2015 Ram with Cummins oil change interval

[estesbubba]

With my 2006 Ram with Cummins I just changed the oil every 7500 miles. With the 2015 I have on order there is an oil life gauge. So does this actually analyze the oil or just go by miles? Does is vary based on the amount of towing? On average how many miles until it alerts to change?

[HouseApe]

The oil change indicator is useless if you like your warranty.
From the book

Oil Change Indicator System — Cummins® Diesel
Your vehicle is equipped with an engine oil change indicator system. This system will alert you when it is time to change your engine oil by displaying the words “Oil Change Due” on your Electronic Vehicle Informa- tion Center (EVIC). The oil change reminder will remind the owner to change the engine oil every 15,000 miles or 500 hours, whichever comes first, except for the Chassis Cab models that are using B20 biodiesel, which are 12,500 miles or 400 hours, whichever comes first. Failure to change the engine oil per the maintenance schedule can result in internal engine damage.

Your authorized dealer will reset the oil change indicator message after completing the scheduled oil change. If a scheduled oil change is performed by someone other than your authorized dealer, the message can be reset by referring to the steps described under “Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)” in “Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for further information.

Replace the engine oil and oil filter every 15,000 miles (24 000 km) or six months, or sooner if prompted by the oil change indicator system.

Under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed 15,000 miles (24 000 km) or six months, whichever comes first.

NOTE:
• Under no circumstances should oil change intervals exceed 15,000 miles (24,000 km) or six months or 500 Hours, whichever comes first.
• Replace the engine oil and oil filter every 12,500 miles (20 000 km) when running B20 fuel (Chassis Cab Only).
If Chassis Cab models are operated with greater than 5% levels of Biodiesel, the oil change interval must not exceed 12,500 miles (20 000 km) under any circumstances. See the Fuel Requirements section for more information regarding operation of Chassis Cab models configured for use with Biodiesel blend (B6-B20) fuel meeting ASTM specification D-7467.

[estesbubba]

With my 06 Cummins it was shipped with Valvoline Premium Blue and all I ever used. I would be surprised if they ship with synthetic now but could be wrong. I thought synthetic wasn't recommended during break-in even though the Cummins can be worked right away. Both Cummins and Blackstone said no reason to change oil earlier than 7500.

[eHoefler]

Factory fill is with 15W40 Synthetic.

[The_Mad_Norsky]

I changed oil at about 3,200 miles on my new Ram.

First, I am NOT gonna run factory oil for 15,000 miles in a brand new engine.

Second, I, and I don't think anyone else around, really knew what kind of oil was in the motor anyway. Some said 15W/40 Rotella, others told me 5W/40 Rotella and still elsewhere I was told 5W40 or 15W/40 Valvoline Premium Blue.

One could not even add a quart, if needed, with any degree of confidence that I was actually adding what was in the engine.

So now I DO know what is in the engine. And, if needed, could actually add a quart if low. Although this appears very low odds to happen, as the vehicle has used very little oil to date.

Mind you, next change will be higher mileage for sure. Still not wild about going 15,000 miles but we will see how things go. 7,500 miles or so was about the normal change on my last vehicle, and that may be where I go with this one.

[Cummins12V98]

The more you tow the longer the drain interval. My last oil change did not come up until at least 7,800 miles on my 11 HO Dually RAM.

I expect with the type of driving and towing I do the oil changes will be at a fairly high mileage on my new 15 RAM.

[ib516]

downtheroad wrote:


Electronic sensors throughout the drivetrain send information about engine revolutions, temperature and driving time and other factors to the car's computer. The data is run through a mathematical algorithm that predicts when the oil will begin to degrade. The light comes on well in advance, giving the owner time to get the car serviced.

I follow the oil life monitor..But...Change it when it shows around 20%. And or, I also change it it gets around 8000 miles and still shows lots of % life left...kind of a combination between new and old school.

Others change oil at 0% while others still stick to the old 3000 mile rule..

I use the % left as a guide, but change it when it's convenient for me. I'm usually slightly conservative though, usually dumping the oil at about 5000 miles or so, even though my truck uses 0w40 synthetic.

[Grit_dog]

The oil life monitors on our Rams in the Arctic actually seem slow compared to engine hours, but I haven't done any oil samples to disprove its validity/.
These trucks idle ALOT at sub zero temps, some run 24/7. No load driving conditions, 35mph max. We change at 400 hours regardless of meter readings and it takes about 2 oil changes to get to zero on the oil life meter. Maybe the new engines are very efficient with preserving oil quality, dunno, but for example, my truck has about the most road miles and least idling in the fleet and I average about 4mpeh (miles per engine hour).
If I was going to trust the oil life meter, I'd run a blackstone test or 2 for comparison.

[ScottG]

N-Trouble wrote:

ScottG wrote:
Just anote, if a programmer is used then the oil-life meter is meaningless.

Explain...

It's because most programmers advance the timing* (to what it was years ago) and this causes a heavier soot load for the oil because the air fuel mixture is in the combustion chamber longer prior to ignition.
A programmer also puts more fuel in which also causes more oil degradation.

The oil life meter can't accurately take these factors into account because it changes what the ECM knows as a set value.

*Another side effect of advancing the timing is that it limits your max safe EGT because the heat is in the cyl longer. So if you had a max safe temp of 1500 degrees then it may only be safe to 1200~1300 degrees with advanced timing.

[FishOnOne]

downtheroad wrote:
Lots of discussion and confusion and skepticism about this topic...
GOOD LUCK GETTING A DEFINITIVE ANSWER ON THIS ONE...

Electronic sensors throughout the drivetrain send information about engine revolutions, temperature and driving time and other factors to the car's computer. The data is run through a mathematical algorithm that predicts when the oil will begin to degrade. The light comes on well in advance, giving the owner time to get the car serviced.

I follow the oil life monitor..But...Change it when it shows around 20%. And or, I also change it it gets around 8000 miles and still shows lots of % life left...kind of a combination between new and old school.

Others change oil at 0% while others still stick to the old 3000 mile rule..

Actually this answer is spot on... Also the truck tracks the number of regens as part of the algorithm as well.

BTW... Probably a wise move to unload the '06.

[N-Trouble]

ScottG wrote:
Just anote, if a programmer is used then the oil-life meter is meaningless.

Explain...

[ScottG]

Just anote, if a programmer is used then the oil-life meter is meaningless.

[downtheroad]

Lots of discussion and confusion and skepticism about this topic...
GOOD LUCK GETTING A DEFINITIVE ANSWER ON THIS ONE...

Electronic sensors throughout the drivetrain send information about engine revolutions, temperature and driving time and other factors to the car's computer. The data is run through a mathematical algorithm that predicts when the oil will begin to degrade. The light comes on well in advance, giving the owner time to get the car serviced.

I follow the oil life monitor..But...Change it when it shows around 20%. And or, I also change it it gets around 8000 miles and still shows lots of % life left...kind of a combination between new and old school.

Others change oil at 0% while others still stick to the old 3000 mile rule..

[ScottG]

No it does not analyze the oil but the gauge is based on exhaustive testing and is known to actually be conservative - meaning there's more life left in the oil than it says.
It's a great feature that you can actually go by.