First Oil Sample

[DeadEnd]

Good morning group,

Posting my first oil sample here and looking to see if I’m heading in the right direction. I’ve always changed the oil at 5k miles so I’m a little hesitant to run another 7k on it, granted this is also my first time running AMSOIL. Any best practices to running oil longer like changing the filter out? Also, is it normal for there not to be a number for fuel dilution?

I appreciate all the help.

 

[CdnHO]

They estimated the fuel dilution is less than 2%. That’s a good thing. I would not let the oil go another 7K. But that is my opinion.

 

[gimmie11s]

They estimated the fuel dilution is less than 2%. That’s a good thing. I would not let the oil go another 7K. But that is my opinion.

Agree on the fuel dilution.

Disagree on the oil change interval.

Here you have comprehensive, detailed scientific data -- TELLING the user "no maintenance action required" i.e. use the existing oil for another 7k (12k total) and yet we still have people saying you should change it at 5k "just because". EL OH EL

Total and complete waste of money AND time....but hey...you do you, boo!

 

[CdnHO]

Agree on the fuel dilution.

Disagree on the oil change interval.

Here you have comprehensive, detailed scientific data -- TELLING the user "no maintenance action required" i.e. use the existing oil for another 7k (12k total) and yet we still have people saying you should change it at 5k "just because". EL OH EL

Total and complete waste of money AND time....but hey...you do you, boo!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and how they spend there money. Boo to you too. LOL

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

At a minimum should go 7k more there is nothing wrong with that analysis.

Early oil changes are just wasteful unless you have fuel dilution.

I changed my oil last time at 22k miles (35,000KM) with analysis in between using amsoil and things still look great never lost a drop. Here are some pictures from my bore scope even though fussy showing how clean it still is under the valve cover for those who think it would be sludged up

 

[sstoner911]

Do you tow alot? If so maybe change it more frequently. I have seen guys doing the recommended oil change intervals per the manual with a mix of daily driving and occasional towing have similar dilution numbers.

 

[DeadEnd]

Do you tow alot? If so maybe change it more frequently. I have seen guys doing the recommended oil change intervals per the manual with a mix of daily driving and occasional towing have similar dilution numbers.

I tow a few times a month, but nothing crazy. Lots of highway miles. For the first 15k miles I was doing 5k oil changes with Rotella. Decided to try amsoil and run a sample to see about extending change intervals.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I tow a few times a month, but nothing crazy. Lots of highway miles. For the first 15k miles I was doing 5k oil changes with Rotella. Decided to try amsoil and run a sample to see about extending change intervals.

5k oil changes all you are doing is donating money to the oil company's.

 

[gimmie11s]

5k oil changes all you are doing is donating money to the oil company's.

Yep

And more importantly wasting time you could be doing something else with.

 

[gimmie11s]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and how they spend there money. Boo to you too. LOL

Totally agree. Old habits die hard. Oil tech (synthetics) have come a LONG way though... not to mention these trucks hold 3 GALLONS of oil. 5k is way too early.

Do you still use a rotary phone to dial in to your friends?

 

[OLEJOE]

Good morning group,

Posting my first oil sample here and looking to see if I’m heading in the right direction. I’ve always changed the oil at 5k miles so I’m a little hesitant to run another 7k on it, granted this is also my first time running AMSOIL. Any best practices to running oil longer like changing the filter out? Also, is it normal for there not to be a number for fuel dilution?

I appreciate all the help.

I did my first UOA recently also and it showed the same <2% like yours did. It also had the potassium flagged. Im going to run mine another 6k miles and sample again to see if the potassium comes down. I changed mine at 5915 but Im going to sample next time before I change it. I had 2450 miles towing early in this UOA.

 

[CdnHO]

Totally agree. Old habits die hard. Oil tech (synthetics) have come a LONG way though... not to mention these trucks hold 3 GALLONS of oil. 5k is way too early.

Do you still use a rotary phone to dial in to your friends?

Actually two tin cans and string. Very reliable and impossible to hack. LOL

 

[sstoner911]

I tow a few times a month, but nothing crazy. Lots of highway miles. For the first 15k miles I was doing 5k oil changes with Rotella. Decided to try amsoil and run a sample to see about extending change intervals.

I tow occasionally with mostly in town driving and some interstate driving mixed in. I have never considered doing an oil analysis, I follow the manual and leave it at that. I have changed the oil around the 10K mark just because were were taking the 5ver on a trip, otherwise I just follow the manual.

