What oil would you use in a Duramax in extreme cold?

[ndeepoffroad]

I bought my first Duramax recently, but it's not the first diesel I've ever dealt with in cold weather, but it's MY first diesel to own and drive in cold weather.

I worked 2 years in ND in the oilfield driving trucks and running equipment for a pipeline company so I'm used to dealing with the cold, but last time I was there I had trucks with 5.3L. For the most part, all our JD equipment and trucks (I had an 08 KW W900B with a ISX tuned/deleted that I pulled a lowboy trailer with) ran Schaffer's full synthetic oil, so they didn't ever have a problem in the extreme (-35*F real temp/-60*F wind chill at times) cold. All the company trucks were either LML Duramaxes or 6.7L Cummins, and the biggest problem with either seemed to be when someone didn't put fuel treatment and/or #1 fuel in them.

 

I am going back after Thanksgiving to work until spring, when my business gets busy again, and I am driving my new truck up there. I'll be driving from my apartment to our shop daily, which is 6 miles round trip at the most. I will be plugging my truck in when it is parked at the shop and at the apartment. My truck currently has 3,000 miles on it, and I haven't taken it in for it's first service yet, but plan to before I leave out.

Would you tell them to put the normal oil in it or would you go with a full syn oil like Schaffer's or Mobil1?

 

I already have a good idea of what I'm going to do, but I thought I'd ask here as well.

[Colossus]

BT- I have a 2012 Duramax that was a company truck assigned to 1 or 2 guys for GE Oil and Gas. They were up in the oil fields of Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska, I believe. While they did a great job of maintaining it from a maintenance point of view, the biggest issue this truck has had in the life of the oil fields is the DPF. Because these trucks will only do a good regen at consistent highway speeds over 40 MPH for 30 miles/30 min, this truck did not get proper regens in the 70,000 miles it was in the fleet. This is a huge downfall for all of the Ford/Dodge/GM trucks now a days that have the diesel particulate filter. With not getting the regens done properly and a lot of idle time on the engines as many up there like to keep them idling vs getting cold, the filter plugs up big time and eventually it won't regen properly as the filter has become so clogged that the stuff is pretty much baked and compacted in there. So keep that in mind. Right now I average about 80-120 miles before the truck goes into regen. Normally on a DPF that gets regen'd properly, you should be able to go 400+ miles before it goes into regen mode, so once every fill up. Given it takes 30 miles of highway driving for a full regen cycle to complete, it's pretty shitty. Not very happy about it. Have had several service regens done by the dealership but no improvement. And a new DPF apparently runs several thousand or more. Real shitty. I live in an area that requires vehicle emissions testing to be done on Diesels every other year and they also do a comprehensive inspection to ensure the equipment is installed and working, so removing the emissions crap is not a choice for me.

 

As for oil- If you can keep your block heater (I think it is more of a coolant heater than a true block heater) plugged in when the temp gets way down there when the truck is not in use, I wouldn't be concerned at all running regular Diesel 15W40 Rotella or Mobil. That stuff is pretty good detergent oil as is so unless you are up in the Canadian or Alaskan north, 15W40 should be just fine.

 

Best of luck!

[revrnd]

I'm pretty sure what GM recommends is a good start viscosity wise. In northern Ontario most parking lots have plug ins for vehicles.

 

Check in the plowing sub-forum & see if the guys there have posted any oil info. besides, those guys will be from the snowbelt or points north & should be able to help you out. My brother has had a Dmax here & just uses what GM says to use. We're in the banana belt portion of the province (Buffalo gets more lake effect snow than we do).

[sdeeter19555]

I would think a synthetic 5w40 would be enough (I ran both Rotella and Schaeffer Seeries 9000 with good results in a Cummins) if allowed in these newer diesels. I'm not sure if guys still run the Amsoil Diesel 5w30 in these newer trucks, but that was the oil for mileage and cold weather back five years ago or so. I've been out of the diesel scene long enough I'm sure there are new flavors of the month that guys run these days.

