General Maintenance ?

[STLCHEVYHD]

How often do you change your oil in your diesels? What oil and filter do you like to use? I have Rotella T 15w-40 in mine. Also, I haven't changed the fuel filter in my truck yet. I've heard of people having troubles with getting their truck started afterward. Any tricks or suggestions?

[PoPo Man]

It is best to change your oil and filter every 5k miles. Rotella is great oil for diesel engines. I would use an ACdelco filter. On the
duramax motors they take 10.5 qts. oil with filter. The fuel filter
needs to be changed every 15k to 20k miles. The best way to get to
the fuel filter on your truck is to take out the pass. side fender
plastics. much easier to remove and install filter. Now to get the truck to start after changing the filter is to have someone pump on the top of the fuel filter adapter until the pump gets tight. Then you start cranking on the motor until it starts. It may die a few times but while you crank on the motor have that person pump on the filter adapter until it starts and stays running.:ford:

[STLCHEVYHD]

Thanks for the reply. I just bought my truck back in Feb. and it didn't have the owner's manual in it. The fuel filter change doesn't sound too bad. I've always used the AC Delco filter for all my trucks.

[IH8FORD]

there is a bleeder screw next to the pump on the top of the filter housing just open it and pump until fuel comes out and the truck will start right up. and you can do the filer from the engine compartment thats the quickest way ive found.

[Mud Light]

on the 6.5's and 6.2 its on the back of the motor real easy to get to. After you replace it, just unscrew the bleeder valve and turn the key on. the lift pump will fill up the filter. then close it down and your ready to run.

[red suburban]

on my old 89 f250 i just had to open my water seperator, crank turn the fuel pump on until fuel came out of the seperator, close the valve, then crank it up. might be putting that motor in my suburban. almost as good as a 6.2 on gas (minus 1-2mpg), slightly more power (stock), and i cant find a 6.2 or 6.5 locally around me for dirt cheap (or even reasonable).

[oldred95]

This applies to any diesel. Pump the primer pump until you can hear fuel returning in the fuel tank and then it should start and run in most cases. Sometimes you will have to prime it again or if available have someone prime it upon first startup and it will go ahead and take and keep its prime.

[CCChevyZ]

rotella is good diesel oil. changing the fuel filter is so f'n easy, and it takes like 10 minutes. priming it is the exact same thing as bleeding brakes...close the bleeder screw, pump about 20 times, then open the bleeder, then do it again, until a solid stream of fuel comes out.

[FloridaZ]

I may be wrong, but I just wait for the oil change indicator to go to 0% before I change the oil. Filter indicator usually get's to 0% a little sooner.

[CCChevyZ]

I may be wrong, but I just wait for the oil change indicator to go to 0% before I change the oil. Filter indicator usually get's to 0% a little sooner.

you can if you want, but i would still stick to changing the oil every 5,000 miles or there about...

[dozerboy]

Changing the oil ever 5K is overkill go by the DIC. And I would change the first fuel filter at 10K and cut it open to see how much of the element is used up and go from there.

[CCChevyZ]

Changing the oil ever 5K is overkill go by the DIC. And I would change the first fuel filter at 10K and cut it open to see how much of the element is used up and go from there.


not really, specially for a new truck...its more like good practice...i knwo a guy at work who let his 05 go till the DIC said 5% and he ended up getting like almost 10k miles before it go to there. i would never go 10k without changing oil. he also noticed better startup/idle/overall performance after he changed the oil after so long...i still say do it every 5k OR SO.

[dozerboy]

You need to go to Bobtheoilguys site and do some reading. IIRC the base change interval on the Dmax is 9K and depending on the engine load, RPMs, speed, and etc that the dic all monitors it will give you an accurate oil life %. Now the only way to truly tell when you need to change your oil is by an analysis. And with the bypass oil filter I run I won't need to change my oil for at least 20K.

[CCChevyZ]

You need to go to Bobtheoilguys site and do some reading. IIRC the base change interval on the Dmax is 9K and depending on the engine load, RPMs, speed, and etc that the dic all monitors it will give you an accurate oil life %. Now the only way to truly tell when you need to change your oil is by an analysis. And with the bypass oil filter I run I won't need to change my oil for at least 20K.


i dont believe everything i read...plus ill stick with changing it ever 5-6k miles

[the moose]

You need to go to Bobtheoilguys site and do some reading. IIRC the base change interval on the Dmax is 9K and depending on the engine load, RPMs, speed, and etc that the dic all monitors it will give you an accurate oil life %. Now the only way to truly tell when you need to change your oil is by an analysis. And with the bypass oil filter I run I won't need to change my oil for at least 20K.

i hope you dont honestly wait 20k miles to change your oil ... that seems WAYYY long.

[dozerboy]

Thats funny, I hope I don't have to change my oil for 30K-40K. And I would bet my truck that my motor will be in way better shape than anyone without a bypass filter and changing there oil at 5K.

