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Old 07-29-2018, 11:28 PM   #1
jack65
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Synthetic Oil or Regular Oil and which brands?

Should I use Synthetic Oil or regular oil in my Ram truck.
Which brands do you suggest?

How often to change the oil in 2014 Ram 5.7 Hemi? It's just a tad under 50K miles now. I drive less than 5K miles a year on it. I tow a trailer maybe 4-6 times a year. I was thinking 8,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.
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Old 07-30-2018, 02:08 AM   #2
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What does the book say to do? Believe it or not Walmart's Super-Tech oils get high ratings when compared to popular brands. Reference literature published on Geno's Garage Website. This is a hot button topic! Synthetic for sure, Amsoil if you have the cash. A better filter is more important. There are volumes published on the subject with testing data, some rigged, some fair, you just have to sort it out. Oil testing is a smart thing to do.
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Old 07-30-2018, 04:49 AM   #3
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Does Ram recommend a specific, easily accessed brand? If so, that's probably the best, Ford has their Motorcraft and for a gas engine I used their semi synthethic, For the diesel, their Diesel Blend. Whatever national grand that is easily found at any NAPA, Walmart, Tractor Supply or whatever and meets the specs in the owner's manual is as good or better then the often hard to find niche names such as Lucas, Royal Triton or (apologoes to the poster above) ) Amsoil and a bunch less expensive
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Old 07-30-2018, 04:58 AM   #4
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For gassers I have been using Mobil1 synthetic oil and filter for years. I go by the maintenance guide in the owner's manual if still under warranty. Document with purchase receipts. After that 2 times a year depending on mileage and use. Lots of towing more frequently. Some of the newer vehicles have extremely long service intervals. YMMV
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Old 07-30-2018, 05:43 AM   #5
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I read once that synthetic blends are a waste of money. There's no regulation on what constitutes a synthetic blend or semi-synthetic. Is it 80/20? 50/50? Only the manufacturer knows and they aren't telling.
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Old 07-30-2018, 08:06 AM   #6
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I would suggest checking out some forums dedicated to Ram trucks. I think you would get a wider readership and larger response numbers. One thing I would strongly urge you to do is to consider a quality oil filter, not a Fram. I only use Motorcraft filters and oil based on the overwhelming response on the deisel forums. YMMV
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Old 07-30-2018, 09:27 AM   #7
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I used to believe in oil changes every 3000 miles using regular oil (decades ago). Vehicles would still use a little oil (all bought new) over time and the oil would get dark brown. Started using synthetic, Mobil 1, and premium oil filters and change every 5k. I've not had an engine use oil or get dark brown since. I'm a true believer in the synthetic - I used to think it was a gimmick when it came out but no longer. I will say the first time I used synthetic was on a vehicle that had several thousand miles on it and had been ran with regular oil. When I switched to synthetic on that engine it used more oil if I recall....but that was a long time ago.
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Old 07-30-2018, 09:53 AM   #8
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I've been using Valvoline in all my vehicles since I was a teenager and I agree that a quality filter is key.