 

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

[redwngr]

GM recommends a 5w40 for the dmax in extreme cold. (15w40 the rest of the time)

 

Be sure it meets the CJ-4 spec.

[Black02Silverado]

I would think a synthetic 5w40 would be enough (I ran both Rotella and Schaeffer Seeries 9000 with good results in a Cummins) if allowed in these newer diesels. I'm not sure if guys still run the Amsoil Diesel 5w30 in these newer trucks, but that was the oil for mileage and cold weather back five years ago or so. I've been out of the diesel scene long enough I'm sure there are new flavors of the month that guys run these days.

 

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

AMSOIL's Series 3000 HD 5w-30 is our best diesel oil. Only problem is that it is not rated for use in anything newer than 2007 when all the emission stuff came out. Now it you deleted all that, then you can run it.

 

I would think as long as you plug it in, you will be fine running what you have now. At the very least moving up to a full synthetic will also help. AMSOIL's OE 15w-40 diesel oil has a pour point of -36°F. It retails for $74.95 for a 2.5 gallon jug, which is 10qts.

[Cowpie]

Well, pour point is not cold crank starting (CCS) point. It sounds impressive, but not quite reality. A 15w40 synthetic has a CCS of -4F, a 5w40 has a CCS of -22F. For most below 0F temps, I would use 5w40. For blistering cold like Fairbanks AK or the Yukon, 0w40 is the cat's meow. Of course, using a pan heater to warm oil is a great way to approach this also. I do both with my diesels that have to sit out in serious cold... a 5w40 combined with a pan heater. Of course, block heater is also a good idea. A block heater will not help with oil sitting in the pan. And that oil has to get pumped up, shoved thru the filter, before it ever gets to the warm areas of the block and heads that a block heater takes care of. A 5w40 will get oil up into the top end of the engine where it is needed much quicker. 15w40 will work, but visualize shoving molasses thru a straw.

 

But, that all being said, one can safely use a 5w40 year round just to make things simple. Hundreds of thousands of diesel engines that are put under much more significant strain than anyone can put a Dmax under use 5w40 synthetics year round and have very long life spans. Keep in mind, a 0w40, a 5w40, or a 15w40 all have the same viscosity at operating temps. Only the cold flow is different. And viscosity is NOT thickness. It is resistance to flow. Isaac Newton can explain it further to anyone in their next life. It is a balancing act. You want some viscosity so oil is not squeezed out of tight spots like bearings too quickly, but you also want good flow to get the oil into those areas as quickly as possible on a cold start.

 

I have been using Schaeffer oils for a long, long time. Taken a couple of diesels to over 1 million miles, one of them to 1.4 million, without ever having to open them up. Both went right to work for next owners without a major repair. Original turbos even. My current semi truck diesel has 621,000 miles on it and only uses about 2 qt of oil in 25,000 miles. And those miles are what has been put on its second life as a factory reman engine. Schaeffer is a quality product that has been around far longer than any other oil company in N. America, since 1839. And it is a good value for the dollar. They even make some specialty lubes for both Shell and Mobil to meet specific customer needs.

[Colossus]

Good info, Cliff. It got me interested and I had a look.

http://www.schaefferoil.com/

[Cowpie]

If you decide to buy, find it local or go thru a rep. You can find a rep on the Schaeffer website or if you let me know I will steer you towards mine. Buying online, the prices are downright CRIMINAL! A rep will get you same stuff at the same price I get it for as a commercial buyer. No fees for anything except shipping if your order is less than $375. My orders several times a year get into the thousand dollar range, so everything is shipped free. If you decide to get Schaeffer, do a buy that will amount to $375 or more and have all your stuff shipped free. Go in with a friend or family member if that helps. Or get multiple products. I use several different oil and lube products for different applications. Any way that works to get the amount to $375. These are actual factory sales reps, not anything like the Amsoil type of thing. While Schaeffer primarily caters to commercial users, they will sell to anyone.

