Another Oil Question?

[kevhype0825]

I bought my truck in late February with 31000 miles on the clock. While checking over the truck initially I noticed the oil was very dark. I have always been told that diesel engine oil will be dark no matter what oil you use. Since purchasing the truck I have changed the oil and filter twice in less that 3000 miles. I use Castrol Tection HD 15W-40 and Mopar Oil Filter. I am not sure what oil change intervals the previous owner used and I am hoping that by changing the oil twice within a very short period that it would remove any of the old used by the previous owner. This clearly doesn't help and I am wondering if I am being overly concerned about the quick discoloration of my oil? Any thoughts?

 

[SShafranko]

I am by far not an expert on this issue but after seeing my oil for 130,000 miles all of my friend's diesels, my diesel generator, my friends diesel light towers and generators common sence tells me that the oil in a diesel engine cannot look like the oil in a gasser. I don't think you have anything to worry about. I added the Amsoil bypass kit and it did not affect the color of my oil. My buddy installed the FS oil bypass on his Powerlessstroke and he swears that the oil is cleaner. I have yet to see it and i doubt it. Good luck.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

It's a common tendency in later trucks like yours - perhaps a bit annoying to guys who appreciate pristine oil on their dipsticks - but not really an issue as long as you practice regular, recommended service intervals and use quality lube...

 

[kevhype0825]

I guess I am one of those guys who likes to see clean oil on the stick, especially after an oil change and haven driven only a few hundred miles. Would a remote oil filtration system help at all?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I guess I am one of those guys who likes to see clean oil on the stick, especially after an oil change and haven driven only a few hundred miles. Would a remote oil filtration system help at all?

It did for me with my own setup - others have had varying results with their own...



#ad


#ad

 

[amsoilman]

I bought my truck in late February with 31000 miles on the clock. While checking over the truck initially I noticed the oil was very dark. I have always been told that diesel engine oil will be dark no matter what oil you use. Since purchasing the truck I have changed the oil and filter twice in less that 3000 miles. I use Castrol Tection HD 15W-40 and Mopar Oil Filter. I am not sure what oil change intervals the previous owner used and I am hoping that by changing the oil twice within a very short period that it would remove any of the old used by the previous owner. This clearly doesn't help and I am wondering if I am being overly concerned about the quick discoloration of my oil? Any thoughts?

I have been around Diesel Engines a good long time, and I can tell you this. Diesel fueled Engines will turn black in a very short amount of time. Now having said that, the Cummins Engines in the earlier Dodges took much longer to turn black, and the later ones get black much sooner. The current ones are not quite like the very early Diesel fueled engines, but will turn black very soon. I have seen oil in some Diesel Engines, that when you start the engine, then turn it off to check the level, it will be black!

Now if you have a better filtration system such as by-pass oil filtration, like "Frantz", "Amsoil", "Luber-Finer", "PuraDyn", too name a few, the oil will not only look better, but it will also be analytically cleaner.



Color of oil, especially in a Diesel, does not necessarily mean the oil needs to be changed!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[kevhype0825]

Gary - K7GLD I noticed you have an 02, my dad's 02 will go for up to 1000 miles before the oil is dark. Is it common for the older trucks to run cleaner oil?

 

[kevhype0825]

I have been around Diesel Engines a good long time, and I can tell you this. Diesel fueled Engines will turn black in a very short amount of time. Now having said that, the Cummins Engines in the earlier Dodges took much longer to turn black, and the later ones get black much sooner. The current ones are not quite like the very early Diesel fueled engines, but will turn black very soon. I have seen oil in some Diesel Engines, that when you start the engine, then turn it off to check the level, it will be black!

Now if you have a better filtration system such as by-pass oil filtration, like "Frantz", "Amsoil", "Luber-Finer", "PuraDyn", too name a few, the oil will not only look better, but it will also be analytically cleaner.



Color of oil, especially in a Diesel, does not necessarily mean the oil needs to be changed!



Wayne

amsoilman

Thanks for the info Wayne. I will have to look into an oil by-pass system because it really bothers me to see my oil that dark after only driving a few hundred miles.

 

[kevhype0825]

Here's a pic of my dipstick after only 500 miles...

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Gary - K7GLD I noticed you have an 02, my dad's 02 will go for up to 1000 miles before the oil is dark. Is it common for the older trucks to run cleaner oil?

YUP - different injection systems and cycles - my earlier '91 was even cleaner - what Wayne sez is all quite true!

 

[TimothyLong]

I agree too with what's been said. I use Valvoline Premium Blue in my '03 and it's a fairly dark colored oil to begin with. Mine will discolor after about 500 - 1K miles, but when I change it (every 6K) it doesn't look any worse and I'm just running a Fleetguard Stratapore filter, no by-pass. The thing that I've noticed, mainly when I'm dumping it at the County recycling facility, is that even though the oil is black it is somewhat translucent (if you have a little bit of sunlight shining on it). To me that says the oil is still somewhat clean. It's not a thick black gunky oil like you'd see coming out of a gasser that's a little over due for an oil change. Granted, looks aren't everything, but it gives me a "warm and fuzzy" that everything is working right.

 

[AABEN]

If you run good oil and change it at 6. 000miles you will be OK. If you get it over heated you should change it then. You can run oil test if you want. I run oil test every oil change. Blackstone Laboratories That is where I get my oil tested. They will keep a running record of you oil. After the first test on the second test on the report it will show both test on the report. Get the TBN report also. ==Good luck with your truck

 

[EForbes]

I have 148k on my unit and the oil is clear on dipstick, and only dark brown after 3k miles.
There are oil system cleaners, but dont know if that will work for diesels, and remember, their are only a handfull of actual oil manufacturers, that be shell, chevron,Exxon, and valero, and bp to name a few. Oils such as Valvoline, are Chevron oil with additives to make it their own, castrol same thing. Always look for a manufacturer you can trust, and doesn't make their oil with a bunch of additives. oh yeah penzoil buys their base oils from the big three. The additives are the first to breakdown, and cause thickining of the oil, and varnish, soot and turn black, leaving behind, a waxy residue, that sticks to everything.

 

[kevhype0825]

Thanks Guys, points noted. Your comments / suggestions have set my mind at ease about the condition of my oil. The Castrol Tection oil I use is also very dark to begin with. I am sure this is contributing to the rapid discoloration. My real concern was that maybe something wasn't right with the truck causing contamination of the oil. I will still look into a by-pass system and having my oil analyzed as suggested. Is there a by-pass system generally preferred by the members here?

 

[CKelley1]

the 04. 5 up trucks use a in cylinder egr to meet the epa requirements this causes 10x more soot in the oil than any other model, it also lowers the mpg from the 03- 04 cr's there are things you can do to your 06 to reduce the soot by 50% and get a huge increase in mpg. look at my sig and pm me if you have questions

 

[Augustarborists]

I change my oil every 4000 or so miles (never more than 5000 miles), and my oil is black before I even start the truck!

 

[kevhype0825]

I change my oil every 4000 or so miles (never more than 5000 miles), and my oil is black before I even start the truck!

I am going to switch to Valvoline Premium Blue in a few weeks. I hope that makes a difference.

 

[AH64ID]

I am going to switch to Valvoline Premium Blue in a few weeks. I hope that makes a difference.

On a 04. 5+ truck there is nothing you can do for the oil. Its black as soon as you start it. The in-cylinder EGR puts more soot into the oil and even with an oil change it goes black. Its 100% normal, thou still seems odd.