Engine is using oil

[EZeis]

Hello,

My truck started using oil and never used any between oil changes. No mods, no boxes, no nothing, all stock. Doesn't leak anywhere nor smoke. It does smoke black when you get on it. It runs great, starts great, has power and no engine noises.



I believe when I switched from Mopar oil to bulk oil at the dealer has caused this. It's the only thing that's changed. This is the second oil change on their bulk oil and has been using oil since the 1st time. I'm temped to go buy some mopar oil and try it. They're bulk oil is Pennzoil. Last I checked, the Mopar bottled oil is Mobil. The dealer would bill me for part number 4798232AE when I got the bottled oil. I used the Mopar oil on the 1st oil change till the last two.



The oil is half down the stick on level floor with 1,149 miles and 43 hours since oil change. That's major in my mind. That's all empty and no towing miles/hours.



Truck has 44,735 miles and 1,226 engine hours.



BTW, I even ran my finger around inside the tail pipe and it didn't have any oily feel, just sooty.



I get my truck serviced every 6 months. I have them change oil, oil filter, air filter and fuel filter every time. Filters are all Mopar.



Is my engine going to crap out? Coolant temps and oil pressure read like they always have.



Thanks for your time.





Earl

 

[SRadke]

I've seen engines burn oil when using low quality oil. I do not expect your engine to "crap out" on you in the near future. Go buy yourself 3 gallons of good oil (delo, delvac, rotella, etc) and change it out. It is very important you use good oil in a high performance turbocharged engine.

-Scott

 

[macdaddy]

Well you sound like you have pretty much checked out everything except you coolant. Is there any oil there?



The only thing else is what you have already determined. The oil their using is probably some run of the mill dino brand with much less stability, there by loosing it to evaporation. but only 1149 miles?.



I would drain it change the filter and use one of the synthetics.



Mac

 

[HBarlow]

Black smoke in the exhaust is not oil, oil burning produces blue smoke.

Black smoke and soot are unburned fuel. I wonder if you have a sensor problem preventing proper boost or an injector leaking?

I suppose you don't have gauges so you don't know what your engine is doing.

If you have a good dealer with a Level 4 trained and certified Cummins tech ask him to run the cylinder contribution test. I believe it will diagnose a bad injector or other problem.

 

[steved]

First, as everyone else stated, the oil is bulk and nothing special... and they might have not even put an HDEO diesel-rated oil in it... I would find a local shop that would install YOUR oil and YOUR filter, then you know what you have.

Secondly, your OE oil pressure gauge is fake... the reading is completely fabricated by the ECM.

Bottled Mopar oil is Valvoline...

 

[rashwor]

I would start with a good quality brand of oil and filter and do a change. Go from there. It may show that you have no problem at all other than a poor quality oil change.



I don't think you have anything to worry about. On these 3rd gen engines you most likely are not having a oil problem if you are using a good oil and you can't see it leaking.



I always supply my oil and filters and watch, if I don't just do it myself. Been doing it myself lately as it gives me the opportunity to look EVERYTHING over underneath.

 

[CToney]

Wrong oil spec will cause oil consumption. We used the wrong oil in a Powerstroke once and she burned her like diesel. Added /SH oil and all was good needed the anti foaming additives to be compatible with the HEUI injectors. Needless to say we run all cummins now and don't have to worry about handling more than one diesel oil.

 

[EZeis]

Black smoke in the exhaust is not oil, oil burning produces blue smoke.



Black smoke and soot are unburned fuel. I wonder if you have a sensor problem preventing proper boost or an injector leaking?



I suppose you don't have gauges so you don't know what your engine is doing.



If you have a good dealer with a Level 4 trained and certified Cummins tech ask him to run the cylinder contribution test. I believe it will diagnose a bad injector or other problem.

I should do this as the truck never smoked black when new unless you got on it and out and back in, guess it confused the ECM. Now it throws out black when you get on it. My problem is I don't trust the techs so I'd be a nervous wreck. lol



Earl



Earl

 

[EZeis]

Well you sound like you have pretty much checked out everything except you coolant. Is there any oil there?



The only thing else is what you have already determined. The oil their using is probably some run of the mill dino brand with much less stability, there by loosing it to evaporation. but only 1149 miles?.



I would drain it change the filter and use one of the synthetics.



Mac

Sorry, I failed to mention that I did check the coolant and found no oil in either rad or overflow.





Earl

 

[EZeis]

First, as everyone else stated, the oil is bulk and nothing special... and they might have not even put an HDEO diesel-rated oil in it... I would find a local shop that would install YOUR oil and YOUR filter, then you know what you have.



Secondly, your OE oil pressure gauge is fake... the reading is completely fabricated by the ECM.



Bottled Mopar oil is Valvoline...

Dealer told me bottled Mopar oil is Mobil and in Feb 2009 they told me that Mopar oil changed over to Pennzoil and since their bulk oil is Pennzoil, that I'd save money buy using the bulk oil over the bottled oil. You're saying it's Valvoline. I've also found on the net that Mopar bottled oil was/is Mobil. I can't find anything that it went from Mobil to Pennzoil or Valvoline. Is Valvoline a reacent change?



