how much oil between oil changes

[Pizza Man]

I have been changing my oil (well the dealer has) every 3500-6500 miles. Under harsh conditions and trailering my duramax uses a quart or less between oil change. Do you think this will increase to 2+ quarts between oil changes?
I do run the truck hard and let it idle alot...its always hooked up to 10maybe 12k lb trailers.

[Maxxheadroom]

Pizza man
You may want to try switching to a high quality synthetic (just a suggestion) which tend to have much lower volatility (evaporation loss) qualities than conventional oils...read this link, go down to NOACK volatility

http://syntheticoiltech.com/oil/1/technicalproperties.htm

[Black Dog]

According to the original long term test performed by Dmax Ltd, it should stabilize (after break in) at about 1 quart in 5000 miles.

[ 09-12-2002: Message edited by: Black Dog ]</p>

[deerhunter7]

Harsh conditions , Pulling 10 to 12 thousand lbs.
Worried about using a quart of oil 3500 to 6000 miles . Sounds pretty normal to me ..

[ 09-12-2002: Message edited by: deerhunter7 ]</p>

[LanduytG]

Pizza Man
As deer hunter said sounds normal to me. However if you do change to a synthetic your consumption will drop some. I have had many customers with the 6.5TD that were using 1 quart every 750 to 1000 miles and these were engines in excess of 200k miles on them , that dropped to 1 quart every 1500-2000 miles. That's how much difference there is in volatility between a synthetic and mineral oil. Just contact us or other DP advertisers that sell synthetic's, and we can answer any questions you may have.
Greg

[IndigoDually]

Wait, let me get this straight. You are asking IF the oil consumption WILL increase to 2+ quarts, right? Do You want that much oil to be used? Why? I have yet to add oil in between changes at all in 14,000 mi.

John

[Big O]

I have not added oil in 16,000+ miles. :D

[bluenote]

28,000 miles on my 2001, oil changes at about 6,500 mile intervals using regular 15w-40 oil changed at the dealership, and I have yet to need oil added between changes.

[ 09-12-2002: Message edited by: bluenote ]</p>

[Captain Mal]

Pizza Man,

I use regular 'cheap' Advanced Auto Parts 15-40 oil. Change it about every 4-5,000 miles when it is convenient. Only change the filter every other oil change.

For the first 20K miles it would use about 1/2 a quart between changes. For the last 80K it not only does not use any oil but the oil remains quite a bit cleaner than it used to.

I also tow 8 to 10K but only for 1/2 of the mileage as I deliver safety instruction trailers and then return unloaded.

Conclusions? The motor is breaking in.

'01 GMC D/A sb 4x4 ext 2500 smile.gif

[56Nomad]

I have 15,000 on the motor and mostly use
the truck with a 3300 Lb camper. Change the
oil every 4000 miles and have no oil loss
between the changes.

[dmaxstu]

Haven't had to add oil between changes in 20000 miles.Stu

[MudNurI]

36,000 miles, 7,000 miles between oil changes, full synthetic since the 1000 mile change- and ZERO oil loss.

unless of course you count the time the tech crushed, the crush ring on the drain plug, and I lost 7 of my 10 quarts.....didn't notice for 2 days, the check oil light came on at almost the exact time I noticed oil in the driveway..called john, BING the light came on as we were talking! WIERD!

Brandy

[JEBar]

21,000+ miles, Rotella-T, 5,000 miles between changes, no oil added between...Jim

[gdblake]

Had the initial oil change at 1296 miles. Then changed it 5300 miles later pulling 9000 lbs trailer the entire time--oil was full on the stick at the time of the change.

[SoCalDMAX]

I've got 15,000mi on the truck, used Delo 400 all the way, changed oil at 600mi, 6600mi and 13,600mi. I've never had to add a drop between changes.

Regards, Steve

[schnier]

33,624 miles and running 5W-40 synthetic and never add a drop of oil per 5,000 miles between oil changes. When the truck was new, first 10,000 miles it used about 1/2 quart per oil change and then has used zero oil after the first year.

[1BADDMAX]

I changed the oil in my truck last night @ 35,200 miles. It doesn't burn a drop of oil.. drained out a full 10 quarts. I've been using Rotella T 15w-40 since 2200 miles and change it every 5k miles. I'm approaching 1000 hours now! I have a list of a few things to fix before I get to 36k though!

[Roger Lamothe]

Mine didn't drop in oil level, it gained. I wonder how many think they didn't use any oil and actually have to some degree fuel in the oil. Mine had an extra quart or so when it was drained but that doesn't mean it was 10 qts oil and 1 qt fuel.

[mtomac]

Mine doesn't use a drop either. I change the oil & filter every 5k and used mobil delvac 15w40 for the first 20k miles then switched to shell rotella 5w40 synthetic the last 2 oil changes. After it had about 1000 miles on it I towed 16k to Missouri & back. It was only a week old at the time. I figured that would either break it or break it in.

[Pizza Man]

Thanks guys....
I'm gonna switch to synthetic now.
1/2 quart does not seem like alot...but just curious.