Oil & Fuel Hey Guys, I need help with engine oil!

[ndnparts]

You are exactly correct! When talking trucks or motorhomes, people often comment on the maintenence cost difference between diesel and gas. The gas engine uses 6 quarts and a $6 oil filter that you change every 3,000 miles in rough service. The truck diesel engine takes 6 gallons of oil and a $20 oil filter and at least one diesel filter (usually 2) at around the same cost each, but is changed at 15,000 miles. The actual cost difference is not significant unless you drive just a few miles and resort to the annual oil change at something like 5,000 miles, in which case the gas engine was far cheaper to maintain. Point is, you can certainly get good life from petroleum oils, but you do need to examine your usage to figure out what fits your needs. Stan

ndnparts that's a excellent point!

In my initial post you will find a reference to filters. Take a look at the filters used on CAT and Cummins, more than likely it's made by Donaldson Corp, maker of some of the best filter you can buy, and is four times the size of a regular filter, has a efficiency rating two to three times that of your car. Also the volume of oil held in those engines is greater so the same oil takes longer to be cycled back through the motor. This is one of the reasons the over the road semi doesn't need to change its oil as often.

 

[ihookem]

I just put in Mobil 1 5w40 diesel today. I started my Kubota with 15w40 regular oil yesterday and it didn't turn over very fast at all. It almost didn't start. This is why I went to 5w synthetic. It should help. It was about 7 or 8 degrees when I started it. I also had it run very hot in summer under a load so this might help too. I hear synthetics run cooler so we'll see. I figure my 7510 takes 3.2 quarts. It only cost me 12 bucks more for an oil change with synthetic once a year. Not much ( a dollar a month) Also, what filter only catches 38% of the dirt? Fram? I used Fram in my last two Ford 300 6cyl and ran the 86 for 213k and my 96 to 225k and neither burned more than a quart between changes of 6-8k mi. You are in "da Up!" so get some good thin oil for winter. We all know an engine wears out more the first 2 seconds it's running. Later, Steve.

 

[Old School]

ihookem,

Some of the auto parts stores used to cut open new oil filters for customers to compare till the suppliers put the pressure on them to discontinue that practice. Take a good look at the picture on the oil filter box, does it show metal or cardboard holding the end of the paper filter together? The information is out there for everyone to see and probably one of the easiest places to go and find out more is the Amsoil website. Gran tit there is some bias, but there is also a wealth of very good information. There are many many more but you have to hunt the web to find it.

 

[ihookem]

Old school , I hear ya! I am using Amsoil in my desel pickup now with Amsoil air and oil filters. When I ran cheap gas motors I didn't care, but I wan't my diesels to last as long I possible. I live 15 mi. north west of Westbend I might be close to you. Later Steve.