[CCChevyZ]

Thats funny, I hope I don't have to change my oil for 30K-40K. And I would bet my truck that my motor will be in way better shape than anyone without a bypass filter and changing there oil at 5K.

suprized u even talk like that having an 06...almost seem a little stubborn, and i will take u up on that bet..a few of my co-workers laughed at your last post, and they have been in the diesel business for 10-20-30yrs, good luck with urs though man

[the moose]

Thats funny, I hope I don't have to change my oil for 30K-40K. And I would bet my truck that my motor will be in way better shape than anyone without a bypass filter and changing there oil at 5K.


it just seems like going that long without a change is asking for trouble. and its so easily avoided by spending like 20 bucks on some oil and a filter to change it every 5k.

call me an idiot, but i think that changing your oil at 5k whether it "NEEDS" to be done or not, is just good sense in the way that you know you always have clean oil, and you can ne sure there are no problems like coolant in the oil or anything like that... i mean, what if something goes wrong with the filter? 40,000 miles is a LOOOONG time. i dont think anyone goes that long.

[CCChevyZ]

:word:

[dozerboy]

it just seems like going that long without a change is asking for trouble. and its so easily avoided by spending like 20 bucks on some oil and a filter to change it every 5k.

call me an idiot, but i think that changing your oil at 5k whether it "NEEDS" to be done or not, is just good sense in the way that you know you always have clean oil, and you can ne sure there are no problems like coolant in the oil or anything like that... i mean, what if something goes wrong with the filter? 40,000 miles is a LOOOONG time. i dont think anyone goes that long.



You can see water in the oil on the dip stick, and besides that is what an oil analysis is for. From that I can see the problem be fore they cause a failure. Trust me there is nothing wrong with a good oil at 5K other than some soot that a bypass oil filter will filter out. I'm not trying to save a few bucks in oil changes. That would be nice but I don't think it will happen I'm doing this to make my motor last I plan on taking this truck to the grave unless I start getting power hungry and start drag racing and pulling.

I guess they haven't learned much for being "in diesel business for 10-20-30yrs". What the hell is the "diesel business" some idiot tech at a stealer.

[CCChevyZ]

I guess they haven't learned much for being "in diesel business for 10-20-30yrs". What the hell is the "diesel business" some idiot tech at a stealer.

its not a dealer, and i would take their word over your 23 yr old a$$ anyday :lol: those guys have been messin with REAL diesels since before u were even born SOCAL, plus things in cali are way different :gay:

go to thedieselplace.com and read

[Pickup Man]

The day will come when your oil analysis is brought to your attention via phone call saying, "Yeah you need get that thing off the road like yesterday."
Over time in service, an oil's lubricating and cleaning properties deminish. Where do you think the junk goes after the oil cleans? Running the same oil is asking for trouble; go to any truck shop and ask them what happens to neglected trucks... they'll show you some whopping bills. Trucks are a, "Pay me now, or pay me later" buisness - it's a matter of how much carnage and money in the end.

[TwoTone98Z71]

go to thedieselplace.com and read

hes been a member over there for a long time brent.


I have 24k on my 04 and Ive changed it once and it was just changed at 11k when I bought it. I run JD +50 oil

[the moose]

I'm doing this to make my motor last I plan on taking this truck to the grave unless I start getting power hungry and start drag racing and pulling.




wouldnt changind the oil every 5k help it last at least as long ? if not longer?

i mean , 10-15k miles on a change ... ok maybe ill go with it if you use the good stuff and arent hard on your truck. but 20-40k miles is so long i just cant get past the numbers, the oil has to deteriorate at some point.

[dozerboy]

its not a dealer, and i would take their word over your 23 yr old a$$ anyday :lol: those guys have been messin with REAL diesels since before u were even born SOCAL, plus things in cali are way different :gay:

go to thedieselplace.com and read


Well answer my question, I don’t have that TX flag in my sig to look cool and I grew up running and working on diesels.

The day will come when your oil analysis is brought to your attention via phone call saying, "Yeah you need get that thing off the road like yesterday."
Over time in service, an oil's lubricating and cleaning properties deminish. Where do you think the junk goes after the oil cleans? Running the same oil is asking for trouble; go to any truck shop and ask them what happens to neglected trucks... they'll show you some whopping bills. Trucks are a, "Pay me now, or pay me later" buisness - it's a matter of how much carnage and money in the end.

No that call will never come, thanks to the series of analysis’s I will have I can see how long the oil will last. The junk will go into the oil filter not the oil like a stock setup, and I have no need to go to a truck shop I run way more motor in a way more harsh environment than any over the road truck will ever see.

wouldnt changind the oil every 5k help it last at least as long ? if not longer?

i mean , 10-15k miles on a change ... ok maybe ill go with it if you use the good stuff and arent hard on your truck. but 20-40k miles is so long i just cant get past the numbers, the oil has to deteriorate at some point.

