Diesel engines have evolved over the years and have become more complex, but does the increased horsepower, higher torque and improved technology impact how often you need to change the oil in your diesel truck?
Gasoline and diesel fuel are both derived from petroleum, but there are big differences between them, the most obvious being that diesel is denser and therefore a gallon of diesel contains more energy than a gallon of gasoline. Gasoline is lighter, more refined and has substantially shorter hydrocarbon chains.
Diesel also emits more particulate matter than gasoline. This “dirtier” fuel impacts the cleanliness of the engine oil, as more soot and particulate byproducts affect the engine oil.
Oil Differences
Because of the higher particulate matter present in diesel fuel, the engine oil used in a diesel truck has more detergents and dispersants than oil used in gasoline engines. And because diesel truck engines operate with higher pressures, manufacturers make oil with anti-wear additives, which help protect various engine parts. The oil you put in your diesel truck will also have a higher viscosity, which allows it to handle higher temperatures.
Oil Change Frequency
Many variables go in to factoring how often you should change the oil in your vehicle. The type of oil used, the driving conditions, the type of engine and the recommendation of the vehicle manufacturer are the most dominant factors.
You might think that because diesel engines produce so much more particulate that the oil would need to be changed more frequently than the oil in a gasoline engine, but that’s not the case.
Due to the additives in diesel oil, it is more robust and built to handle tougher environments and workloads. For example, the owner of a gas-powered vehicle is accustomed to an oil change every 3,000 to 7,000 miles, whereas diesel truck owners will do a change every 7,500 to 15,000 miles.
Recommendations can differ depending on who is offering advice. For example, some will recommend that light-duty vehicles have an oil change every 5,000 miles, but heavy-duty diesel trucks can go 25,000 miles between changes.
For those who sit idling quite a bit, counting the hours between oil changes might be the preferred method, but others will stick to the manufacturer’s mileage recommendation.
Unique Circumstances
But what about when a truck is driven in less-than-ideal situations, such as short trips in cold weather, long trips in hot weather, a lot of stop-and-go driving and miles driven across dusty roads? The general recommendation could be every 3,000 miles or every six months between oil changes.
There are many variables to consider in keeping your diesel truck in tip-top shape, so consult with us at Gray Diesel & Equipment Services. We’ll keep your diesel truck on a schedule that ensures you never miss an oil change.