Earl

 

[EZeis]

Thanks for the info guys. Once I find out what the current and past Mopar bottled oil is, I'll figure out what oil to buy and try. The only reason I went over to bulk oil is cause the dealer told me that Mopar oil is now Pennzoil, the same as their bulk oil. So I said sure, it was much cheaper.



I used Mopar bottled oil since the 1st oil change and told it was Mobil oil. Never ever used a drop of oil between oil changes.



Side note, this bulk oil doesn't have that new oil change sulfer smell that I always got with the Mopar oil.



Once I figure out the Mopar oil and test, I'll let you know how I made out. I'm going to put 1100 miles of towing on the truck in two weeks and that will be a good test.



Thanks!

Earl

 

[rbattelle]

... and they might have not even put an diesel-rated oil in it...
Bottled Mopar oil is Valvoline...

Dealer told me bottled Mopar oil is Mobil and in Feb 2009 they told me that Mopar oil changed over to Pennzoil and since their bulk oil is Pennzoil, that I'd save money buy using the bulk oil over the bottled oil. You're saying it's Valvoline. I've also found on the net that Mopar bottled oil was/is Mobil. I can't find anything that it went from Mobil to Pennzoil or Valvoline. Is Valvoline a reacent change?

You need to understand that the brand of oil is a secondary issue. There are two different oil specifications, designated by a 2-letter code. If the first letter is S, the oil is for spark ignition; if the first letter is C, the oil is for compression ignition. You want a "C" oil, and the current 2-letter specification is CJ.

The first and most important thing to do is verify that you are getting C-rated oil. It makes no difference if the "Mopar" oil is now made by Pennzoil, Mobil, Valvoline, or Uncle Billy's Oil Farm. What matters is that it is 15w-40 conventional (or 5w-40 synthetic) heavy duty diesel engine oil that meets API specification CJ-4. You say, "I've also found on the net that Mopar bottled oil was/is Mobil", but you don't cite where you got that information or what your search terms were.

Your dealership seems to be suggesting that the only thing that matters is the brand, which is kind of like saying the only thing that matters when you get fuel is that it will burn in the presence of oxygen.

Steve is saying that Mopar HD diesel engine oil has traditionally (always?) been repackaged Valvoline Premium Blue 15w-40. That's the diesel oil. I have no reason to believe that Mopar spark ignition engine oil is also a Valvoline product - it could easily be Pennzoil, Mobil, or Uncle Billy's.

If the dealer decided that the Mopar HD diesel engine oil is now made by Pennzoil, and that their "bulk" engine oil (whatever that means) is also Pennzoil, why do we assume these two products are identical? Did they perhaps fill your truck from the same oil barrel used for spark ignition engines!? If so, that is the reason you are now consuming oil.

Your first priority should be to dump that and put in a quality HD diesel engine oil.

I'd send in a sample of what the dealer installed and find out if it's actually spark ignition oil.

-Ryan

 

[Wingate]

Had this problem out of my old D-max service truck... come to find out, the quickie lube guys were grabbing the 10W30 reel and filling my engine with gasoline engine oil!!!. .



I do NOT trust any oil in bulk form... (atleast when referring to dealers, quickie lubes, wal-mart... . ) Even if its the right stuff in the tank, you are at the mercy of some high school kid to grab the right reel... .

Definitely get ahold of some good diesel engine oil and change it. As Ryan said, pull an oil sample and have it checked... . Valvoline and Mobil are good choices. Not sure about Valvoline, but Mobil is available in both CI and CJ formulas. ... synthetics are ok... but be prepared to spend more $$$$ for them.

 

[EZeis]

You need to understand that the brand of oil is a secondary issue. There are two different oil specifications, designated by a 2-letter code. If the first letter is S, the oil is for spark ignition; if the first letter is C, the oil is for compression ignition. You want a "C" oil, and the current 2-letter specification is CJ.



The first and most important thing to do is verify that you are getting C-rated oil. It makes no difference if the "Mopar" oil is now made by Pennzoil, Mobil, Valvoline, or Uncle Billy's Oil Farm. What matters is that it is 15w-40 conventional (or 5w-40 synthetic) heavy duty diesel engine oil that meets API specification CJ-4. You say, "I've also found on the net that Mopar bottled oil was/is Mobil", but you don't cite where you got that information or what your search terms were.



Your dealership seems to be suggesting that the only thing that matters is the brand, which is kind of like saying the only thing that matters when you get fuel is that it will burn in the presence of oxygen.



Steve is saying that Mopar HD diesel engine oil has traditionally (always?) been repackaged Valvoline Premium Blue 15w-40. That's the diesel oil. I have no reason to believe that Mopar spark ignition engine oil is also a Valvoline product - it could easily be Pennzoil, Mobil, or Uncle Billy's.



If the dealer decided that the Mopar HD diesel engine oil is now made by Pennzoil, and that their "bulk" engine oil (whatever that means) is also Pennzoil, why do we assume these two products are identical? Did they perhaps fill your truck from the same oil barrel used for spark ignition engines!? If so, that is the reason you are now consuming oil.



