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Old 06-28-2015, 07:40 AM   #1
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Skoolie service interval

how long do you go?

i just turned 8000 miles on mine since its last service and im thinking its time.

oil?
oil filter?
fuel filters?
tran fluid? filters?

what else and how often?

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Old 06-28-2015, 08:09 AM   #2
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I have worked on heavy and medium trucks for 40 years. I would change the oil, oil filter and fuel filters. I would only change the trans filter if it has a single spin-on filter. Unless the fluid stinks or is dark, I would not change trans filters if it has the two internal cartridges.

BB is famous for hiding a fuel filter up in the frame rail, make sure you change that one too. Make sure you use oil designed specifically for diesels. Anything else will eventually ruin your engine. The usual viscosity is 15W40. While you are under there, grease everything.

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Old 06-28-2015, 08:26 AM   #3
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what about synthetics? any use in quieting down the motor?

i think there is a syntheic rotella, mobil one, and amsoil? are they worth the money?
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Old 06-28-2015, 08:37 AM   #4
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i think there is a syntheic rotella, mobil one, and amsoil? are they worth the money?
My late father, who spent his entire life wrenching on cars, swore by AMSOIL; and most European manufacturers swear by synthetics as well
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Old 06-28-2015, 08:49 AM   #5
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I don't run it due to the cost, but Amsoil is awesome stuff.
I have it in my subaru's diffs and trans.
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Old 06-28-2015, 09:28 AM   #6
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what about synthetics? any use in quieting down the motor?

i think there is a syntheic rotella, mobil one, and amsoil? are they worth the money?

Do you plan on doing oil analysis?
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Old 06-28-2015, 09:37 AM   #7
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no analysis. just looking to engine running smooth
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Old 06-28-2015, 10:11 AM   #8
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I change oil in my fleet every spring. We are retired folk so miles are not high. Trans as needed.
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Old 06-28-2015, 10:15 AM   #9
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Every spring , regardless of the mileage,(mostly around 5000kms) I change my oil and filter, my fuel filter, and just my spin on tranny filter, I also change the air filter, and grease everything. I change the transmission oil every second spring. I don't use synthetic mostly do to the cost, I believe in changing oil on a regular bases, if I do a lot of kms, I would change oil more often.
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Old 06-28-2015, 11:11 AM   #10
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Older worn engines, synthetic makes no sense.

If you owned the engine from new, running synthetic would make sense.

Remember, Amsoil is part of a system. Unless your running their massive bypass filter system, there is no point in running their oil. It's made to keep the engine oil clean for up to 60,000 miles.

You can't do this with regular 15w 40 oil. It looses it's viscosity and detergents over the 10 to 20,000 miles between changes.

That's why running amsoil in your axles, trans, and other closed systems makes sense.

I add Lucas oil stabilizer to all my engines. Helps keep the viscosity up.

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Old 06-28-2015, 12:46 PM   #11
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Fully agreeing with Nat on this one.
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Old 06-28-2015, 04:34 PM   #12
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Dang it Nat,
i was already at napa when you posted and i got the rotella synthetic 5-40.
says cummins approved on the back, but i do recall switching my ex wifes high mileage car to synthetic and it turned that car into an oil burner. switched back and everything was fine.

so i will see. the synthetic was on sale, only 5$/gallon difference over the regular 15-40.

changed the oil filter, spin on transmission filter, fuel filter, and the big ole air filter. there is a fuel water separator down in the frame rail, like mentioned earlier, i just drained off the water, and let it be.
the genny had a couple of filters and got new oil too.
$150 in filters, $120 in oil.
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Old 06-28-2015, 08:13 PM   #13
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Synthetics will not do a thing as far as making your engine run smoother or quieter. Like other posters have said, it is cost prohibitive for your engine. I would however recommend any quality synthetic in your rear end and trans. In my opinion, Amsoil is no better or worse than any other brand, just more expensive, it's a marketing gimmick. Our over-the-road trucks go 50,000 miles between oil changes using standard motor oil.
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Old 06-28-2015, 09:32 PM   #14
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Our over-the-road trucks go 50,000 miles between oil changes using standard motor oil.
Wow! How do your big rigs get that much mileage between oil changes?
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Old 06-28-2015, 09:54 PM   #15
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Wow! How do your big rigs get that much mileage between oil changes?

My guess, bypass oil filter, oil filter changes and oil analysis.

And probably oil capacity of 12-15 gallons.
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Old 06-28-2015, 10:41 PM   #16
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I just read up on bypass oil filtration. When I first saw the word "bypass" I pictured oil bypassing the lone oil filter but in reality a bypass system uses two filters, one that uses a normal oil filter and another, much finer filter that bypasses the normal filter and also removes water and other contaminants that a normal oil filter doesn't remove.

Many gallons of oil doesn't hurt either.

One other question - I was told that the viscosity modifiers in multi-grade oils eventually wear out making them much thinner. Doesn't that happen to high mileage oils?
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Old 06-29-2015, 02:51 AM   #17
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One other question - I was told that the viscosity modifiers in multi-grade oils eventually wear out making them much thinner. Doesn't that happen to high mileage oils?
Non synthetic oil, yes.

If it's synthetic oil than they claim no. But I feel the additives would still wear out even in the synthetic oil, even if the oil it's self holds up better.

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Old 06-29-2015, 06:10 AM   #18
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In really BIG applications, the oil is monitored on a schedule, and the additives are added back as needed.
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Old 06-29-2015, 07:17 AM   #19
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nice questions.....

here is one.... what about teflon? ptfe?
ive seen other swear by its use in diesels or any engine.
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Old 06-29-2015, 05:37 PM   #20
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Wow! How do your big rigs get that much mileage between oil changes?
Easiest job in the world: Large displacement engine, 15-16 liters, lazing along a 1,200 rpm for hours on end. We take oil sample at every service. As long as the oil meets engine manufacturer's specs, it will stay at 50K.

The trucks with smaller engines that do more pick-up and delivery type work get changed sooner, 7-13 Liter engines. The smaller the engine, the harder it has to work.

BTW, we use no special filters or additives. Most engine filters, these days are a combination full flow/by-pass. Any add on filters are snake oil in my book.
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