OT Cummins N14 Oil Change Interval

Morgan Flowers · Sep 13, 2012

I have a 99 Cummins N14 in a Freightliner Road Tractor. I have been thinking about what oil change interval I should use since it is an over the road truck and doesn't do much stop and go city driving. I was thinking that there might be a gallons of fuel usage interval that I could use? I keep track of all the fuel bought so if I had a number I thought that would work well. I know that people have talked about it for the expected life of engines but didn't know about for oil changes. If you have any insight on this let me know as I'm interested in hearing it. Thanks, Morgan in TN

MSM · Sep 13, 2012

Your most fool proof method would be to use oil analysis. It would tell you of any ongoing problems(high metal content,coolant in the oil,fuel dilution etc) It would also tell you the "oil life" remaining. Maybe sample through 2 oil changes, and use the oil life to set a mileage,or hour interval for your next change. Some of the newer engines are running 20-25,000+ miles between changes. Your service interval is also dependent on the ambient temp. you run. Wintertime with some extended idling,running in the teens or below will shorten the interval.

BrianIA · Sep 13, 2012

Had several over the years. We change oil at 7500 miles.Same on our m-11s.

jon f mn · Sep 13, 2012

Been driving my ISX cummins for 957,816 miles. From new I followed the Dart maintainance supervisors recomendations. That is to change oil when you are 1 gallon low. Been 1 gallon low at 20,000 miles since new and hasn't changed yet. The only machanical part that I've changed so far is 1 injector. Been using Rotella T oil too. In mine the level stays full til the oil starts to break down then drops fast. Of course I don't idle much so the hours are lower than drivers that idle. My cummins manual says to change every 800 hours, but at 20,000 miles I'm at between 5 and 600.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 13, 2012

We own a few that run over the road all have APU stand by power we run them 20000 miles and add 1 gallon lucas at oil changes

Old Iowa · Sep 13, 2012

Your oil guy must love you if you change them at 7500 miles. That is way too soon if you are running any moles at all. I have seen delivery trucks that idle a lot go that low but not road tractors.

I change regular oil at 15K and synthetic at 25K

Morgan Flowers · Sep 18, 2012

Well I'm new to this, but I did the first oil change at 17k miles and it was 1/2 gallon low. My driver thought it should go a little farther but I changed it because it was convenient. Glad to see others going in the 20k range. I used Delo 400 oil the first time and Mobil Delvac this time. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Kelly MT · Sep 19, 2012

I have a Cat 3406A in my '73 Pete that I use only to haul my fertilizer and hay. Maybe 3000 mi a year then into the shed. No winter driving. The oil is still honey clear after 3 years and I never have to add oil. I use Delo 400 15/40. What change schedule do you recommend? Thanks PK.

OT Cummins N14 Oil Change Interval

Morgan Flowers

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MSM

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BrianIA

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jon f mn

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Anonymous-0

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Old Iowa

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Morgan Flowers

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Kelly MT

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