Oil usage between changes

[Golden Gopher]

What can I expect to be the average usage between changes on a 370ISL?

[Skip426]

Don't know what the average consumption might be , but you could ask Cummins what they would consider excessive .

The correct calibration of the engine oil dipstick can be very important, you need to be very sure that ONLY the correct amount of oil is put in the engine after an oil change; according to the engine manual's capacity for your engine; and to compare that capacity to the lines on the dipstick.
Re-marking the full line if necessary.
My Cat required 2 quarts , EXTRA oil to bring the level to full line , and that extra oil would be spit out the road tube in 500 miles, once down to the add line the level is stable for the rest of the run to the next change.
So now the add line is full and only the specified amount of oil goes in on changes.

[Koop]

My ISL takes 28 quarts with an oil filter change. That brings it to the full line on the dipstick. Over the first 5,000 miles after a change, it drops about 1/4 of the way to the add mark - maybe one quart consumed. Then it stabilizes. I have about 9,000 miles since my last oil change and it hasn't dropped any more than that. Same thing happened on previous oil changes.

[Gary RVRoamer]

If I put a full 28 qts in my ISL370, it quickly drops 2-3 qts and then stabilizes, right near the Add mark. A couple of times it has actually blown oil back out the filler tube when full, so I now put in only 24 qts. The Add mark on mine is a lot more than "down a quart". More like down a gallon.

Other than that, I've never had to add oil between changes. That's anywhere from 5000-10,000 miles of driving (I change annually).

[Smitty77]

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

If I put a full 28 qts in my ISL370, it quickly drops 2-3 qts and then stabilizes, right near the Add mark. A couple of times it has actually blown oil back out the filler tube when full, so I now put in only 24 qts. The Add mark on mine is a lot more than "down a quart". More like down a gallon.

Other than that, I've never had to add oil between changes. That's anywhere from 5000-10,000 miles of driving (I change annually).

This matches my ISL370 too, except I've never had oil spit up out of the tube. I do not do my own oil changes, but the first thing I have the maintenance shop I use do, is put in a gallon of Lucas additive, the they fill until the dip stick reflects full. Usually I get charged for between 22-23 quarts of oil. But also within a vary short time, I show about down two quarts by the dip stick. Not down to the Fill line, but about half way between full and add lines. Last year we were at about 14K miles due to a trip to Alaska, and the oil level remained constant that full time.

Each engine, seems to find its own happy place in regards to oil level. I could probably do the same thing I did on our 275HP V10 Ford, and file marks at the proper level on the dipstick. But, I feel I now know this engine. Oh, and I put a note on blue tape, stuck back by the engine, reflecting that midway between full and add, seems to be the proper level. This way some shop does not 'help' me without asking, and add two more quarts.

Best to you,
Smitty

[mel s]

Originally Posted by Golden Gopher

What can I expect to be the average usage between changes on a 370ISL?

Golden Gopher
I don't know your ISL but my 142k mile 250 hp 3126 Cat uses less than 2 quarts in 10,000 miles, (when filled with 28 quarts at an oil & oil filter change).
Mel
'96 Safari Sahara, 35'