Cummins Inc. announced in late February 2017 that it is providing its Cummins OilGuard program free of charge for X15™ Efficiency Series and X15 Performance Series engines to fleet customers and owner-operators that will use the combination of engine performance data and engine oil analysis to safely optimize oil drain intervals up to 80,000 miles (128,000 km). This program has the potential to reduce maintenance costs and increase vehicle uptime significantly, for a lower total cost of ownership.

For years, recommended oil drain intervals have been based on a set distance and/or time period. Vehicles carrying heavy loads, running across rugged terrain or having a high percentage of idle time were treated the same as those with less strenuous duty cycles. The Cummins OilGuard program allows participating fleets and owner-operators to safely extend oil change intervals while keeping full warranty coverage for their Cummins engine.

It starts with a selection of test vehicles and a monitoring program with regular submission of engine data and oil samples for analysis, covering a minimum of two oil change intervals. For example, fleets desiring an 80,000-mile oil change interval will be required to submit samples every 10,000 miles.

“With oil changes routinely costing $350 or more for the oil, oil filter, labor and disposal costs – and a typical over-the-road trucker performing two to three oil changes per year – we see the potential to significantly reduce costs and downtime, with some customers needing an oil change only once a year,” said Mark Ulrich, Director of Customer Support, “Most importantly, you get an optimized oil change interval while preserving your warranty coverage, and at no risk to engine component durability or resale value.”

Full warranty coverage will continue throughout the testing/analysis period. Once the results are received, Cummins will present the findings, identifying the vehicles and duty cycles eligible for a longer oil-drain interval. The optimized drain interval will then become the required maintenance for warranty coverage. Periodic follow-up testing may be requested by Cummins for verification that no changes in operation or maintenance practices have taken place that might impact the approved oil drain interval.

Cummins will provide sample kits, prepaid mailers and the oil analysis free of charge to every customer participating in the program. The Cummins OilGuard program is currently available for 2017 and newer X15 engines; however, it is anticipated that it could be extended to other engines in the near future.

Use of a Cummins-approved CK-4 (CES20086) or FA-4 (CES20087) engine oil is required in order to qualify for this program. Cummins recommends the use of Valvoline® Premium Blue® Engine Oils, which are already approved by Cummins for 60,000-mile oil drain intervals.

Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, Cummins currently employs approximately 55,400 people worldwide and serves customers in approximately 190 countries and territories through a network of approximately 600 company-owned and independent distributor locations and approximately 7,400 dealer locations. Cummins earned $1.39 billion on sales of $17.5 billion in 2016.