which oil do you use in you diesel truck

[mcsquid86]

I hope this is the right forum to post this in:
I just got my first diesel truck. I picked up a 99 f250 with a 7.3 diesel engine. It needs a oil change. I live in the cincinnati area, so I'm trying to figure out regular or synthetic and 15w-40 or 5w-40 for the winter months. Please give me your input. I'm leaning toward mobil 1 Diesel truck 5w-40 oil with a motorcraft filter.

[hankpage]

This subject has been discussed many times and should show up when doing a forum search. My vote goes for old reliable Shell RotellaT 15w40 and a Fleetguard filter and regular oil change schedules. This is the best way to compensate for soot suspension and fuel dilution especially in older diesel trucks. JM2¢, Hank

[tjl]

I'm with Hank on this one. My '96 Power Stroke has 209K miles on it and I've only used Shell Rotella T in it with no problems. I uaually put 5-7k miles on each oil change. I also change the air and fuel filter every other oil change.

[Htfiremedic]

Shell Rotella Synthetic and a Wix in my '03 F250. I'm on a diesel forum as well, the general consensus is that Wix cleans better and the synthetic lasts longer, wears less and increases lubrication.
I have put the Bullet Proof oil and EGR cooler on my truck. Therefore I get about twice the oil flow, slightly cooler temps, more HP and higher fuel mileage(2-3 mpg).

[gkainz]

nothing wrong with the Mobil 1 ... I use Delo from Costco.

[Cool Canuck]

Unless you're going to see -40, synthetic isn't cost effective. Like many, I used Shell Rotella 15W-40 in my '01. Tried Chevron Delo once and truck didn't like it. It would romp while idling when hot. This engine uses motor oil to fire the injectors and it seems that stuff got a little thin.

If you go to International's website, you might still find a oil change calculator. It suggests you can go something over 8,000 mi between oil changes on the TE444 (7.3). My '11 goes 11,000 mi. before demanding fresh oil so that number isn't outrageous. Me? I changed oil on the 7.3 every spring and fall. I'm sure others will jump all over 3-5K between changes.

More info on that truck than you ever wanted to know: The Diesel Stop 7.3 FAQs (http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f47/)

[Jay D]

I had an 05 with the 6.0 and I used Shell RotellaT 15w40 with wix filters every 7500 miles. Oil and fuel filters every change with the air filter every other

[Jim W]

Whatever oil you use it is very very important that you maintain the proper oil change interval. Do not extend the oil change interval beyond the Manufactures oil change schedule. You have a HEUI (Caterpillar design) fuel pump that uses engine oil to lubricate it, if this oil become contaminated it will trash your fuel pump.
I would tend to use Shell RotellaT 15W-40 oil and a Baldwin filter for your engine oil and change at the recommend intervals such as 5,000 or 7,500 miles. I would also do a trend analysis of the engine oil by doing oil samples from either Blackstone Labs or a Caterpillar dealer; these are about $25.00 a sample to check. This way you will know the condition of the engine and when to change your oil.
Buy a Fumoto Finger Touch engine oil drain valve to facilitate with oil changes and in capturing the hot oil for the sampling kit after a couple of min’s.

Jim W.

[Bushman512000]

SHELL gets My vote Bushman:D

[jbsmith]

Another vote for RotellaT and Fleetguard filters. I change at 200 hrs in my 5.9L CTD...which works out to about 7,500 miles.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Cool Canuck]

,<snip>. You have a HEUI (Caterpillar design) fuel pump that uses engine oil to lubricate it, if this oil become contaminated it will trash your fuel pump.
<snip>

Jim W.Well, close ... but no cigar. The fuel pump is electric. What you are probably referring to is the "High Pressure Oil Pump". This pump takes engine oil and pumps it at high pressure to the injectors. The high pressure oil is used to drive a piston which in turn delivers the fuel through the injector nozzle into the cylinder. It's all quite magical. :D

[mcsquid86]

Thanks everybody. Since the onwer used rotella 15w-40 before I owned it, I went with the rotella T6 synthetic and a motorcraft filter.

[Jim W]

Well, close ... but no cigar. The fuel pump is electric. What you are probably referring to is the "High Pressure Oil Pump". This pump takes engine oil and pumps it at high pressure to the injectors. The high pressure oil is used to drive a piston which in turn delivers the fuel through the injector nozzle into the cylinder. It's all quite magical. :D

At Caterpillar this is known as the fuel pump to the injectors I do not care what FORD calls it is still the HEUI fuel pump. And when this goes so do the $$$$.

Jim W.

[Cool Canuck]

At Caterpillar this is known as the fuel pump to the injectors I do not care what FORD calls it is still the HEUI fuel pump. And when this goes so do the $$$$.

Jim W.Man! You're a tough sell. A pdf right from Caterpillar (www.cat.com/cda/files/87761/7/pehp9526.pdf). The High Pressure Pump on the International/Navistar TE444 engines (Ford 7.3) has no contact with the fuel whatsoever. The fuel system has an electric pump, regulator, filter and heater. The fuel flows through the cylinder head, by the injectors with the surplus being returned to the tank.

