2021 3500 First Oil Analysis

[CdnHO]

I assumed the iron in my sample was from the valve train. Not sure where the aluminum is coming from. Or the potassium. Hopefully from the fuel additive. Today when hooking up the fifth wheel for the trip south, I noticed a bit of a single cylinder “huff” for lack of a better term at the exhaust. Not bad but definitely there. Need this thing to hold together for another 6000 miles. If the UOA is as bad, I will be ordering a new truck, hoping for better luck. I think Cummins ruined a perfectly good motor for no reason.

 

[johnmyster]

So…….whats the best oil to use ???

If you're standing in the aisle at walmart, tractor supply, or rural king...

Delvac ESP is the best 5w-40. Delo XSP is the best 15w-40, but Delvac Extreme is also a close second. Delo ADF, if you care about life of your DPF. Plenty of heavily UOA'd HD fleets running happily on those oils.

All of these have had pretty good rebate cycles in 2024 and 2025, so short OCIs are surprisingly affordable. Delvac ESP this year for $12 a gallon, Delo XSP for $8 a gallon, and ADF for $15 per gallon...if you play the rebates right.

 

[AH64ID]

I assumed the iron in my sample was from the valve train. Not sure where the aluminum is coming from. Or the potassium. Hopefully from the fuel additive. Today when hooking up the fifth wheel for the trip south, I noticed a bit of a single cylinder “huff” for lack of a better term at the exhaust. Not bad but definitely there. Need this thing to hold together for another 6000 miles. If the UOA is as bad, I will be ordering a new truck, hoping for better luck. I think Cummins ruined a perfectly good motor for no reason.

With a DPF there is going to be noticeable moisture and vapor from the exhaust as things warm up. Could that have been what you were seeing?

Archoil does contain potassium.

If you're standing in the aisle at walmart, tractor supply, or rural king...

Delvac ESP is the best 5w-40. Delo XSP is the best 15w-40, but Delvac Extreme is also a close second. Delo ADF, if you care about life of your DPF. Plenty of heavily UOA'd HD fleets running happily on those oils.

All of these have had pretty good rebate cycles in 2024 and 2025, so short OCIs are surprisingly affordable. Delvac ESP this year for $12 a gallon, Delo XSP for $8 a gallon, and ADF for $15 per gallon...if you play the rebates right.

Definitely a loaded question, which deserves a question before an answer.

Short interval, regular interval, or extended interval?

 

[Jnrcarson]

With a DPF there is going to be noticeable moisture and vapor from the exhaust as things warm up. Could that have been what you were seeing?

Archoil does contain potassium.



Definitely a loaded question, which deserves a question before an answer.

Short interval, regular interval, or extended interval?

Short interval as it’s not my daily driver. 15k miles in almost 4 years. Probably 75% of those are towing either the 5er or the boat.

 

[AH64ID]

Short interval as it’s not my daily driver. 15k miles in almost 4 years. Probably 75% of those are towing either the 5er or the boat.

How often are you changing it?

Once a year is IAW the manual even if you don’t drive the miles.

 

[johnmyster]

Short interval as it’s not my daily driver. 15k miles in almost 4 years. Probably 75% of those are towing either the 5er or the boat.

Annual oil changes at 3500 miles each, with 2500 towing miles per OCI...not really pushing the envelope of soot loading or oxidation on any off-the-shelf oil...and hopefully not fuel dilution either.

Would not think twice about Delvac ESP, Delo XSP 5w-40, or Delo ADF 10w-30. There are some fans out there of Rotella T6 0w-40, if it's available in your area.

A three year supply of Donaldson filters is $52 from crossfilters.

 

[Trash Panda]

Annual oil changes at 3500 miles each, with 2500 towing miles per OCI...not really pushing the envelope of soot loading or oxidation on any off-the-shelf oil...and hopefully not fuel dilution either.

Would not think twice about Delvac ESP, Delo XSP 5w-40, or Delo ADF 10w-30. There are some fans out there of Rotella T6 0w-40, if it's available in your area.

A three year supply of Donaldson filters is $52 from crossfilters.

Unless you’re running your truck in the Artic circle, 0w40 is a wild choice.

 

[Jnrcarson]

How often are you changing it?

Once a year is IAW the manual even if you don’t drive the miles.

Yeah I should have mentioned that. I change it once a year. Have never had an oil analysis done. Have been using
Rottella T6but open to a better oil suggestion.

 

[johnmyster]

Unless you’re running your truck in the Artic circle, 0w40 is a wild choice.

Advocates for it (T6 0w-40) argue that it's a better base oil product, required to make the 0w-40 grade...which is also a better lubricant, more robust, etc. And although it's thinner at extreme cold starting (vs 5w-40) it's arguably not thinner where it matters for most of us. So it's not really a viscosity-temperature driven choice as much as it's a better oil than foamtella 15w-40 swill.

I'm in Virginia and our Toyota 2GR-FE gets Mobil 1 FS 0w-40 (A3/B4.) Similar argument but it's actually true in the case of the M1 product.

 

[Trash Panda]

Advocates for it (T6 0w-40) argue that it's a better base oil product, required to make the 0w-40 grade...which is also a better lubricant, more robust, etc. And although it's thinner at extreme cold starting (vs 5w-40) it's arguably not thinner where it matters for most of us. So it's not really a viscosity-temperature driven choice as much as it's a better oil than foamtella 15w-40 swill.

I'm in Virginia and our Toyota 2GR-FE gets Mobil 1 FS 0w-40 (A3/B4.) Similar argument but it's actually true in the case of the M1 product.

