Hey all,

Im a new diesel owner and just purchased my first diesel for a work truck. I work on a animal ranch so Im typically driving under 10mph or idling all day for my work - those are my typical driving conditions.

My truck is a 1998 chevy k2500 turbo-diesel 6.5L. I bought it because I was told the engine is a good one. The vehicle has 207,000 miles on it.

I recently had it repaired - new hydro-booster, vacuum pump, and oil switch (sender). As well as oil filter, oil, fuel filter.

Problem: oil gauge reads 8-10 psi @ idle, then around 20 psi 1000 rpms, 30-35 psi @ 2000 rpms.

When I bought it, it stayed at 35-40 constantly. I know it is in the "operational limits" (6psi @ idle,30-40 psi @ 2000 rpms) but im still worried.

Please, any advice or insight for a new diesel owner?

Thank you.

 

try a new OPS first. make sure its an ACDelco

 

Although you are in the lower end of the range, I wouldn't worry too much.

My trucks has a New Optimizer 6500 (just over 10,000 kms) and I run 5w40 Rotella synthetic.

I get 20-25 psi at idle and 35-40 at at about 1200 and up.

Stone cold (IE: -20c) will get me just over 40-45 and drop to 35-40 as it warms.

30-35 on a 200,000 mile block isn't a big deal.

Use a quality 15W40 oil that's diesel rated. I've always been preferential to Rotella products but all the quality stuff on the market will do.

Throw a new oil pressure switch in it if you want, but I doubt you'll see a difference. If you do, it will most likely be attributable to production tolerances in the switch itself.

Now, keep in mind; a 200,000 mile 6.5 diesel is just about passing it's 2/3 life span so it is going to act accordingly. Still good service life left in it, but it's on the backside of it's cycle.

You can expect somewhere between 300,000 and 400,000 from one of these blocks before they either fail spectacularly or just get too tired to carry on...

 

What do you guys recommend for an oil change interval on an application like this (low stress, lots of idling)? Might not get warmed up enough on a regular basis to evapotate condensation, contaminants, concerns like that. Then again, not a whole lot of stress and heat to break down the oil.

Wouldn't worry about that oil pressure, maybe have it checked with a mechanical gauge to verify.

 

Follow the severe service schedule with lots of idling and short trips....or start using an oil analysis program to determine change intervals...

 

Cool, pretty much what I was thinking, wanted validation that I wasn't wasting a bunch of oil and money.