Forum Discussion

rsilvestrone's avatar
rsilvestrone
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013

diesel oil change

I have a Tiffin Bus , Cummings 330HP , it takes 24 quarts using shell Rotella $13 /gallon = $78 plus a Fleetquard oil filter which everyone wants $50-$60 for which = $128 with me doing labor. Does this sound right? Reading other stories of people saying they had their RV "serviced" for much less ( 1 guy on RV.net) said he did his done for $48 , how is that possible? Anybody pay similar amounts who do their own oil change? Thanks for input ...Robert S. Bozeman , Mt
Class A
  • DailyDriver's avatar
    DailyDriver
    Explorer
    Oct 11, 2013
    Freightguy wrote:
    ....I paid $69.99 for a 5 gal bucket of 15w40 and then $10 for another gallon.....

    So, you paid $14/gal in a 5 gal bucket, then $10 for another gallon. Seems that you could have saved $20 by just buying gallon containers.
  • wolfe10's avatar
    wolfe10
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2013
    Freightguy wrote:
    RayChez wrote:
    Freightguy wrote:
    I just did my Cat 350 HP last week. It takes 19 quarts. I paid $69.99 for a 5 gal bucket of 15w40 and then $10 for another gallon. Filter was $12. So $92.00 total plus what ever the tax was.



    You say your engine takes 19 quarts which is correct, But you say you bought five gallons which is 20 quarts, plus you paid an extra ten dollars for another gallon? So that is 24 quarts. Is this including an oil change on your generator or did you put all 24 quarts on the Cat engine.


    Yeah its strange, my manual calls for 19 quarts, but to get the stick to read full I have to use the full 5 gallons and then about a quart out of the gallon jug. I do buy the gallon jug to keep some on hand each time. I have a golf cart that uses oil a bit, so by the time I do the change that extra gallon will be gone as well.


    OK, first thing is to confirm correct oil capacity (including oil filter): http://forum.dieselrvclub.org/index.php/topic,6619.0.html

    Next, do NOT ASSUME that the dipstick is accurate-- it did not come from your engine manufacture. At the next oil change, calibrate the engine oil dipstick: http://forum.dieselrvclub.org/index.php/topic,6635.0.html
  • Freightguy's avatar
    Freightguy
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2013
    RayChez wrote:
    Freightguy wrote:
    I just did my Cat 350 HP last week. It takes 19 quarts. I paid $69.99 for a 5 gal bucket of 15w40 and then $10 for another gallon. Filter was $12. So $92.00 total plus what ever the tax was.



    You say your engine takes 19 quarts which is correct, But you say you bought five gallons which is 20 quarts, plus you paid an extra ten dollars for another gallon? So that is 24 quarts. Is this including an oil change on your generator or did you put all 24 quarts on the Cat engine.


    Yeah its strange, my manual calls for 19 quarts, but to get the stick to read full I have to use the full 5 gallons and then about a quart out of the gallon jug. I do buy the gallon jug to keep some on hand each time. I have a golf cart that uses oil a bit, so by the time I do the change that extra gallon will be gone as well.
  • David0725's avatar
    David0725
    Explorer II
    Oct 10, 2013
    I have a HR with a 8.3 cummins its only had Amsoil in it. I buy all my oil and filers and fuel filter from them. Then I pay a mom and pop $100 to do all the work.
  • RayChez's avatar
    RayChez
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2013
    Freightguy wrote:
    I just did my Cat 350 HP last week. It takes 19 quarts. I paid $69.99 for a 5 gal bucket of 15w40 and then $10 for another gallon. Filter was $12. So $92.00 total plus what ever the tax was.



    You say your engine takes 19 quarts which is correct, But you say you bought five gallons which is 20 quarts, plus you paid an extra ten dollars for another gallon? So that is 24 quarts. Is this including an oil change on your generator or did you put all 24 quarts on the Cat engine.
  • RayChez's avatar
    RayChez
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2013
    barlow46 wrote:
    Freightguy,

    Does you Cat take 19 qts and you bought 24 qts to have extra on hand or does it take all 24 qts. that you bought? My ISL400 takes 26 qts and I'm thinking your Cat 350 may take the 24 qts.


    Caterpillar C-7 takes 19quarts.
  • barlow46's avatar
    barlow46
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2013
    Freightguy,

    Does you Cat take 19 qts and you bought 24 qts to have extra on hand or does it take all 24 qts. that you bought? My ISL400 takes 26 qts and I'm thinking your Cat 350 may take the 24 qts.
  • Freightguy's avatar
    Freightguy
    Explorer
    Oct 10, 2013
    I just did my Cat 350 HP last week. It takes 19 quarts. I paid $69.99 for a 5 gal bucket of 15w40 and then $10 for another gallon. Filter was $12. So $92.00 total plus what ever the tax was.
  • ncrowley's avatar
    ncrowley
    Explorer II
    Oct 10, 2013
    I used Speeco even though the closest one was 2 hours away. They let me watch and I asked a bunch of questions. The price was really good. They also changed the oil and filter on the generator.

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