Are You a New Diesel Owner? A Few Things to Think About

First time diesel owners quickly learn that there are differences between diesel- and gasoline-fueled engines. How does this impact the oil change maintenance regimens one has developed as a vehicle owner?  

It helps to understand your oil's responsibilities. Oil plays a variety of roles in your engine. Oil lubricates moving parts to reduce friction and reduce wear as well as keeping the engine running cooler. It also creates a seal between piston rings and cylinder walls. In addition, oil helps keep the engine clean by conveying soot and other contaminants away to be collected in the filters.  

The interior of an engine is exceedingly brutal on lubricants. For this reason, oil gets abused and over time breaks down. Additives in the oil also get depleted. This is why oil doesn't last forever and must be changed periodically.

How often we change our oil depends on yet another variable, our driving habits. 

This is why you see shorter drain intervals listed "for severe service." Owner's manuals give specific recommendations regarding the type of oil you use as well as the duration you can safely drive with that oil. 

One example of driving behavior that qualifies as severe service would be towing, especially when frequently carrying loads uphill as in that road up the long incline from Sedona to the Grand Canyon. You may not live in the Rockies but many parts of the country have their uphill grades that put extra stress on an engine pulling a load. 

Stop and go driving does a number on your engine oil as well. This is why it is also considered "Severe Service/Severe Use."

A third type of activity that is harmful for your oil is idling. Some people may think idling is just giving the engine a rest. Why is that bad? In point of fact, because engines that are idling are not operating at peak temperature, the fuel fails to undergo complete combustion. As a result the fuel residue on cylinder walls can contaminate the oil and cause corrosion in other parts of the engine.

Another thing to think about is the where you live and its impact. The diesel owner needs to understand the environment they drive in and how it effects oil contamination from air flow. 80% of all the contaminant in the oil that depletes additives comes from the air stream after the air filter. The dirtier the environment the more frequent you might have to change filters and oil.  Monitoring through oil analysis you  can understand what’s happening including decreasing TBN or increasing TAN. 

For best results, use the correct oil for 
your application. 

Some aspects of driving are counterintuitive. That is, they go against what you might otherwise think. Driving long distances on highways will do less damage to your engine oil than driving half that amount of distance in town. 

Whether driving a Ford Power Stroke, Chevy Duramax or Dodge Cummins, your owner's manual provides guidance as regards what oil to use along with a recommended drain interval. A complete oil change includes changing the filter as well. If you take care of your engine, it will take care of you as well, for a very long time.

* * * 

Related Links

Champion Brands Diesel Engine Oils

Uncertain which oil to choose: Ask Jake