What is the recommended oil change interval for a 2003 ISL 400 with DELO 400 oil. I've been changing the oil every year, but expect to put on a lot of miles this summer
In my semi that ran a 500 HP 15 liter Cat. (10 Gallon oil capacity) I changed oil every 10-15K or every 6 weeks based on oil analysis. Which is a great way to have a base line for an oil change interval. But for most coach engines, once a year or 6K(ish) is good. Engines such as yours and my M11 were designed for hauling 80,000 lbs down the road. When such engines are used in motorhomes they are considered to be under very light duty conditions and so time is more a factor than miles.
Oil doesn't lose it's lubricating properties. It does get dirty and in some modern automotive oils they do have decreasing amounts of additives such as detergents over time. That is why in the army they never change the oil on their trucks based on miles or time but on the oil analysis. I believe Cummins' recommended oil change intervals regardless of whether you use synthetic or old dinosaur bones is 20,000 miles or a year for an engine used in an RV
I think 20K miles between oil changes is too long especially for the number of miles that get driven each year. Some might do that based on oil analysis but it seems too long.
My ISM11 oil gets changed at about 6,000 miles and every year in the late fall before it sits for a couple months. Usually once a year, sometimes twice.
Based on multi-year oil analysis tracking, mine gets done once a year, which is usually between 6K and 10K miles. These folks give you a personalized reply to each test with recommendations on future service. I sample and test every change.
Rich
Blackstone Laboratories (https://www.blackstone-labs.com)
The Cummins book for the 8.3 calls for oil changes every 6,000 miles.
jor
Change my Cat 3126 every 4-5K mile. Also use Cat filter.It is just starting to turn black at that point.
Someone said on here a few years ago, Cats like clean oil and filters. I'm anal, oil is cheap!
Chris
6000 miles or once a year if mileage is less than 6000 for me. Oil and filter changes are relatively cheap insurance. Clean fresh oil is the life blood of your engine.
How many use one of those oil draining gizmos that replace the drain plug?
Keith
We use the Fumoto brand,works great,avoid the stripped threads.
Detroit 6v92 change oil once a year. I do a trip from FL to MI every year and putz around in FL when Im.down there. Usually between 3-5k miles.
Is mine CRD or CAPS?
Either way, I should be good for 18000 miles.
My coach came with one of oil changing gizmos and it works great and no mess.
Tom 2003 ISL is still CAPS so you are good for 18,000 miles or one year unless you are doing oil analysis and then you can go by their recommendation or the Cummins recommendation. It is your choice. For myself, I change the oil once a year (I as well as most RVers never do 18,000 in a year) and lube the chassis once a year as it is cheap insurance as someone has already stated, and it is a good time to give the coach a really good look over. There is no right or wrong answer. It is what you feel comfortable with: Once a year/18,000 miles or oil analysis.
I use a Fumoto on my 8.3 (photo) and I used a shallow NoSpill on my M11.
NoSpill (https://nospillsystems.com/)
Fumoto (https://www.amazon.com/Fumoto-F104N-LC-10-Lever-Engine/dp/B07D9FDW47/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=f104n&qid=1559942049&s=automotive&sr=1-1)
jor
Thanks Jor, now I know what mine is. No Spill
Has anyone had any kind of bad experience with the drain plug valves? I am probably being paranoid, but have a fear of it hanging too low and the lever either getting knocked open, or broken off.
Just curious.
The No Spill on mine doesn't stick down any further than a drain plug.
I installed one of the Fumo plugs on the geny recently and found that using it when the oil is cold took Forever. Ended up throwing a 1/2 quart back in the geny so I could run it and then draining oil when warm....
On the geny I'm going to try attaching a hose to it so that I can try an oil change without even sliding the generator out ??
I hope the oil drains faster out of the engine Fumo one quicker.
Yea, the shallow NoSpill eliminates that issue. On the 8.3, I don't see a problem with the Fumoto hanging down as the oil drain is kind of on the side of the pan and the Fumoto is not the lowest point. I think the NoSpill is the better solution all round though. Just costs a little more and you need two pieces.
jor
Actually 3 pieces, the part that screws into the pan, the drain part and the cap.
If something can hit the valve way up there that will be the least of your worries.
No spill for me on engine, genny, and Jeep.
I replace the engine oil last year in July I believe and I probably have about 7,000 mi on it now. I'll probably change it around 10, 000 miles.
