Ram Ecodiesel Oil change question

[aaluck]

This might be a silly question but... I umpire a lot of baseball in the spring/summer. With that comes a LOT of rain delays. There are times I will sit in my running truck for hours waiting for the weather to clear.

Here is my question. During these spring/summer months my truck is demanding oil changes at about 3-4000 as opposed to the "normal" roughly 10k. Do you think I can just stay on the normal schedule and change it around 10k since about 1/2 (or more) of the engine run hours are me just sitting still?

 

[McMXi]

This might be a silly question but... I umpire a lot of baseball in the spring/summer. With that comes a LOT of rain delays. There are times I will sit in my running truck for hours waiting for the weather to clear.

Here is my question. During these spring/summer months my truck is demanding oil changes at about 3-4000 as opposed to the "normal" roughly 10k. Do you think I can just stay on the normal schedule and change it around 10k since about 1/2 (or more) of the engine run hours are me just sitting still?

I'm definitely no expert, but it has been standard practice for decades to change the engine oil more often (in terms of mileage) if the vehicle runs at idle for extended periods e.g. taxis, police, ambulance, tow trucks, delivery trucks, etc. The widely accepted reasoning is that lower operating temperatures equates to more blow by which equates to more oil contamination. Of course, vehicles from decades ago didn't have the fancy computers in them that can possibly do a much better job of monitoring operating conditions, so changing oil more often was a simple solution to a complex problem.

Oil and filters are cheap (relatively) so pick your poison. If you plan on keeping the vehicle for many years it would be wise to change the oil more often. If you change vehicles fairly regularly then perhaps not.

 

[lynnmor]

This might be a silly question but... I umpire a lot of baseball in the spring/summer. With that comes a LOT of rain delays. There are times I will sit in my running truck for hours waiting for the weather to clear.

Here is my question. During these spring/summer months my truck is demanding oil changes at about 3-4000 as opposed to the "normal" roughly 10k. Do you think I can just stay on the normal schedule and change it around 10k since about 1/2 (or more) of the engine run hours are me just sitting still?

If that is a newer diesel truck that is abuse. Yes, follow the OLM or better yet, switch it off.

 

[RCW]

I'm far from an expert either. Don't know that much about the DEF systems if so equipped.

I'd also probably stick to what the monitor suggests. Admittedly an uninformed suggestion.

I just recently have gotten so I use the Oil Life Monitor on my gasoline-powered truck.

 

[GeoHorn]

This might be a silly question but... I umpire a lot of baseball in the spring/summer. With that comes a LOT of rain delays. There are times I will sit in my running truck for hours waiting for the weather to clear.

Here is my question. During these spring/summer months my truck is demanding oil changes at about 3-4000 as opposed to the "normal" roughly 10k. Do you think I can just stay on the normal schedule and change it around 10k since about 1/2 (or more) of the engine run hours are me just sitting still?

You don’t mention the year model or your warranty-status….but long periods of idling will cause your truck to give you an oil-change/service message based upon useage.

If under warranty… I’d change the oil for certain.

If no warranty is involved….it’s your call…but if you are meticulous regarding maintenance, I’d also suggest you change it. Diesels do NOT like to idle for long periods (Forget what you thought because you saw 18-wheelers at truck stops idling for long periods. NOT Applicable to a passenger vehicle.)

Long idling in a modern diesel will kill your very expensive emissions systems, not DEF particularly….but your DPF, your catalytic-converter, your turbo and CCV.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

As much as it pains me to say it, my opinion would be to follow the computers suggested intervals.

I avoid long periods of idling, but thats mostly cause my tail pipe fell off about 10 years ago so it stinks up the cab a wee bit.

I have been on the 10K program since it was new in 06', but if you idle a lot, that "run time" should probably be factored in.

Like suggested above, oil and filters are "cheap insurance".

 

[mikester]

Your ECU is controlled remotely and is programmed by AI to make you pay more money to big business. Oil and filter changes are a scam, stick it to the man and don't believe what your ECU is telling you. Buy meme coin instead using the money you save on oil changes.

 

[Daren Todd]

Change the oil. Idle time is still run time on diesel.

 

[RBsingl]

As other noted, a DPF equipped diesel running at idle/low load for long periods of time is a VERY bad idea.

If your ecodiesel is equipped with a high idle switch/setting then use it but still even at high idle for hours is going to create issues with your emissions system and if that engine has any tendency towards fuel dilution of the oil those long idling periods are going to make it MUCH worse. You definitely need more frequent oil changes and depending upon how much idle time is involved then 3,000 miles is a stretch because you are putting on a lot of hours with not much mileage.

It isn't good for even pre-emissions diesel engines to run at idle/low load for extended periods. If you plan to continue as an umpire (and good for you doing this!!!), then a gas powered vehicle will be a much better choice for your next purchase. Extended idling isn't great for any engine but a gas fueled engine will do pretty well with this in the summer months where it will stay at a good operating temperature for complete combustion with minimal oil dilution.

Rodger

 

[lugbolt]

not familiar with that engine but a lot of "older" engines that used cam-in-block, with roller lifters, the only thing that lubricates the lifters is splash from the crankshaft-which is minimal at idle speed. Excessive idling is hard on them. Avoid if possible.

if you stretch your oil changes way out, if the engine ever has an issue, where are you gonna place the blame? Yourself? Or the truck? And, if warranty has anything to do with the matter, they'll want service records if it is a DIY oil change schedule.

also look closer at the manual. Sometimes it'll say oil change interval at, for instance, 5000 miles but a footnote below or the next page might say "more often under x conditions". Read into that. I'd be surprised that if you're idling that much, it wouldn't need oil changes every 2000-2500 mi.

 

[BAP]

You would be better off joining 1 of the Ram forums and asking your question. Don’t know what year your truck is, but those early Ecodiesels had quite a lot of problems, and you either had a good one or not. I would treat it well and not cheap out on maintenance.

 

[aaluck]

If that is a newer diesel truck that is abuse. Yes, follow the OLM or better yet, switch it off.

You are probably right. But OFF IS NOT AN OPTION in Alabama in the summer... unless of course I want my wife to collect the life insurance.

 

[aaluck]

You don’t mention the year model or your warranty-status….but long periods of idling will cause your truck to give you an oil-change/service message based upon useage.

If under warranty… I’d change the oil for certain.

If no warranty is involved….it’s your call…but if you are meticulous regarding maintenance, I’d also suggest you change it. Diesels do NOT like to idle for long periods (Forget what you thought because you saw 18-wheelers at truck stops idling for long periods. NOT Applicable to a passenger vehicle.)

Long idling in a modern diesel will kill your very expensive emissions systems, not DEF particularly….but your DPF, your catalytic-converter, your turbo and CCV.

2021 1500 Ram limited with about 88,000. (Yes I love out of town and do a lot of driving for my job). I do have the 100k full extended warranty, which saved me on my last truck.

 

[lynnmor]

You are probably right. But OFF IS NOT AN OPTION in Alabama in the summer... unless of course I want my wife to collect the life insurance.

Put a window air conditioner in and run it on a generator or have the ball parks provide you with an outlet. One example.