New oil turns black FAST

[FFarndon]

I have owned 3 Dodge cummins duallys that I use to tow my race car trailers. A '95 / '97 /99 all wonderful trucks but not room for a crew to ride along with any comfort. So I bought a 2000 Ford 7.3 dually from a friedn who was the only owner and he towed a sprint car trailer around 10,000 lbs,with it since he bought it from the Ford dealer... my trailer loaded is 16,000 lbs. The Ford had 97000 miles on it when I purchased it and was pristine condition. Nicer ride, quiet, and ran great,that is until my first trip towing my rig...it was a pig, could not hold 70 mph in O.D. and took forever to reach 70 mph (I know, serves me right departing from my Dodges). OK to my question...I run Mystik 15/50 syn/blend CJ-4 oil in all my trucks. No problems with it...In the Ford it went in gold and clean and after 4000 miles looked as new...but still a pig. So I sold it and purchased an 04 Dodge dually with the H O 5.9 and automatic trans..Holy **** it is hard to keep it at 70 mph towing down the highway(lesson learned no more Fords) however the same oil turns black as coal in about 500 miles...in my '04 and it did in my older Dodges too. WHY???? Don't see any black exhaust smoke, so likely not rich and it runs fantastic. Should I be concerned? Thanks for any ideas or help
Thanks TDR for these forums to read has saved me many times.

 

[NGuzik]

I can't be much help other than adding my 94 turns old black with in the first few hundred miles. All our equipment does the same thing, I always though that was how it worked..

 

[ScottLewis]

As I understand it, part of the emissions control on our trucks involves a secondary injection event that causes the oil to turn black almost immediately after changes. Those who have had the oil tested report no significant adverse affect. It's just hard to get accustomed to seeing it since our long histories have associated black oil to excessive time since it was changed. With my '98, even after 100K miles the oil was only moderately dark when changed out.

 

[DNDracing]

Normal, no need to be concerned.

 

[FFarndon]

Thanks Fellas, I will stop the worries, shut up enjoy the power of my Cummins H.O.

 

[JKosten]

I can't be much help other than adding my 94 turns old black with in the first few hundred miles.

With my '98, even after 100K miles the oil was only moderately dark when changed out.

12v trucks hold about 1qt of oil in the injection pump that does not drain out during a regular oil change. That oil is enough to "darken" the other 3 gallons pretty quickly.

A 5.9l common rail with CP3 is fuel cooled (and that is why the lift pumps are so vital). Why your engine is turning the oil black at 500 miles may be blow by.


On a side note:

Have you checked or replaced the crankcase vent filter?

Replace the crankcase vent filter on top of the valve cover assembly on '03-'05, 5.9L Dodge Turbo Diesel trucks with this replacement filter from Cummins.

http://www.genosgarage.com/CUMMINS-...R-03-05-59L/productinfo/3957987/#.UsX6g_RDuZM

 

[Prairie Dog]

I strongly recommend against replacing that CC vent filter unless its broken and leaking for some reason. The reason is there's just nothing to it. There's no "filter", moving parts or anything else to go wrong with it. It really just a vapor separator and it could go for many millions of miles and then be transferred to another eng and do the same thing!

I did replace mine because it leaked from a seam since new so I opened it up to find out its secrets..

(This one had 80K on it)
#ad


Scott

 

[rscurtis]

You're correct, my old Mercedes has the same system to remove oil from the blowby gases before they're fed back to the intake. A '04 305 engine should not produce black oil, at least not right away. If you have the '04.5 "600" engine, that's another animal altogether. The oil on my signature truck is still clean after 18K miles.

 

[AH64ID]

The piston design, among other things, of the 04.5-07 leads to additional soot in the oil. If the motor is rated at 325 hp then it's the late CR design and will have BLACK oil as soon as you change it.

On my sig truck I have all of the late CR specific stuff removed, and 1000 miles on the new setup. So far the oil looks like it did in the bottle. I am curious how long it will last, I am hopeful it's a long time.

The CP3 doesn't hold oil, but with the amount of soot the engine puts in the oil the oil that doesn't drain out of the oil cooler, head, and journals is enough to mix to BLACK oil upon startup.

 

[p-Bar]

The piston design, among other things, of the 04.5-07 leads to additional soot in the oil. If the motor is rated at 325 hp then it's the late CR design and will have BLACK oil as soon as you change it.

On my sig truck I have all of the late CR specific stuff removed, and 1000 miles on the new setup. So far the oil looks like it did in the bottle. I am curious how long it will last, I am hopeful it's a long time.

The CP3 doesn't hold oil, but with the amount of soot the engine puts in the oil the oil that doesn't drain out of the oil cooler, head, and journals is enough to mix to BLACK oil upon startup.

So your up and running with the new engine? will you be updating us on what you did ?

 

[AH64ID]

So your up and running with the new engine? will you be updating us on what you did ?

I am, and I like it! Cliffs notes are BBi stage 1 injectors, QSB 480 (03-04 style) marine pistons, marine gaskets, Hamilton 178/208, pushrods and valve springs, with a balanced rotating assembley... Makes for a driver with a big smile!

 

[p-Bar]

I am, and I like it! Cliffs notes are BBi stage 1 injectors, QSB 480 (03-04 style) marine pistons, marine gaskets, Hamilton 178/208, pushrods and valve springs, with a balanced rotating assembley... Makes for a driver with a big smile!

Nice, looking forward for the whole write up

 

[AEdelheit]

As stated already, if its the 325 engine then perfectly normal, just drive and enjoy!

 

[Augustarborists]

As many others have said, normal, mine is black before I even start the truck after an oil change. Heck, I even gave it 45 minutes to drain after the second change, hoping the oil would be a bit less "used" looking, no joy.

 

[RDeFayette]

I have owned 3 Dodge cummins duallys that I use to tow my race car trailers. A '95 / '97 /99 all wonderful trucks but not room for a crew to ride along with any comfort. So I bought a 2000 Ford 7.3 dually from a friedn who was the only owner and he towed a sprint car trailer around 10,000 lbs,with it since he bought it from the Ford dealer... my trailer loaded is 16,000 lbs. The Ford had 97000 miles on it when I purchased it and was pristine condition. Nicer ride, quiet, and ran great,that is until my first trip towing my rig...it was a pig, could not hold 70 mph in O.D. and took forever to reach 70 mph (I know, serves me right departing from my Dodges). OK to my question...I run Mystik 15/50 syn/blend CJ-4 oil in all my trucks. No problems with it...In the Ford it went in gold and clean and after 4000 miles looked as new...but still a pig. So I sold it and purchased an 04 Dodge dually with the H O 5.9 and automatic trans..Holy **** it is hard to keep it at 70 mph towing down the highway(lesson learned no more Fords) however the same oil turns black as coal in about 500 miles...in my '04 and it did in my older Dodges too. WHY???? Don't see any black exhaust smoke, so likely not rich and it runs fantastic. Should I be concerned? Thanks for any ideas or help
Thanks TDR for these forums to read has saved me many times.

When in doubt. oil analysis time.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

[Regcabguy]

The '92 Hino I drove at work for 245K miles blackened the oil in no time.
The EPA and CARB forced the replacement of those reliable trucks with choked up International Workforce and FUSO's.
They are constantly in the shop I'm told by my former boss.