[Black02Silverado]

You can find Schaeffer products on Amazon. Prices seem reasonable especially if you are a Prime member.

[Cowpie]

Took a look at Amazon prices on Schaeffer. No thanks. I will stick with my rep getting it for me. Amazon prices are 20% or more higher than having my Schaeffer rep getting them, hardly reasonable. Not sure why anyone else wouldn't do the same and go thru a rep if they want to use the product.

 

The one gallon of Schaeffer 9000 5w40 on Amazon is around $30. I can get it from my rep for just over $21. The 15w40 on Amazon is going for around $27. I can get it thru my rep for under $20. All of the various cases of quarts on Amazon, I can get thru my rep for at least $15 to $20 a case cheaper. Yes, even comparing the Amazon Prime thing. Shipping from Schaeffer to me is free. And there is no annual membership fee or other nonsense like Amazon Prime, Amsoil preferred, etc.

 

Like I stated. Online prices for Schaeffer are criminal. So simple to call up, text, or email my rep, have the order placed, he emails me the invoice, I write out a check and send it with a printout of invoice in to Schaeffer. Oil is usually at my door before my check arrives at Schaeffer.

[sdeeter19555]

Took a look at Amazon prices on Schaeffer. No thanks. I will stick with my rep getting it for me. Amazon prices are 20% or more higher than having my Schaeffer rep getting them, hardly reasonable. Not sure why anyone else wouldn't do the same and go thru a rep if they want to use the product.

 

The one gallon of Schaeffer 9000 5w40 on Amazon is around $30. I can get it from my rep for just over $21. The 15w40 on Amazon is going for around $27. I can get it thru my rep for under $20. All of the various cases of quarts on Amazon, I can get thru my rep for at least $15 to $20 a case cheaper. Yes, even comparing the Amazon Prime thing. Shipping from Schaeffer to me is free. And there is no annual membership fee or other nonsense like Amazon Prime, Amsoil preferred, etc.

 

Like I stated. Online prices for Schaeffer are criminal. So simple to call up, text, or email my rep, have the order placed, he emails me the invoice, I write out a check and send it with a printout of invoice in to Schaeffer. Oil is usually at my door before my check arrives at Schaeffer.

You're getting a better discount than most.

 

I just priced my yearly supply of Schaeffers, ended up buying Mobil 1 from Amazon and Walmart for less than I can buy Schaeffers even buying the $375 min for free shipping. Schaeffers' pricing depends on the volume you buy...

 

I ran Schaeffers for the past 12 years, when my supply runs out I'm done...their loss.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[Colossus]

Naah not their loss, there are plenty of other people out there. Everyone thinks it's someone's loss when they take their business elsewhere. As though they are the only person in the world that matters.

[sdeeter19555]

Enough people walk, they have no customers...I've been using Schaeffers for a long time, I've watched their prices go from good (as long as you buy bulk) doe a great oil to no different than I can buy Mobil 1 (also a great oil). Their oil is good, but not that much difference that I'll ever notice in the ownership of any vehicle I'll ever own.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[Cowpie]

Actually, if I wasn't using Schaeffer, I would jump on Mobil Delvac Elite syn blend. I have seen the composition of that oil and seen several used sample reports from commercial users using it that it would be a killer choice and a darn good value.

 

And true, it probably has as much to do with being able to buy Schaeffer HDEO considerably cheaper on a commercial account than I can get Mobil HDEO synthetic on a commercial account that I use it. And throwing in a case or two of the gas engine oils in on an order and getting the same commercial account rate is nice.

 

Another option that is worthy of consideration is Kendall syn blend. it has Titanium in the add pack that has a similar function as Moly does in the Schaeffer. Have seen recently Kendall syn blend going for as cheap as the other name brand conventional oils. I took a Cummins N-14 to over 1.4 million miles, getting 30,000 mile oil changes, on Kendall oil. Never had to open the motor once for a repair and it went right to work for the next owner.