Would you use Delo 400 15w40in a Turbo cat motor in a Horizon? Everyone suggests T6 Rotella
My intention is to only run it 5000 miles and change it.
Well Randall_428,
We've owned our '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT 330HP now for 15 years and 127,000 miles. And I've changed that oil and filter waaaaaaaaaaay more times than I can count. And it's no big deal. If you prepare yourself and your coach and engine appropriately, an oil change is just no big deal. Now, by that I mean, the first thing you need is a set of ramps. I made my own out of 1 1/8th tongue and groove decking plywood. Each ramp is only about 4.5" high but that's quite a bit when you need to slither under the big girl for this kind of work.
Then, the next and most important thing to do is, purchase and install a FUMOTO valve for your oil pan drain plug. If you haven't heard of them, look them up. They make oil changes a dream. A Fumoto valve is mearly a 1/4 turn valve that lets the oil flow. There's a nipple on it to attach some 5/8" clear vinyl tubing.
Then next thing you need is 5 empty 1 gallon milk jugs or Ice Tea or anything like that that is a 1 gallon plastic container. Now, when it comes time to change that oil, the first thing to do is, cruise around about 10 - 15 minutes or so to warm that 5 gallons of oil up so it will flow way more smoothly. Then, align the ramps so you can back up on them. Once you've done that, grab your 10"-15" of clear vinyl tubing and your 5 empty (1) gallon jugs and cruise on under the coach. If you've cut that tubing right, it will slide right onto the nipple of that Fumoto valve and the other end will enter the top of one of the jugs. All you do then is turn unlock that valve (it has a lock design built in that you have to lift the lever and turn it to unlock it) and turn it and that black gold with flow right into that jug.
Once the jug is almost full, shut the flow down by turning the valve, then cap that jug and move it out of the way and another one slides right into its place. Repeat that process for all 5 jugs. When it comes to the oil filter, all I do is bring a sharp punch and a hammer for that. I also have a very small drain pain, about 4-5 quart or so. I line that little drain pan up with the bottom of the filter and then, using that punch and a hammer, punch a hole into the bottom of that filter. Remove the punch and let that oil flow into the drain pan.
Once the flow has stopped, you're good to go to R an R that filter. Pre-fill the new one and install it, DONE!
Now, put the other 17 quarts (you normally put two into the filter) into the engine and, you're done. Those 5 individual gallons are WAAAAAAAAAAAY EASIER to handle than a giant drain pan which, you now have to carefully slide out from under the coach and then clumsily empty it into some form of a container to get rid of it. The 5 individual jugs are the ONLY way to go. When I head on down to our local Auto Zone to get rid of the oil, they ask if I need the containers back and I say, nope, they're all yours. This is without a doubt, the most efficient way of changing oil on these big girls and dispensing with it.
Scott
