Oil change and routine maintenance

[mastrcruse]

This is my first diesel and after 9 months of ownership and only 3600 miles, I'm about ready to change the oil. I plan on having this thing for a long time so I want to ensure I take appropriate care for longevity purposes and not to "skip" something cause it'll cost me an extra $100.

So I'm about to move to Ohio from Texas. This might be a stupid question but is there a heavier oil I should ask the dealership to use? Anything else I should look into due to the colder weather?

I've got a free oil change and I was thinking of having them change the Allison filter. Will they change the fluid too or just the filter? How much does this usually run? Any other routine maintenance that I should have them perform?

I'm also reading several things about fuel additives. Is this something I should look into? Again, I apologize for the newbie questions but I'm used to just doing oil changes and that's it for my gasser.

[DenaliDuallyHD]

Welcome!!!! A lot of what you are asking has already been posted.

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[mastrcruse]

Thanks I appreciate the help. I've read the interval threads ect. And it seems that the tranny filter change is cheap insurance. I'm interested to know if there at particular things I need to do since this is the first ones and I'm about to move from hot to cold temps. Also interested to know if the lml is different as the threads I'm reading seem to be more for lmm.

[bigjohn]

That's the great thing about the forum willing to help out when needed.

[In2Trux]

Everything your reading about the LMM you can apply to your LML. (with the exception of the uria) Not to be rued but you calling Ohio cold made me smile

I haven't got my hands on one yet, but your owner's manual will describe in better detail the temperature thresholds of your different oil viscosities and when to use them

[mastrcruse]

Originally Posted by In2Trux

Everything your reading about the LMM you can apply to your LML. (with the exception of the uria) Not to be rued but you calling Ohio cold made me smile

I haven't got my hands on one yet, but your owner's manual will describe in better detail the temperature thresholds of your different oil viscosities and when to use them

Thanks. Haha...I guess ohio isn't cold to you....definitely cold compared to Texas. Hell it was 85 degrees just 2 days ago.

So what I've learned from reading is...

Tranny: change the filter only, no need to drain fluid. Fill it up with transynd and screw back on. Use Allison filter.

Oil: bring napa gold filter or AC Delco filter to dealership and ask for recommended oil for "cooler" weather. I've read that the trucks down here get 15-40 but the recommendations for cold starts are 0-40 or 10-40.

[Hondarider552]

expect to pay around 50 bucks for just the spin on trans filter at the dealer, then about 150 for the oil change.

[mastrcruse]

Part of my negotiation for the truck was 2 free oil changes. I can change the spin on oil filter myself. Sounds like I just spin it off, fill it with the same amount of fluid in the old, make sure I have the magnet, and then spin back on. Or I just bring my own Trans filter to the dealer.

[In2Trux]

I've had my truck for 3 yrs now... I used a quaker state oil filter once and quickly went back to the AC Delco filter cause I wasn't getting immediate oil pressure at start-ups
Turns out The AC Delco filter has some kind of a back pressure valve in the filter. (very important)
I've run Shell Rotella T 15W40 100% Synthetic Motor Oil all year round My truck still starts even in -5 F
Around 15 F I will plug it in for a few hrs before starting it.

Tranni filter I will replace every couple of motor oil change.
Front end will get grease at all 11 grease points at every service.
I do all my own truck service

[HD Dmax Machine]

Originally Posted by mastrcruse

Thanks. Haha...I guess ohio isn't cold to you....definitely cold compared to Texas. Hell it was 85 degrees just 2 days ago.

So what I've learned from reading is...

Tranny: change the filter only, no need to drain fluid. Fill it up with transynd and screw back on. Use Allison filter.

Oil: bring napa gold filter or AC Delco filter to dealership and ask for recommended oil for "cooler" weather. I've read that the trucks down here get 15-40 but the recommendations for cold starts are 0-40 or 10-40.

If your trans still has factory fill conventional Dex 6 fluid use that to fill up the spin on trans filter. The dealer would use a ACDelco spin on filter & add conventional Dex 6 fluid. So if you have Transynd in your trans bring some with you.
The dealer will use ACDelco oil filter, 15W-40 conventional or 5W-40 synthetic oil (whichever you pick.)

& yes use a fuel additive. Now on what brand is "best" you be the judge. Try some brands out & see which you like best.