,000 km) oil change interval and no-adjust engine valve train, cost of operation is minimized. The ISB is unbelievably quiet and ideal for RV enthusiasts who want to go everywhere and do everything.
Speaking to the 15,000 mile interval between oil changes, I understand that their website states that the interval is acceptable, BUT that maybe a selling point. Just as an example, Ford Motor Co back in the 1960's stated that the oil and filter only needed to be changed every 6,000 miles. A customer took Ford at their word, and in 24,000 miles and three years had changed the oil and filter four times. The engine's bearing surfaces were totally destroyed internally, the engine was plugged with sludge, the oil pump and engine was starved of it's life blood--oil. There was a notation, in small print stating that the oil/filter should be changed at least once a year, but even that would not have corrected this situation. Ford paid for a new engine, but requested the customer change the oil/filter very 2,000-2,500 miles or at least twice a year. Back to the 15,000 mile interval, I personally would change the oil/filter more frequently, but variables depending on miles and time driven enter the interval.
[Butch I noticed you are driving a Holiday Rambler Vacationer motorhome. A gas engine. Probably a 5-7 qt oil pan and pint sized filter. The Cummins ISB 275 holds 18 quarts of oil and the filter probably takes a quart in of itself of that. A diesel is a slower running engine, does not work like a gas engine, and is a highly sophisticated piece of machinery. Do not confuse it with an early model Ford gas engine. I assure you there is no comparison. To think the change interval is a sales gimmick is absurd as Cummins sells all the engines they produce, and is a highly regarded company. They have no reason to promote their product in a devious manner. I further am confident that they have engineering data to support their recommending this change interval, and from what I know about them they have no interest in any oil stock. I will stick by the manufactures recommendations for this engine, and change the oil as they recommend. (Thank-you) I have owned this coach for 8 years, it runs perfectly, and has 75,000 miles, uses no oil between changes, and has given me perfect service. I change my own oil and check the filter each change and have found no sludge in either the filter or the oil pan.
Our engine holds 5.5 gals of oil and oil filter will hold 1 gal of oil. We change it each year per the Cummins book. Sometimes we drive less miles and sometimes more miles per year but change oil each year. Oil looks OK to me at any mileage on clock, no black oil, more on tan side. I know you can not tell much by the looks of used oil but I do not think engine is hurt in anyway. I use Shell Rotella 15W40 and truck grade Wix filters. Works for me.
QUOTE(gsbogart @ Jan 2 2008, 08:16 PM) [snapback]9765[/snapback] [Butch I noticed you are driving a Holiday Rambler Vacationer motorhome. A gas engine. Probably a 5-7 qt oil pan and pint sized filter. The Cummins ISB 275 holds 18 quarts of oil and the filter probably takes a quart in of itself of that. A diesel is a slower running engine, does not work like a gas engine, and is a highly sophisticated piece of machinery. Do not confuse it with an early model Ford gas engine. I assure you there is no comparison. To think the change interval is a sales gimmick is absurd as Cummins sells all the engines they produce, and is a highly regarded company. They have no reason to promote their product in a devious manner. I further am confident that they have engineering data to support their recommending this change interval, and from what I know about them they have no interest in any oil stock. I will stick by the manufactures recommendations for this engine, and change the oil as they recommend. (Thank-you) I have owned this coach for 8 years, it runs perfectly, and has 75,000 miles, uses no oil between changes, and has given me perfect service. I change my own oil and check the filter each change and have found no sludge in either the filter or the oil pan. My only point was that at times the interval of service is not the ideal as other conditions may enter into the service time. I entered into the occupation of repairing autos, trucks, and buses in 1959 and know all to well the differences between gasoline fueled engines and diesel fueled engines. The point I was trying to make about the "old Ford engine " was that the service interval was followed by the customer but did not fit their driving time and or mileage. You are most definitely entitled to your opinions as to service and your facts about your Cummins engine. But do not see the point of your less than friendly response. Others have opinions, and may or may not agree with yours, but they have that right !! (thank you) !
Some of you will really think I'm nuts. We have a 2005 GMC Sierra and I change the oil when the computer tells me it should be changed. Personally I don't see any thing wrong with following the manufatures recommdations. When I was driving over the road for Roadway they were not changing oil. They metered a certain amout into the fuel tank and changed filters and added oil as needed. On my 330 I change in once a year. Thats some where between 6 and 8 thousand miles. Gee I hope you all approve. NO NOT REALLY.
