Engine Oil; When To Change

[Goose55]

I seldom drive my 2019 3500 Duelly on long trips to the city, so it's mostly around town driving. I think I may have maybe 5,000 miles on my oil now and I notice it is pretty darn black and gritty. I have read that oil changes are recommended at 15K miles but I can not see how anyone would want to drive an additional 10K miles on oil in the condition that I find it. Is my expereince due to a lot of in town driving that I do?

 

[mb33458]

My owners manual has 10k as the oil change interval, or when the oil sensor (thing) says the oil needs to be changed. I have a 2021 V6 Etorque.

 

[chopperman1]

Your owners manual will tell you both mileage and/or time intervals. My 2018 says every 10k or 12 months, whichever comes first.

 

[huntergreen]

Diesels turn the oil black almost instantly. If most of your trips are short, I would change it more frequently. Also, short tripping will take its toll on the EPA system. You need to get out on the hwy and make sure you run through a Re generation cycle.

 

[Goose55]

Diesels turn the oil black almost instantly. If most of your trips are short, I would change it more frequently. Also, short tripping will take its toll on the EPA system. You need to get out on the hwy and make sure you run through a Re generation cycle.

By "EPA" do you mean the emission control systems?

 

[huntergreen]

By "EPA" do you mean the emission control systems?

Yes! Specifically the Filter in your exhaust system.

 

[Goose55]

Yes! Specifically the Filter in your exhaust system.

Thanks. I was confused by EPA. So, you are speaking of the DPF (Diesel Exhaust Filter)

 

[turkeybird56]

YES, U need to get that ride on the road (highway) and work it hard at temp for a while (more than 10 minutes, lol). If U continually drive just city, you are not gonna get any good regens and may find your DPF system defaulting out and putting U in Limp Mode and end up at the dealer, just saying. Diesel oil always get nasty and gritty especially if regen cycles not being done, and/or completed. All IMHO... (WHY I always had a reader in truck so I knew when in Regen and made sure cycle completed). (What I had/used in my ED: BlueDriver OBD2 Scanner & Reader)

ADDED: U need to change that oil way before 15K if all U R doing is running city streets, but your truck, do what works for U. Again IMHO...

 

[Goose55]

YES, U need to get that ride on the road (highway) and work it hard at temp for a while (more than 10 minutes, lol). If U continually drive just city, you are not gonna get any good regens and may find your DPF system defaulting out and putting U in Limp Mode and end up at the dealer, just saying. Diesel oil always get nasty and gritty especially if regen cycles not being done, and/or completed. All IMHO... (WHY I always had a reader in truck so I knew when in Regen and made sure cycle completed). (What I had/used in my ED: BlueDriver OBD2 Scanner & Reader)

ADDED: U need to change that oil way before 15K if all U R doing is running city streets, but your truck, do what works for U. Again IMHO...

Thanks, Turk! I did just return from a 260 mile trip to my brother's for TD. Before I left I had seen in the Cluster the DPF about 25% full and on this trip it went down to maybe 10% and then upon my return O%. But I did not see it actually in an active regen mode as I have before. As for getting out and driving it hard for 10 minutes when the DPF is showing about 25%, I have also done that. About 20 miles at 70 mph. But have not had much success with that. It does not go into an active regen mode. However, when here in my little desert town, I do watch that DPF screen often, and when it does say "active regen in process," I get my ***** out there to complete that cycle.

As for that Reader, I don't use a smart phone, but my flip phone is blue tooth paired to the truck's speaker system and I can answer calls by pressing the button on the steering wheel. Not sure I could get that BlueDriver to work with this flip phone.