I use synthetic.
Do you happen to have the p/n for the plug on the genny?
Thanks
Keith
Anybody else having problems contacting Blackstone Industries for oil testing.
I purchased a sample kit, took samples and tracking says they received all the samples over a week ago. I paid ahead of shipping and has cleared my credit card.
Nothing from them and the customer service number always goes to busy.
Covid Problems ? :-{
I would say that a week is not terribly unusual. I'm not in any hurry for my report so not an issue for me.
Rich
This is my first try with them. What worries me phone line is always busy.
Will wait until next week. It has been over a week on the first mailing maybe they are just busy. The info in the blackstone site said few days after receiving the sample. There was a post on there face book site where they were getting a couple hundred samples a day. Thank you for the quick reply.
They have always been a little slow, about 2-3 weeks after I send the sample in. I just got one back this week though. Like you, I paid for bulk samples. I would not be concerned, just have some a little patience.
5000 with conventional oil. 10,000 with Synthetic if nor city
Use Amsoil signature series and a bypass filter,can go 20k and get a good oil sample,the bypass helps alot.
I've had a new bypass filter sitting on the shelf for 40 years but have never installed it. I've heard that it takes a lot of the black carbon out of the oil. True? Is yours the toilet paper type?
Pierce
It's the one Amsoil has,it's a spin-on that comes in 3 sizes or you can get a double mount,I have a couple of extra mounts if interested,you then get some hoses made up,have to tap into an oil pressure point and return to a non-pressure point,looked at the toilet paper ones years ago and was told it actually made a difference what brand paper you used.Can post a picture
of my setup on the 8.3.
Brand of TP and photos would be good. I have the filter with the mounts, etc. Just too lazy to do it.
Thanks for the offer!
P
Will post pictures,the filter goes down to 1 micron.
My samples took almost two weeks to get to them. At least that is what usps tracking indicated.
Got the first report. For some reason it was on the email spam folder. Other emails made it through. ? Much better than I expected. No problems and even a statement that I could run a few more thousand miles. Waiting for the genset and tranny report. Thank you all for the responses.
Got the three reports back.
Cummins is very good. No problems could run the oil a little longer.
Tranny is good also. A lot of life left in the oil filters working fine.
The Cat 8KW Genset looks good except for some metal shavings in the sample. Either I contaminated the sample or there is something trying to come apart. It is recommended that I change the oil and filters. Run a bit and take another sample.
I changed all the fluids before I got the results. I wish I would have waited on the Genset. I would have did some flushing. Less than 5 quarts I might run the Genset drain the Oil While warm. Refill it and run it some more then pull a sample. It was cold when I drained it.
I have heard of others having problems with These Cat Gensets. "Perkins engine." One threw a rod through the block.
The only good Perkins is a dead Perkins. Poor rotary injection pump or it was on my boat. They are the low bidder in many instances. Terrible wiring.
Pierce
I put 6,000 miles on my coach usually. I change my 8.3 on 4 to 5 because that's when it starts to get a trace of soot in it BUT I wouldn't dump my clean oil just because it was 12 months old. Never was aware oil had a shelf life and I don't believe it does. Now if you believe your getting condensation in the pan I could see it but it would take considerable Amount to contaminate. I have a Corvette that has mobile 1 with 3,000 miles on it's last oil change 4 years ago and why would I dump 70 million year old oil because the last 4 was spent in my oil pan in a temp controlled building. What am I missing here folks.
Was not always that way. I have two big Massy Ferguson tractors my uncle purchased in the early 70's. He farmed 2000 acres until 7 years ago. The were reliable. Still start and are used for chores around the place.
Parts are impossible to get.
Tell that to my 1969 Lincoln 400 welder. Still runs like a top when ever I need it. Sometimes sits for a year without use.
Wow!
Stir the nest Pierce....😎
I know some farmers around here that would view those as fighting words..... they are still running some old Massey Ferguson tractors after 40 or 50 years and haven't had to put a wrench to the engine yet.
The old 4cyl Perkins are still running.
All I remember growing up was Perkins and Lister industrial diesel engines, they were everywhere. Can't say that I recall anything bad ever said about either one.
The Massey's My Uncles has are V8 diesel engines. He has one straight but it is a Massy engine I think. ALl are still running. One does not have working hydraulics so not much use just now.