The oil isn't broke down 10K, the problem is that the oil is filled with soot that causes the ware on the motor. You remove that soot with a bypass filter, that equals less ware and increases change intervals. Since there is nothing wrong with the oil it is just dirty. So you change your oil at 5K will you have not been removing most of the soot with the stock oil filter only diluting it with oil.

[red suburban]

Well answer my question, I don’t have that TX flag in my sig to look cool and I grew up running and working on diesels.



No that call will never come, thanks to the series of analysis’s I will have I can see how long the oil will last. The junk will go into the oil filter not the oil like a stock setup, and I have no need to go to a truck shop I run way more motor in a way more harsh environment than any over the road truck will ever see.



The oil isn't broke down 10K, the problem is that the oil is filled with soot that causes the ware on the motor. You remove that soot with a bypass filter, that equals less ware and increases change intervals. Since there is nothing wrong with the oil it is just dirty. So you change your oil at 5K will you have not been removing most of the soot with the stock oil filter only diluting it with oil.

having that bypass filter will help add some more miles between oil changes, and keep your truck running better for more miles is true. but, oil breaks down in its lubrication abilities over time. look at big rigs if you want to see how long you can safely go without changing oil. they have a bypass filter setup as well and change oil every 15-20,000 miles. those engines run pretty much daily, and are known to get well over 300,000 miles before a rebuild is needed (friend is currently rebuilding one at work with 670,000 miles on it).

yes you do get much cleaner oil with a bypass filter, extending oil change intervals, but goin over 20,000 miles (or 1 year) is asking for lubrication problems and your motor will let you know. the 1st truck i had was an 89 suburban with a 350 (gas i know but using as an example) that had a dual external oil filter setup on it for the engine, used about 7 quarts to fill it up. changed the oil every 7,000 miles as well as both filters, traded the truck in with 325,000 miles on it and it still had a compression ratio of 125psi per cylinder. dual oil filters kept it very clean, oil was only slightly darker every time i changed it, but you could feel that the lubrication ability of the oil was not as good when compared to the new oil i was putting in (not as slippery).

do what you want to do, but i'd go no longer than 15,000 miles between changes with a dual external oil filter setup, preferably 10-15,000.


ps... all that i've stated has been in a harsh environment, west texas. average spring/summer/fall temps of 100+ degrees, dust storms on a regular basis where your air filter has to be cleaned monthly instead of yearly. in a much less harsh environment you could go 20k miles, maybe 25k between oil changes, but in any harsh environment regular maintainance must be performed more often. i dont baby my vehicles either, taken every last truck that i've had offroading, whether it be mudding, trail riding, or rock crawling (that 89 suburban included), used to tow on a regular basis of 7-10,000 pounds. if you grew up abusing vehicles as i did then you know what i'm talking about.

[K5Fury]

I use Valvoline True Blue 15W40 and Wix filters for Oil and fuel.

[shiner77]

Quick question. I just picked up my truck ('03 6.6), I need to change the oil. The manual recommends oil with the CI-4 or CH-4 label. I spent 10 mins at Auto Zone looking at all of the oils and never saw either of these. Does it really matter? And if it does, who produces these?

[dozerboy]

Yes it does, Delo 400 is a very good oil for the price that is that I use Shell Rotella T is anther one look at Wally World.

[shiner77]

Thanks DB, ended up stopping by NAPA, picking up some royal purple. Stuffs pretty pricey, but oh well.

They had Delo 400, but it didn't have the CI-4 or CH-4. Rotella did, but they only had 15w40. Thanks again.

[LostBoy]

oil breaks down in its lubrication abilities over time....No it doesn't. Oil molecules never lose their lubricating properties, they're just over-ridden by contamination over time. That's why you can purchase recycled oil. ...look at big rigs if you want to see how long you can safely go without changing oil. they have a bypass filter setup...No they don't - at least not like dozerboy's talking about. The big rigs running by-pass filters like dozerboy's go 70,000+ between changes, and their oil's in better shape than those not running a BPOF & changing on time....goin over 20,000 miles (or 1 year) is asking for lubrication problems and your motor will let you know....An oil analysis will let you know there's an issue long before your engine does. If you wait for your engine to demonstrate a problem, its probably already too late to do anything with it.

Bottom line: Speculate all you want, but an oil analysis doesn't lie, PERIOD. If it says the oil's good, its not just telling you its clean, its telling you it is GOOD. Changing oil based off analysis is the best way of doing it & keeping you best informed on what's happening in your engine. There is absolutely no benefit in changing your oil more often than necessary.

[TOTHEMAX!]

i use amsoil 5w-30HDD diesel oil. its really good stuff. used to use the rotella T 15w-40 dino oil.
im changing my oil at 10k and i will work it up to 15k or so

[floridamisfit]

I'll probably do my first few at 5-6k and then switrch to synthetic