Black oil in 800 miles???

[PJ]

Anyone else notice their oil in the new motor getting black really fast? My 04 305-555 was always nice and clean at every 3000 mile oil change. Just wondering if there is a problem under my hood or is this normal. My 98 12v was always black and it really made me happy to see my 04 always clean. Now Im back to the ugly black oil. Did Cummins do something to change this in the new 600??

 

[vagabond]

Normal Tommie

 

[Big MAK]

I've always had very black oil; all the Dodge/Cummins I've owned. Used to test it all the time; and everything always came back with very good readings; so now I don't give it a thought.

 

[vagabond1]

Anyone else notice their oil in the new motor getting black really fast? My 04 305-555 was always nice and clean at every 3000 mile oil change. Just wondering if there is a problem under my hood or is this normal. My 98 12v was always black and it really made me happy to see my 04 always clean. Now Im back to the ugly black oil. Did Cummins do something to change this in the new 600??

What brand of oil are you using??
Some oils will hold up more than others. I noticed the same in my 04 "600". Thanks for your posts in the TSB thread.

 

[LightmanE300]

Anyone else notice their oil in the new motor getting black really fast? My 04 305-555 was always nice and clean at every 3000 mile oil change. Just wondering if there is a problem under my hood or is this normal. My 98 12v was always black and it really made me happy to see my 04 always clean. Now Im back to the ugly black oil. Did Cummins do something to change this in the new 600??

If you do a search, there are about 50 posts exactly like yours. The 04. 5+ '600' series trucks blacken the oil very quickly, much unlike the 305/555. On the 305's you can see thru the oil even with 10k on it, mine hasn't ever turned black -even after 20k on the oil with my bypass setup. The 600's have a catalytic converter, and possibly that third injection event. In any case, whatever changes they made to the trucks to meet emissions, they now put less soot in the air and more in your oil Sorry guys, nature of the beast.



As some have said, black oil doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it. Both of my previous diesels blacken the oil very quickly as well, and have gotten great oil analysis reports.

 

[RonsRig]

I got my oil changed by the dealer the other day, drove 10 miles and checked it. It was black as coal. I am at 12K miles on the odo.

 

[klenger]

I changed my oil two weeks ago. I let it drain all night and changed the filter. Added new oil, started it, shut it down and checked the level. It was black. Go figure.

 

[LightmanE300]

My mercedes does the same thing. It's black before I pull it out of the driveway after an oil change. I'd say that's very normal for a diesel. It's truly amazing how clean the 305/555's do keep the oil. Quite a testament to the efficient burn of the HPCR system.



Look at it this way - at least they didn't put EGR on the 600 engines as we all had suspected!!

 

[macdaddy]

PJ

There's is someone else around that said it starts to clean up around 20K. I've done four oil changes in 8K on the 05 trying to clean it up with no difference.



Mac

 

[RankRam]

My mercedes does the same thing. It's black before I pull it out of the driveway after an oil change. I'd say that's very normal for a diesel. It's truly amazing how clean the 305/555's do keep the oil. Quite a testament to the efficient burn of the HPCR system.



Look at it this way - at least they didn't put EGR on the 600 engines as we all had suspected!!

I wouldn't give the 305/555's HPCR system soul credit for keeping the oil clean, my 99 was always clean when I changed it at the 5K interval.



Also I'm glad we don't have that EGR. Oo.

 

[LightmanE300]

I wouldn't give the HPCR system sole credit for keeping the oil clean, didn't mean to insinuate that. Having a huge sump as well as no recirculating crankcase ventilation system are huge strides toward clean oil as well.

 

[DPKetchum]

My 1993 W250 with a fair amount of goodies and slighly turned up pump never blacked the oil. My 2003 does not. My neighbors NEW 05 does in a few miles!

 

[JCleary]

If it's ocurring on new trucks, is it reasonable to suspect that the engine is not fully broken in? Perhaps it takes time for the rings to seal perfectly against the cylinder wall? That would account for some soot getting in the oil, no?



BTW--my '03 is quite amazing in that the oil is very clean at 5k miles when I change the oil. Much like a gasser. I have not seen a diesel before like it. Previous experiences are with a '96, '99, '02, '04 PSD. My Cummins is sooo much better in all aspects.

 

[DPKetchum]

My buddys has 15k on it. (05) oil turned black right quick.