The pump is $380.00 @ several online sites. About 1/2 the price of your injector pump.

[SAABDOCTOR]

HI MCSQUID86 while everyone is fighting over what ever to call that pump. the Shell rottela T 15w40 is a great choice. been using it for years. change it often with a fleetguard wix brand filter and you will be just fine. enjoy the truck!!:D

[Javi]

I used Delo in my diesels for years but in this truck I'm using the Motorcraft 5w-40w synthetic... and Motorcraft filters..

[davidjsimons]

I run Mobil Delvac 1300 and Wix Filters in my Ram.

[rhagfo]

I hope this is the right forum to post this in:
I just got my first diesel truck. I picked up a 99 f250 with a 7.3 diesel engine. It needs a oil change. I live in the cincinnati area, so I'm trying to figure out regular or synthetic and 15w-40 or 5w-40 for the winter months. Please give me your input. I'm leaning toward mobil 1 Diesel truck 5w-40 oil with a motorcraft filter.

How many miles on the oil? You do know you don't change oil in a diesel as often as a gasser.
Just because it is black as a moonless night, doesn't mean it needs changing.
I change mine at 7,500 miles currently, but will have Blackstone lab run the extended change test on a sample I pull this change. I may start going every 10K.

This is their web site. http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

The Shell is fine, I run Delo 400 LE and current don't need to add between changes.

[davidjsimons]

I've changed my oil every 5,000 miles, but that is just my preference. My other Dodge has 665,000 miles on it. 5,000 miles was the schedule I maintained on that truck, so you know what they say about if its not broke.

[muddynoll]

Rotella T6 5W 40

[raytronx]

I use Shell Rotella 15W-40 and change it every 3000-5000 miles, I tow a lot.
Owners manual says 2500 miles if using the truck for hard duty. 5000 if regular duty.

[sagebel]

Valvoline Extreme Blue 5-40 full synthetic.

[wrighfr58]

Last year I put 2K miles on my diesel. If I went my miles alone, it would be a long time to get to 5K or 7.5K miles before changing the oil. Is once per year adequate enough with low miles?

[hankpage]

Last year I put 2K miles on my diesel. If I went my miles alone, it would be a long time to get to 5K or 7.5K miles before changing the oil. Is once per year adequate enough with low miles?

I would try doing an oil sample test and go by the results of that. As long as there are no harmful buildups or dilution I would say there is no problem extending time and a $20 sample is cheaper than an oil change. (If it shows no problems)

[rhagfo]

Last year I put 2K miles on my diesel. If I went my miles alone, it would be a long time to get to 5K or 7.5K miles before changing the oil. Is once per year adequate enough with low miles?

Must only drive to tow the 5er, what a waste of a beautiful truck. I would agree with the pull the sample, depends on who changes your oil. It runs $25 to $35 for testing at Blackstone Labs, I can change for about $50 if I get my oil on sale, and as I only change about once a year not a problem.
You need to get out more often and go farther on each trip, diesles don't like doing a bunch of short driving.

[hankpage]

Or you could send that pretty truck on vacation to New Jersey and I would be glad to put some miles on it ..... Heck, I would even return it with fresh oil change. http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=251&pictureid=1106 I'm not a Ford guy but I am willing to sacrifice for the cause. :D Hank

[Engine31]

I use Amsoil first because I like the proven results on the wear ball test but also because Mercruiser calls for the same weight in BOTH of my 496's in the boat. The Mercruiser synthetic cost more then the Amsoil and the Mercruiser blended semi synthetic is about the same. So I choose to buy in bulk once a year for the truck and boat, 10 gals in total giving me little spare.

My truck is fairly low miles per year at about 5000 a year and an oil change once a year here in the warm AZ climate is fine.

[jimmyv13]

I run T6 in my 6L...seems happy with cold starts.

[Ron]

OK I will be the odd one on this subject, I use Schaeffer 5/40 in everything from the pressure washer up to the semi trucks and have been using it for 10 years. Crazy I am but I still change oil every 3000 miles. My dealer says im throwing money out the window, I guess I have the old school thinking still in my head.:)

[2011 keystone]

Valvoline blue in my cummins change it every 5000.

[Escs36]

I have a micro trucking company with medium duty trucks. I change my oil twice a year for every truck. Miles can be anywhere between 5,000 miles and 15,000 miles. Typically the 5,000 miles would be the 7.3L and 15,000 could be for the DT466E. I buy oil by the drum. Sometimes I get bargains and sometimes I do not. I usually buy the "house" brand which most claim to be the Chevron Delo. When I say house brand I mean the supply companies branded oil. Regardless of brand I always get 15W-40.

I recently overhauled my 7.3 out of the pick up truck with 250,000 miles and the engine was spotless inside. I was surprised considering I change my oil by calender and not miles. Overhaul was because of driver (me) and utilizing the large injectors and turbo. The bearings were perfect and could easily have gone another 250,000, but the hole in the piston had to be fixed! With that being said, hard miles and calender oil changes seem to work just fine even for my engines with Hydraulic Injection systems. Hydraulic injection systems have a tendency to shear the oil and require more frequent oil changes. My 5.9L gets the exact same treatment.