QUOTE(Butch @ Jan 3 2008, 08:29 AM) [snapback]9770[/snapback] QUOTE(gsbogart @ Jan 2 2008, 08:16 PM) [snapback]9765[/snapback] [Butch I noticed you are driving a Holiday Rambler Vacationer motorhome. A gas engine. Probably a 5-7 qt oil pan and pint sized filter. The Cummins ISB 275 holds 18 quarts of oil and the filter probably takes a quart in of itself of that. A diesel is a slower running engine, does not work like a gas engine, and is a highly sophisticated piece of machinery. Do not confuse it with an early model Ford gas engine. I assure you there is no comparison. To think the change interval is a sales gimmick is absurd as Cummins sells all the engines they produce, and is a highly regarded company. They have no reason to promote their product in a devious manner. I further am confident that they have engineering data to support their recommending this change interval, and from what I know about them they have no interest in any oil stock. I will stick by the manufactures recommendations for this engine, and change the oil as they recommend. (Thank-you) I have owned this coach for 8 years, it runs perfectly, and has 75,000 miles, uses no oil between changes, and has given me perfect service. I change my own oil and check the filter each change and have found no sludge in either the filter or the oil pan. My only point was that at times the interval of service is not the ideal as other conditions may enter into the service time. I entered into the occupation of repairing autos, trucks, and buses in 1959 and know all to well the differences between gasoline fueled engines and diesel fueled engines. The point I was trying to make about the "old Ford engine " was that the service interval was followed by the customer but did not fit their driving time and or mileage. You are most definitely entitled to your opinions as to service and your facts about your Cummins engine. But do not see the point of your less than friendly response. Others have opinions, and may or may not agree with yours, but they have that right !! (thank you) ! Sorry you took my response offensively Butch, I certainly did not mean to step on your character. I was only using your logic about oil changes per manufacture specs to refute your position in the discussion. If as you say you were in the mechanical repair business, you most certainly should understand the position of the manufacture in recommending oil change intervals, and they do not publish such facts without a lot of background engineering studies. On the other hand if you are a business centered around oil changing, I can understand you postulating shorter change intervals to put more bucks in your bank account. But that is contrary to what the manufacturer suggests. I understand filtering, and most diesel engines with long change intervals hold a lot of oil and have large filtering surfaces. Changing oil more often than necessary is wasteful, adds to cost of operation, depletion of natural reserves, and puts more money in the coffers of the rag heads. At least that is one area I can beat the oil companies at their own game, fuel costs being what they are. Now.... so that I am not misquoted, everyone is welcome to form their own opinions regarding this issue. Thank you
gsbogart: Having been employed, for a short time, ten years, on a class "A" railroad as an engine crew member, locomotive fireman and later promoted to a locomotive engineer have work/operated many different class/types of diesel/electric locomotives. The oil capacities of these pieces of equipment is enormous in the v-12/v-16 cylinder engines, that I worked with, and the oil normally is never changed. They run 24 hours a day and the only time the oil is changed is when a major engine repair is made. The lubricating oils never seemed dirty as the filters, very large pair of filters, did their job. The is no comparison between locomotives and motor vehicles other than they both use diesel engines. Just info as it relates to oil in large diesel engines.
QUOTE(Butch @ Jan 7 2008, 09:03 AM) [snapback]9811[/snapback] gsbogart: Having been employed, for a short time, ten years, on a class "A" railroad as an engine crew member, locomotive fireman and later promoted to a locomotive engineer have work/operated many different class/types of diesel/electric locomotives. The oil capacities of these pieces of equipment is enormous in the v-12/v-16 cylinder engines, that I worked with, and the oil normally is never changed. They run 24 hours a day and the only time the oil is changed is when a major engine repair is made. The lubricating oils never seemed dirty as the filters, very large pair of filters, did their job. The is no comparison between locomotives and motor vehicles other than they both use diesel engines. Just info as it relates to oil in large diesel engines. So what is the point. At first you are stating manufacturers are embellishing change intervals to enhance sales, and the next you are telling me they seldom change the oil in train locomotive diesel engines only the filters. I think you mentioned my oil change interval was not in the best interests of the engine I am operating even though I am following the manufacturers recommendations. Duh....... I guess I am missing something in this thread that you are postulating, and you have me totally confused with the logic. I did not think we were discussing politics. anyway.........
You all need to see the oil filters in a train engine. Man that job is large, looks like a 55 gal drum and if I remember right, oil pan has around 200 to 250 gals. They look at a ship engine, 17,500 HP at 90 RPM's in one engine and you can walk inside the engine block. Now we all need to stay on our little RV engines. If you following the manufacturers recommendations you will be OK.