Your first priority should be to dump that and put in a quality HD diesel engine oil.



I'd send in a sample of what the dealer installed and find out if it's actually spark ignition oil.



-Ryan

Thanks for the big write up but I knew all that. I really don't care what the brand is, as long as it lubes my engine and doesn't drop on the stick. I used bottled mopar oil since day one and I'd like to keep using the same oil not caring what brand is. If it was Mobil I'll use Mobil, if vavoline, I'll use it. I was at the truck stop tonight and they don't carry valvoline oil. They only carried Mobil, Delo and Shell. So I grabbed 3 jugs of Mobil and will change the oil tomorrow. But I still want to know what Mopar bottled oil was.



As far as what I plugged in on the net, I did "who makes mopar oil", "who makes mopar diesel oil" and it was Bing. Everything I looked at said Mobil. Also the dealer told me Mobil back in 07 and than that Mopar went with Pennzoil around Feb 2009. If it's not Mobil, and if anybody has any proof of what mopar bottled oil was before 2009, lay it on me please.



I'll save a sample of the dealer bulk oil and see about getting it tested.







Earl

 

[sag2]

Pennzoil has been the supplier to Mopar for probably a year or so including bulk oil. Shell purchased Pennzoil and Quaker State a few years back. If you look at the oil fill cap on a Viper they no longer say Mobil 1.

 

[LRutigliano]

You need to understand that the brand of oil is a secondary issue. There are two different oil specifications, designated by a 2-letter code. If the first letter is S, the oil is for spark ignition; if the first letter is C, the oil is for compression ignition. You want a "C" oil, and the current 2-letter specification is CJ.



The first and most important thing to do is verify that you are getting C-rated oil. It makes no difference if the "Mopar" oil is now made by Pennzoil, Mobil, Valvoline, or Uncle Billy's Oil Farm. What matters is that it is 15w-40 conventional (or 5w-40 synthetic) heavy duty diesel engine oil that meets API specification CJ-4. You say, "I've also found on the net that Mopar bottled oil was/is Mobil", but you don't cite where you got that information or what your search terms were.



Your dealership seems to be suggesting that the only thing that matters is the brand, which is kind of like saying the only thing that matters when you get fuel is that it will burn in the presence of oxygen.



Steve is saying that Mopar HD diesel engine oil has traditionally (always?) been repackaged Valvoline Premium Blue 15w-40. That's the diesel oil. I have no reason to believe that Mopar spark ignition engine oil is also a Valvoline product - it could easily be Pennzoil, Mobil, or Uncle Billy's.



If the dealer decided that the Mopar HD diesel engine oil is now made by Pennzoil, and that their "bulk" engine oil (whatever that means) is also Pennzoil, why do we assume these two products are identical? Did they perhaps fill your truck from the same oil barrel used for spark ignition engines!? If so, that is the reason you are now consuming oil.



Your first priority should be to dump that and put in a quality HD diesel engine oil.



I'd send in a sample of what the dealer installed and find out if it's actually spark ignition oil.



-Ryan

Very good post. Get that oil out of your engine and put in some known 15W-40 diesel oil, then let us know if you are really using oil...



Wingate gave you some very info (and bad experience) with techs not paying attention and putting the wrong oil in his truck...

 

[rbattelle]

Thanks for the big write up but I knew all that.

I humbly apologize for trying to educate the educated. The focus on brand names made me think you were unaware, and I just wanted to make sure you're focused on the right things. It certainly appears you are, and I look forward to hearing what happens.



And thank you for bringing to light that modern Mopar oils are Pennzoil.



-Ryan

 

[EZeis]

I humbly apologize for trying to educate the educated. The focus on brand names made me think you were unaware, and I just wanted to make sure you're focused on the right things. It certainly appears you are, and I look forward to hearing what happens.



And thank you for bringing to light that modern Mopar oils are Pennzoil.



-Ryan

No prob it was a full hearted thank you and not a sarcastic one. I probably don't know as much as you do about oils but i know more than the average Joe.

I changed oil today and will let everybody know if it stops using oil once I get some mileage.





Earl

 

[EZeis]

I did save a sample of the questionable oil. Now, which company do I use for a lab results on what oil it is? I'm looking to see if its CJ-4 or an unapproved for diesel oil. Also the brand if possible. I want to bring this to my dealer's attention. If my engine is damaged and or life span is less, I want as much evidence as I can.





Earl

 

[EDankievitch]

All engines use oil. Honda use to say a qt every 1000 miles was normal. My truck never seemedto use oil until I replaced the injectors, had a cracked injector. Now I'm useing aout 1 qt every 1500-1900 miles. Seems that the cracked injector was filling my crankcase for me with fuel. One thing that I would check is the turbo, if you shut down with out letting the turbo cool down the seal ring can get coaked up with burnt oil and not seal as well. The oil would be going out the tail pipe and your Cat would be burning it with out there being any smoke.