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synthetic oil
OK...here's a topic that's probably been thrashed: should I use synthethetic oil in my new Dodge 2500 Cummins diesel?
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synthetic oil
My principle reason for using synthetic oils is for the excellent cold weather starting and running properties (engines and transmissions make real ugly noises below zero). But seeing that your in Mississippi, you're probably looking at it for other reasons, such as extended oil changes (may void your warranty) and superior lubricity (might not be all that noticable in a high torque diesel). If you got the extra coin, then why not?
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synthetic oil
frank,
I went to synthetic oil first when doing my own changes. I noticed it was very hard to hold onto the oil filter being taken off that had the synthetic and no problem on the normal oil filter. Both oils were same brand and the normal oil was their best grade.
In my first pickup when I changed the oil only my mileage went up sufficient to pay for the difference in price. This was a V-6 Dodge. When I went to same oil in my large V-8 Dodge it made NO difference in the mileage, but I did keep on using it.
My nephew fround his Ford diesel ran cooler with the synthetic oil with that being only change. Don't remember what he said about mileage.
I was using Castro Synthetic and about a year ago found out they were not making their oil the same as they were and wonder if that is why the mileage did not increase with the V-8. BTW, no longer use the Castro due to the way they make their current synthetic. It is not a true synthetic if memory is correct. Oh, what is true synthetic? A discussion I have seen touched on here in time past.
My vote is for a good synthetic.
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Kenneth, I don't know what your nephew carries or drags around with his truck, but we can't make ours get above normal operating temperature, regardless of what we try to pull or the weather.
As for synthetic, no doubt it's good stuff, but with the luck we've been having with Dino oil, it's sort of overkill. We have an old F-Super Duty (an F-450 from before they were called that) with nearly a half million miles on it. Almost every one of those miles is loaded and or pulling a trailer.
Now bear in mind, it has a 5spd. tranny with 5.13 gears in the back, so in overdrive it hits the governor, 3,450 rpm, at 68 mph. In other words almost all of those 500k miles were at WOT!!!!
It still performs just fine, it doesn't burn any oil or have any blow by.
It has had an oil change every 3,500 miles since it rolled out of the factory.
Best of luck.
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I'm trying it in my wifes car for the simple reason that it should work out to one change a year for me. I'm trying some high mileage stuff and a once a year change not just the filter although they say it will go further with only a filter change at that point. I've found the oil to get dark quickly but seems to do everything right compared to high quality gas oil that was changed every four to five thousand miles she had no mileage change and the car has never had problems cold starting here in NY. She is putting about 12,000 miles on a year. This is on a gas engine in a 2003 Subaru.
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synthetic oil
test
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Frank, I believe the owner's manual still states that there is no break in period for the Cummins but in my opinion and in other posts and articles, it generally takes around 20,000 miles for the Cummins to get run and broken in good. Although you can use a synthetic oil, I would wait until you have at least made a few long trips pulling a heavy load before you change over to a synthetic oil.
I use John Deere 15W-40 Plus 50 which is a synthetic blend. I tried Shell Rotella T 5W-40 synthetic last winter with good results. I purchased a 55 gallon drum of the John Deere 15W-40 Plus 50 since I use is in my tractor as well.
I use the Fleetgard filters. I buy them from Geno's Garage.
I posted this earlier and it disappeared. If the lost post appears my apologies. This attempt number 4. For some reason the board software does not like the link to Geno's Garage.
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Murf,
Biggest thing I know he pulled was 40 foot horse trailer with a couple of horses,loaded running about that WOT on the interstate. Also running large trailer loaded with a heavy hay. All I know is he told me it ran cooler. It did run guage. His was a F 350 with 5 speed manual. About 70 to 75 was tops best I remember. It liked down hill on interstate! 
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Ken: The "Castro" oil; did you buy that and some cigars from a guy named Fidel by any chance? He lives on an island south of Florida. Must be only available in South Carolina, huh?
Ohhhhhh---you meant "Castrol". My bad.
And like Murf mentioned about running hot, my '03 Cummins has never gotten off the "normal" mark even pulling 15,000 lb. through the mountains---and yes, the gauge works.
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Whoa!!! Looks like I hit a hot topic...still inconclusive though. I think I'll go by the book (owner's manual) until out of warranty (100K for the Cummins). Picked truck up today and logged my first 75 miles...mpg indicator swooped from 16 to 17.something at 70mph average. I'll be pulling a Kubota L39 in a few months. Thanks everyone. -fs
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