I feel like getting your oil analyzed is like these guys who monitor their soot and DPF levels religiously...its a rabbit hole that I don't want to go down and a bit OCD. I just don't feel the need to geek out over these things.

 

[OLEJOE]

I tow occasionally with mostly in town driving and some interstate driving mixed in. I have never considered doing an oil analysis, I follow the manual and leave it at that. I have changed the oil around the 10K mark just because were were taking the 5ver on a trip, otherwise I just follow the manual.

I feel like getting your oil analyzed is like these guys who monitor their soot and DPF levels religiously...its a rabbit hole that I don't want to go down and a bit OCD. I just don't feel the need to geek out over these things.

Do what works for you. I hope you don’t get to experience any of the problems others have had with frequent regeneration and fuel dilution.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

I tow occasionally with mostly in town driving and some interstate driving mixed in. I have never considered doing an oil analysis, I follow the manual and leave it at that. I have changed the oil around the 10K mark just because were were taking the 5ver on a trip, otherwise I just follow the manual.

I feel like getting your oil analyzed is like these guys who monitor their soot and DPF levels religiously...its a rabbit hole that I don't want to go down and a bit OCD. I just don't feel the need to geek out over these things.

Do you even own a truck long enough to change the oil these days? Lol

 

[Thorvald]

I did my first oil sample test (Cummins Advanced Sample, Horizon does the testing). Potassium ok and fuel same, I change my oil every 12,000km when I do the tire rotation (error on my part, should have been 25k for oil but oh well, piece of mind I guess now).

 

[sstoner911]

Do you even own a truck long enough to change the oil these days? Lol

Ya, one or 2 LOL. This one I plan to keep .....retiring in 6 years so....but then there are the 2025s...

Yes , I have a problem...LOL.

 

[mbarber84]

Good morning group,

Posting my first oil sample here and looking to see if I’m heading in the right direction. I’ve always changed the oil at 5k miles so I’m a little hesitant to run another 7k on it, granted this is also my first time running AMSOIL. Any best practices to running oil longer like changing the filter out? Also, is it normal for there not to be a number for fuel dilution?

I appreciate all the help.

Looks really good so far. Definitely can go much further than 5k miles in your duty cycle using that specific oil. The signature series is formulated for longer drain intervals. I don’t see filter information, which oil filter are you using?

The TBN is still pretty strong, but it is interesting to see it fall that low after only 5k miles. I believe that oil starts out new around 10.1-10.2 so dropping by more than half the value within 5k miles isn’t necessarily concerning but it would be something I watch when going further on the mileage. TBN doesn’t always fall in even increments, it sometimes drops then plateaus for a while, etc etc.

As for fuel dilution, Polaris labs typically “estimates” that value unless they see a significant drop in viscosity (CST @100) outside of what would normally be expected. I usually make a note when I submit my samples and request they actually perform the GC test for it regardless of what the viscosity shows, and they’ll usually oblige.

 

[DeadEnd]

Looks really good so far. Definitely can go much further than 5k miles in your duty cycle using that specific oil. The signature series is formulated for longer drain intervals. I don’t see filter information, which oil filter are you using?

The TBN is still pretty strong, but it is interesting to see it fall that low after only 5k miles. I believe that oil starts out new around 10.1-10.2 so dropping by more than half the value within 5k miles isn’t necessarily concerning but it would be something I watch when going further on the mileage. TBN doesn’t always fall in even increments, it sometimes drops then plateaus for a while, etc etc.

As for fuel dilution, Polaris labs typically “estimates” that value unless they see a significant drop in viscosity (CST @100) outside of what would normally be expected. I usually make a note when I submit my samples and request they actually perform the GC test for it regardless of what the viscosity shows, and they’ll usually oblige.

Thank you for the info Matt! Currently running the Fleetguard Stratapore LF16035

 

[mbarber84]

Thank you for the info Matt! Currently running the Fleetguard Stratapore LF16035

That’s a good choice. I use that filter as well. Better filtration over stock. I would like to use the Donaldson DBL7349 as it’s the best filter you can buy for these trucks, but none of my local retailers are Donaldson distributors so getting them isn’t as easy. All the commercial truck shops near me are Fleetguard. Usually to get the Donaldson i have to buy a case of the filters, and I don’t do enough oil changes per year to make that money worth it.