It’s still the wrong oil for the application.

 

[johnmyster]

It’s still the wrong oil for the application.

To each their own. Oil choice threads will always provide entertainment. Don't let that 0w scare you more than it should.

 

[Trash Panda]

To each their own. Oil choice threads will always provide entertainment. Don't let that 0w scare you more than it should.

Plenty of higher quality oils available in the proper viscosity. No need to go searching for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

Viscosity is just one piece to a very big puzzle when it comes to a quality lubricant.

 

[johnmyster]

Plenty of higher quality oils available in the proper viscosity. No need to go searching for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.

Viscosity is just one piece to a very big puzzle when it comes to a quality lubricant.

Sounds like you’re more focused on grade than you are on viscosity.

The way our 2GR-FE gets driven is a problem that does exist. I’m solving it by using the most robust oil I can buy short of boutiques. The viscosity is within the range of viscosities specified by the OEM for that motor.

According to some, the mediocre quality of T6 in the 15w grade is a problem that is addressed in the 0w grade and the 0w doesn’t preclude it from being used in warmer conditions. Then again, Rotella 0w-40 isn’t available where I live so it isn’t a solution I’m pursuing.

 

[AH64ID]

Advocates for it (T6 0w-40) argue that it's a better base oil product, required to make the 0w-40 grade...which is also a better lubricant, more robust, etc. And although it's thinner at extreme cold starting (vs 5w-40) it's arguably not thinner where it matters for most of us. So it's not really a viscosity-temperature driven choice as much as it's a better oil than foamtella 15w-40 swill.

I'm in Virginia and our Toyota 2GR-FE gets Mobil 1 FS 0w-40 (A3/B4.) Similar argument but it's actually true in the case of the M1 product.

The larger the spread of a multi-grade oil the higher the NOACK volatility, which generally isn’t an issue but nice to avoid if not needed for Arctic or OEM specs (My Hemi calls for a 0w-40).

I would have to have some severe cold weather to consider a 0w-40 for a Cummins.

According to some, the mediocre quality of T6 in the 15w grade is a problem that is addressed in the 0w grade and the 0w doesn’t preclude it from being used in warmer conditions. Then again, Rotella 0w-40 isn’t available where I live so it isn’t a solution I’m pursuing.

Considering this is a discussion about 19+ Cummins engines I’m not sure why 15w-40 is even a factor.

The best way to avoid the mediocre qualities of T6 is to buy a different brand oil.

Yeah I should have mentioned that. I change it once a year. Have never had an oil analysis done. Have been using
Rottella T6but open to a better oil suggestion.

With that few of miles you’ll do fine with any oil. I personally would probably use Delo or Valvoline, maybe Amsoil’s OE grade, but nothing fancy for sure.

 

[Nick]

You need to do more than one to see if you have a patteren and not just a one time thing . T6 is run in every type of truck imaginable . I wouldn’t worry one bit about the oil

 

[gimmie11s]

Iron is going to be piston rings and/or cylinder bore material, not valve train.

I would re-run a sample ASAP because those iron numbers would have me concerned. I'd send part of my next sample back to the same company and another part of the next sample to a different company like Blackstone or someone else.

I have a hard time believing a new motor like that is already producing blow by so I'd want a second opinion on my next sample.

 

[56ram2500]

The larger the spread of a multi-grade oil the higher the NOACK volatility, which generally isn’t an issue but nice to avoid if not needed for Arctic or OEM specs (My Hemi calls for a 0w-40).

I would have to have some severe cold weather to consider a 0w-40 for a Cummins.



Considering this is a discussion about 19+ Cummins engines I’m not sure why 15w-40 is even a factor.

The best way to avoid the mediocre qualities of T6 is to buy a different brand oil.



With that few of miles you’ll do fine with any oil. I personally would probably use Delo or Valvoline, maybe Amsoil’s OE grade, but nothing fancy for sure.

I had thought about trying either Delo or Valvoline synthetic 5w40 oil but I was shocked to see that both cost more than Amsoil ADO synthetic oil @28.99 member price compared to either Delo at $37.98 and Valvoline PB at $39.78 Amazon higher if purchased at Walmart..

 

[AH64ID]

I had thought about trying either Delo or Valvoline synthetic 5w40 oil but I was shocked to see that both cost more than Amsoil ADO synthetic oil @28.99 member price compared to either Delo at $37.98 and Valvoline PB at $39.78 Amazon higher if purchased at Walmart..

I’ve ran ADO, it’s good oil.

 

[johnmyster]

I had thought about trying either Delo or Valvoline synthetic 5w40 oil but I was shocked to see that both cost more than Amsoil ADO synthetic oil @28.99 member price compared to either Delo at $37.98 and Valvoline PB at $39.78 Amazon higher if purchased at Walmart..

A year ago some of us stocked up on Delo XSP 5w-40 at $9.48 a gallon from AAP. This was the largest of several shipments.

But then again, I probably would’ve ordered something else if I’d had all that info about Noack volatility for wide spread oils.

 

[AH64ID]

A year ago some of us stocked up on Delo XSP 5w-40 at $9.48 a gallon from AAP. This was the largest of several shipments.

But then again, I probably would’ve ordered something else if I’d had all that info about Noack volatility for wide spread oils.

View attachment 90628

Great score! There are a few years worth of changes there. How many of you went in on the deal?

5 cases would have gotten me thru the shelf life of that oil for under $150… not bad.

5w-40 is the right oil to run in a 19+, so it is what it is.