Unless you're owners manual or Dodge dealer tells you otherwise, I would use a sythentic oil. Even if you don't drive it it a lot, dino breaks down over time. Synthetics break down too, but not nearly as fast.
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Old 07-30-2018, 10:56 AM   #9
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There are 3 very good answers to this & has been going since synthetics came on the market;
#1 Yes, always!
#2 No way, too expensive!
#3 Maybe, can't hurt!
All of these will be discussed here!
Most all newer vehicles recommend synthetics, or blends, mostly due to the growing number of tree huggers that oppose fossil fuels, which is ok, but!
Also newer vehicles have much higher mileage change intervals, good or bad, but as mentioned l haven't had a vehicle that used oil in years, gas or diesel engines.
As far as oil turning dark, a diesel will be clear when changed til about the mileage of driving home from the oil change & the synthetic will be the same. Had a garage tell me my diesel needed an engine flush cause the oil was black, I told them it was a diesel & in 7500 miles if it wasn't black something else was wrong.
If you read your manual, mine said something to the effect that regardless of oil used it does not increase oil change intervals.
I've used all 3, dino, full & blended synthetics, in gas & diesel engines & personally noticed no difference in performance, mileage or engine longevity between 1 or the other.
It boils down to the same question, "which truck would you buy?", it's your money so use what you want or better yet what the manufacturer recommends.
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Old 07-30-2018, 02:01 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 66joej View Post
For gassers I have been using Mobil 1 synthetic oil and filter for years. I go by the maintenance guide in the owner's manual if still under warranty. Document with purchase receipts. After that 2 times a year depending on mileage and use. Lots of towing more frequently. Some of the newer vehicles have extremely long service intervals. YMMV
I was mostly curious to what you guys were running on your rigs.
What my manual says is attached screenshots.
I ran Mobil 1 synthetic oil in my high performance Corvette for years.
I usually go by what my mechanic of 20 years tells me... he has never failed me yet. Him and his son, grandkids all have Ford/Ram pickups.
So, I'll ask him what he is running next time I see him. According to my gauge sensor says I'm 78% good at only 1,558 miles on last oil change. Pic attached.

I just got this pickup three months ago and only put 1,558 miles on it so far, so when the six months is up, I'll change the oil.

BTW, I was quite shocked to see that the tranny oil was never to be changed and no dipstick either for a 8 speed tranny. 120K if you have a 6 speed.
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Old 07-30-2018, 02:09 PM   #11
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In any kind of severe service...towing, extreme temps, and short duration trips I would definitely recommend a synthetic. I run it in everything from lawnmowers, generators and vehicles. Small engines have a tendency to shear conventional oil.
Yes there is a difference of opinion on what a real synthetic is. There are different classes of the base oils. Amsoil and Royal Purple are real synthetics...PAO..Poly Alpha Olefins. They are expensive and are designed for long duration oil changes. Longer than your car manufacturer recommends.
I use Shell products mostly because I worked for them for 40 years, retiring as a Machinery Specialist. I run T6 Rotella 5W-40 synthetic in the diesel tuck and the small engines. The wife just bought a new Chevy Traverse and I will run Pennzoil 5W-30 synthetic in it. That has base oil from the Shell Quatar Pearl natural gas to liquids plant.
Good reading: bobistheoilguy.com
I tend to use OEM filters except a Fleetguard for the Ram diesel. Definitely don't use the "orange" Fram. If not OEM, maybe WIX.
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Old 07-30-2018, 02:50 PM   #12
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Dive off into this when you have a clear mind:
https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/
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Old 07-30-2018, 02:58 PM   #13
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My late brother and I had a string of vehicles in the 70's,80's,90's and 00's that we ran Amsoil and filters. We adhered to the 1year or 24,000 mi change interval and never had a issue. Some had over 200K before trading. Even used it in the 460 F350 CC DRW pulling the 6 horse steel trailer. It is good oil.
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Old 07-30-2018, 04:10 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jack65 View Post
I was mostly curious to what you guys were running on your rigs.
What my manual says is attached screenshots.
I ran Mobil 1 synthetic oil in my high performance Corvette for years.
I usually go by what my mechanic of 20 years tells me... he has never failed me yet. Him and his son, grandkids all have Ford/Ram pickups.
So, I'll ask him what he is running next time I see him. According to my gauge sensor says I'm 78% good at only 1,558 miles on last oil change. Pic attached.

I just got this pickup three months ago and only put 1,558 miles on it so far, so when the six months is up, I'll change the oil.

