OIL CHANGE TIPS
How often should you change the oil in a diesel truck?
It depends on the engine and how the truck is used. Follow the manufacturer's schedule in your owner's manual, or the oil life monitor if your truck has one, and use the severe-service schedule if you tow, haul or idle a lot.
Where to find your interval
- Oil life monitor. Most modern diesel pickups have one, and it accounts for load, idle time and temperature.
- Owner's manual. Look for both the normal and severe-service schedules.
- Your use. A truck that tows every week needs oil sooner than one that commutes empty.
What counts as severe service for a diesel
- Regular towing or hauling heavy loads
- Long periods of idling, like job sites or running equipment
- Lots of short trips where the engine never fully warms up
- Dusty roads, gravel lots and hot weather
Many work trucks in the Midlands hit several of these every week.
Why diesel oil changes cost more
Diesel engines hold a lot more oil than most gas engines, often somewhere around 10 to 15 quarts, and they need diesel-rated oil that meets the spec in your manual. Many also use diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), which needs topping off.
At Lube Lizards, diesel service is $225 and includes diesel-rated oil, a new filter, a DEF top-off and the full checkup. That price covers up to 5 quarts. Because most diesel trucks take more, extra oil is billed per quart, and we'll confirm your total when you book so there are no surprises.
Don't skip the filter
Diesel engines produce more soot than gas engines, and the oil filter is what keeps it moving out of the oil. Always change the filter with the oil.
We come to the job site. Diesel oil changes in your driveway, yard or lot in Lexington, Irmo, West Columbia, Cayce, Chapin and Red Bank, with fleet pricing for three or more trucks.
Book a mobile oil change