AMSOIL Helps Chevy* Duramax* Top 1-Million Miles

Purchasing a vehicle, whether new or used, is a big investment. That explains why vehicle longevity is a goal for many drivers – they want to get the most out of their vehicles before they must purchase a replacement. Conducting routine maintenance practices is key to achieving that goal, and those who take it seriously can reap the financial rewards of vehicle longevity.

Every so often, a car or truck surpasses its life expectancy and stays on the road for many more miles than what might seem possible. This has been the case for AMSOIL customer Roger Hummel, whose 2006 Chevrolet 2500HD Duramax Diesel passed the 1-million-mile mark on the odometer and is still going strong. A quick web search reveals these engines typically last 200,000 miles, and up to 500,000 miles with proper maintenance. We connected with Hummel to learn more about his Duramax and how it endured a million miles and counting. His secret to success? Installing AMSOIL products and keeping a close eye on oil life through oil analysis.

Hummel purchased his Duramax used from a seller in Florida back in 2017 with 140,000 miles on the odometer. He purchased it in part because the previous owner had kept up with routine maintenance, and Hummel needed a vehicle that would last. His job hauling Airstream* travel trailers all over the country depended on having a truck capable of enduring the punishing conditions it would see. With his fulltime job working for Trusted Transportation* based in Ohio, Hummel travels thousands of miles every week hauling heavy loads through all kinds of weather and terrain. A typical load has an average base weight of 7,500 lbs. as he traverses the country to make his deliveries. The truck is almost always moving or running and gets very little downtime as Hummel completes his work.

Hummel had heard of AMSOIL years before and knew it had a good reputation. Upon purchasing his Duramax, he decided to install AMSOIL 15W-40 Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine Oil in the engine.  Prior to making that change, the Duramax LBZ engine sometimes had what is known as a “typewriter click.” In Hummel’s case, he noticed the click went away when he changed the oil from the previously installed brand. Hummel established an oil change routine of every 25,000 miles until he reached the 500,000-mile mark, at which time he began servicing it every 20,000 miles. He conducted an oil change analysis a couple times each year to monitor the oil’s condition and track any changes in its performance. The practice helped him identify any potential issues as the odometer climbed.

Just before reaching the 1-million-mile mark, an Oil Analyzers Inc. test result revealed a small amount of wear metals. He called the lab to learn more and was told that the quantity was small enough to not even worry about; they just noted it in the report for posterity.

To this day, the truck remains all stock with no modifications, tunes or deletes. The engine has needed no major work and now has 20,000 engine hours and 1,185,000 miles on it. Oil consumption has remained steady throughout the vehicle’s life at 1.5 quarts or less per 20,000 miles. Hummel does his own maintenance and plans to continue his work journey in the Duramax for as long as he can.

Recently, Hummel attended a local car show in his area. He decided to get a professional detail performed and enter his Duramax as “The Million-Mile Truck.” He captured some attention as the only person there with a vehicle odometer reading that high, and spectators learned how hard he and his truck had worked to reach that milestone.

Hummel credits AMSOIL as a factor in the truck’s enduring performance, along with staying on top of regular maintenance no matter how busy he gets. We agree with that advice, and it’s outcomes like his that help prove it.

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