Duramax, how many miles between oil changes?
 

I have a 2004 GM Duramax 6.6L turbo diesel. What is the correct oil change interval for this engine? I've been told every 3000 mi. and I've been told every 5000 mi... Please give me some professional truth here? :D

Re: Duramax, how many miles between oil changes?
 

synthetic or conventional?

Re: Duramax, how many miles between oil changes?
 

Conventional Rotella T 15w-40

Re: Duramax, how many miles between oil changes?
 

I have a 2002 Dmax. Change your oil every 3000. With synthetic you could go 5000. i run Mobil delvac one.

Re: Duramax, how many miles between oil changes?
 

When I got my first 2001 duramax in 11/00 I was told every 5000 miles. Later they came back & said every 7000 miles. I still have that truck & have over 150,000 miles on it & still going strong.

I now have a 2005 duramax that is looking like I am going to be over 7000 miles before it tells me to change oil

Re: Duramax, how many miles between oil changes?
 

I have the same combo and the guys at the dealership told me not to worry about it untill it tells me to change it. :rolleyes:
Oil is cheap, duramaxes aren`t. It`s every 3000 for me as well.

Re: Duramax, how many miles between oil changes?
 

Mine won't tell me to change it for near 9000.

The thing holds 10 qts... I'll let this one go to at least 7,000..
But I check it frequently to look at level, viscosity and pollution from diesel.

Apparently the fuel system needs more attention than the oil..
These trucks need clean fuel...so do the fuel filter when you do the oil.. Run a stabilizer that boosts Cetane and kills microbal growth in the fuel.
There seems to be a link to guys that don't do fuel filters and guys with bad injectors.


NM had a Dmax with over 40,000miles and I think it only saw three...maybe four oil changes.

It always ran good..and pulled BIG heavy boats 90% of the time. (Ex:46 cigs on steel trailers)

That truck is why I bought mine.

Re: Duramax, how many miles between oil changes?
 

Oil changes are overrated, I waited till 19k on my Ford before I did the first one :eek: I'm a diesel mechanic wich means I never work on my own stuff and I can't bring myself to pay someone to do it cuase it's what I do for a living. In reality 5k is a very safe and conservative intervall, 3k is way conservative but if it gives you peace of mind then go for it. Fuel filters should be changed EVERY oil change on a diesel regardless of what the manual says. The have an extremly fine micron element in them that needs to be as fine as it is, the downside is that it tears easily when it gets plugged and then lets things through that shouldn't and then the whole thing goes downhill quick on you. Another big no-no that I see way to often is people using sompressed air to clean air filters, yo tend to see it more in the diesel worls then automotive cuase the filters a $75 instead of $10. Blowing compressed air through them can tear the pleats and force debris throgh them, in the long run the practice will significantly reduce the life span of your engine.

Re: Duramax, how many miles between oil changes?
 

Mine every 5,000 Mobil 1 SUV. I did one @ 500 miles when new and I will have to do my first 5,000 one next week.

Re: Duramax, how many miles between oil changes?
 

I use Delo every 3000k