Changing Oil Change Practices

**LDB** · 12-30-2006, 11:33 PM

An ISC is a particular Cummins engine. It is better to have warm oil than warm water. Best of all would be both warm. My .02 and others will vary.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
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**greg334** · 12-30-2006, 11:50 PM

Actually the block heater on my ISC and ISB's only heat the coolant, not the oil. I think that I have a spot for an oil heater but I didn't see one on the block of the ISC.

And to answer what is an ISC, it is a Cummins engine. 8.3 Liters from 210 to 310 HP (depending on the application). It is a wet sleeve engine and the bigger brother of the ISB which is in the Dodge Trucks.

**Paul56** · 01-09-2007, 10:13 PM

>It takes no experience whatsoever to read the owner's manual
>and follow the directions to protect the warranty on a new
>truck. Developing a good preventative maintenance schedule
>is something that can be done before the newest of the new
>even buys a truck. This is a case where the value of
>reasearch and experience are the same.

To return to your topic, the comment regarding engine warranty and following vendor recommendations is very valid.

In this case doing a little research (reading the vendor maintenance recommendations) will go a long way towards preventing a warranty claim rejection experience.

I'm still waiting to see the help wanted ad that states "nn years of research required" instead of "nn years of experience required". :+

**davekc** · 01-09-2007, 10:27 PM

I'm still waiting to see the help wanted ad that states "nn years of research required" instead of "nn years of experience required".
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Nice quote! I like it.

Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

**RichM** · 01-09-2007, 10:29 PM

Good post from Paul. I can see it now. "Wanted a expediter team with a minimum of 1,000 hours, verified research time.No other experience necessary as with that amount of research I or others cannot possibly compete with you."
Experience means nothing,only qualified research counts.

**Mudflap** · 01-11-2007, 07:16 AM

I am on my second Detroit Diesel engine where the change interval is recommended at 15k. I change at 13k, give or take a few. Maybe I am old world, but dirty oil is dirty oil to me and I see no reason to go cheapo when it comes to changing oil or filters. It is just what has worked flawlessly for me based on experience of truck ownership, and never minding oil analysis or any of that type of thing. You look to have a very nice truck A-Team, not so sure with all that money put into that machine why you would even think to compromise by fuss budgeting on scheduled maintenance or even researching the idea. But when 20 year projected millionaire status is on the agenda, I guess some cost cutting efforts need to be evaluated. Mudflap

**ATeam** · 01-11-2007, 07:47 PM

>Good post from Paul. I can see it now. "Wanted a expediter
>team with a minimum of 1,000 hours, verified research
>time.No other experience necessary as with that amount of
>research I or others cannot possibly compete with you."
>Experience means nothing,only qualified research counts.

Rich, I'm afraid you have mischaracterized my post. I did not say research offsets experience. I spoke only of a particluar case. Please re-read my post to see what I mean.

Nor did I say or hint in any way anything about "...others cannot possibly compete with you." You are twisting my words to say something else. That is an unfair practice. How would you feel if I started putting words in your mouth?

Please be more careful in the future.

**Moot** · 01-15-2007, 08:54 AM

The following information is at least 10 years old so I don't know if these devices are still on the market.

Oil drain plug with a spring loaded valve and nipple for tubing used for taking oil samples.

Secondary oil pump that pressurizes the engine sending oil to the top of the block before starting. Thus avoiding a dry start.

Like I stated, this information is dated (oooh I'm rhyming) but someone with an interest and a little time should be able to find more. These devices did exist and were available at one time.

**greg334** · 01-15-2007, 09:41 AM

Both still exists but the first is not used or should not be used for an Oil Anaylis (sp?). You need to grab the oil somewhere in the middle of the pan to avoid getting the junk on the bottom. Th reason for the vacuum system to capture the oil is to avoid the contamination.

The second device, a preoiler is still availble and expensive. In many cases it is an advantage to have, presurizing the system before a start does help but so does warm oil and warm coolant. I have seen a preoiler on two trucks but I have seen them on many 6.2/6.5 PSD and ISB's in pickups, one being mine. Oh they are used in Airplanes.

**Mudflap** · 01-16-2007, 05:42 AM

Your 9 points of logic for this cost cutting effort do have some founding A-Team. But if you do it, you as the truck owner have to make that decision on your own and not rely on support from others here or depend on other written sources as being gospel. If you are depending on 10 years of solid service from your Volvo engine without a rebuild, the people at Volvo who designed and built it will most likely provide the best maintenance schedule to reach that objective. I would think that to be a better source of research or reference than a trucking website or the talk of people who provide oil analysis who don't build or own trucks with expensive engines. And mind you, the cost to rebuild or replace a Volvo built engine is definitely a consideration for long term truck operation planning. Mudflap

**ATeam** · 01-16-2007, 06:17 AM

I agree, Mudflap. Having already done the research you mentioned, I also wanted to ask for input here, just to be sure I have not overlooked anything or missed a point of view. The decision is now made. We will be doing extended-interval oil changes combined with OEM filters (to keep warranty protection in place) and oil analysis. Lube jobs will continue per manufacturer's recommendations.

I am very encouraged by what I read in industry publications about the new fuel and oil. The quoted experts seem to agree that the new fuel and oil are good for long engine and reduced oil change expense.

Assuming a million-mile engine life and subtracting the 75,000 miles now on the truck, oil changes at 15,000 miles would mean 61 oil and filter changes ((1,000,000-75,000)/15,000). 25,000-mile intervals means 37 oil and filter changes over the same time period.

**Mudflap** · 01-21-2007, 01:45 AM

Good decision. As most of the class 8 engines have 500k or more mile warranties for all major parts, the warranty is definitely something you want to keep in tact. IMHO you will do just fine with the 10k mile extended change intervals for your application. I'm just going to stick to my fuddy-dud style though and change every 15k still, I just hate pulling out the stick and seeing really brown oil, regardless if an analysis says it is clean. Had a friend with one of those little Cat Diesels try to go to 70k without a change using oil analysis and he blew the engine up, so I still don't completely trust that technology myself knowing oil is the life blood of an engine. I'm guessing that you will have a mental safety valve running after that 15k point A-Team, but will still decide to change her out sooner than 25k. Mudflap