BTW, I was quite shocked to see that the tranny oil was never to be changed and no dipstick either for a 8 speed tranny. 120K if you have a 6 speed.
I'm not sure about Ram but other cars I've worked on the percentage of oil isnt just a true mileage %. ECM looks at idle time, duty cycle, short term fuel trims etc to decide that % of oil life left. Whether some of that's a tactic to get you back into the stealership for an oil change or is simply fact could I'm sure be argued up and down.
I think a lot depends on OEM. When I was wrenching on snowcats with Mercedes 906LA diesels the manual from Mercedes state you could run a conventional for 200 hours, a synth blend for 400 or 600 hours(can't remember which), and a full synth was good for 800 hours. So obviously MB thinks a full synthetic is able to stand up to longer duty cycles, for whatever that is worth.
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Old 07-30-2018, 04:30 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jack65 View Post
I was mostly curious to what you guys were running on your rigs.
What my manual says is attached screenshots.
I ran Mobil 1 synthetic oil in my high performance Corvette for years.
I usually go by what my mechanic of 20 years tells me... he has never failed me yet. Him and his son, grandkids all have Ford/Ram pickups.
So, I'll ask him what he is running next time I see him. According to my gauge sensor says I'm 78% good at only 1,558 miles on last oil change. Pic attached.

I just got this pickup three months ago and only put 1,558 miles on it so far, so when the six months is up, I'll change the oil.

BTW, I was quite shocked to see that the tranny oil was never to be changed and no dipstick either for a 8 speed tranny. 120K if you have a 6 speed.
I had a 2013 Ram 1500 5.7/8 spd and never really believed the oil life remaining gauge. Go by severity of use and mileage.
The Fiat 8 speed trans is a lubed for life unit. Guess it doesn't matter if it's a grocery getter or a TT hauler. Frankly I had mine changed at the dealer at 80kms (50k mi). SM questioned my reasoning told him if clutch packs are engaging/disengaging I didn't think oil will not heat up and break down.
I'm an old mechanic from the 50s so I guess I might not be up to today's technology. YMMV
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Old 07-30-2018, 06:17 PM   #16
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If you have the patience and time, there's ONLY 2279 pages of synthetic oil and brand discussion over on the RAM owners forum. It's mind numbing after about 20 pages! LOL

For me though, I just stick with a good quality synthetic that FCA recommends (or is in bed with! ) Pennzoil Ultra Platinum. I don't want a claim denied for powertrain issues prior to the expiration date of my manufacturer's warranty.
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Old 07-30-2018, 06:47 PM   #17
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Not going to get in the discussion about which is better, but just wanted to throw this out there, synthetic oil is made from petroleum base stock. See this link: https://mobiloil.com/en/article/car-...nventional-oil
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Old 07-30-2018, 07:45 PM   #18
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RAM oil type

The 6.4 Liter Hemi in my 2500 says Synthetic is required, so it's an easy question for me. Fortunately, my dealer gave me 5 free oil changes when I bought my truck, so have always had it done at a dealership until this last trip.

I typically use the oil minder app in the truck and changed my truck based on the app. The only exception is when we took a Florida trip of 1500 miles one way, and changed the oil at about 4500 miles on the way down and then on the return trip.

I'm not even sure you can get the recommended weight of oil required in a non-synthetic oil, as the truck takes 0W40?
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Old 07-31-2018, 04:16 PM   #19
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Not going to get in the discussion about which is better, but just wanted to throw this out there, synthetic oil is made from petroleum base stock. See this link: https://mobiloil.com/en/article/car-...nventional-oil
I agree, sorta. Read the link I posted bobistheoilguy.com and their comments on GTL (Gas to Liquids). Double cross oil company is just covering their rears on Mobil1.
PAO lubes are not distilled from crude in the conventional sense.
Sorry for the Exxon sarcasm…our major competitor and we just passed them for #1.
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Old 07-31-2018, 04:50 PM   #20
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I always thought synthetic oil was best for higher mileage motors (100+miles) and regular oil was fine for lower mileage motors. At least that was what the Corvette Forum were saying.
Any debate on that?
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