Black oil

[CClouser]

After reading all the forums for 4 months and gaining all this knowledge, I decided to join TDR and to change my own oil and fuel filter last night.

I was prepared for all the frustration associated with the oil and fuel filter changes, and everything went, shall we say, as expected.

The question I have is: Is everyone elses oil black when you drain it? Mine was blacker than black and I changed it after 3500 miles.

All you members are the greatest!!! The information you put out is priceless.

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98. 5,3500,Quad cab,5spd,straight exhaust,fuzzy dice

 

[RustyTRanch]

good morning cliff,
that is normal for diesel.
have a good day

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2001. 5 2500 Q\C,lwb, white/w gray int. ,HO,6-spd. ,3. 54,trailer tow, camper special, custom bolt-in G/N, Pryo/Boost/Fuel PSI.

See'ya down the road Michael

 

[hammong]

The "black" you see in your oil is suspended soot. Dark oil is a good thing - it means the oil is successfully carrying away the sooty remains of diesel combustion that blow by the pistons in normal operation.

Diesel engines run at very high compression ratios in comparison to gasoline engines, and consequently experience much more blow-by. The good news is that diesel fuel is a lot more "compatible" with engine oil than gas, so there is less incident of engine wear due to fuel dilution of engine case oil.

I change my oil when it gets "too dark" on my personal darkness analysis scale. *grin* That usually means every 6000-7000 miles if it's mostly highway, or every 4500-5000 miles for mixed highway-rural driving.

Greg

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Y2K Dodge Cummins QC 2500 SLT Laramie 4x4 Long Bed, 4. 10/Auto, Forest Green/Driftwood, 265x75R16 Michelin LTX, 6 speaker CD, Camper/Tow/Plow Packages, Westin Black Nerfs, Mopar bedliner, Ultra bright diamondplate toolbox, K&N Filtercharger.

http://www.rints.com/hammond for photos!

Not Bombed yet!

 

[Okie-Go]

Welcome, I change mine every 3,000 miles. It is dark also. Very seldom do I go 3,000 miles without tying on to a trailer even if it's just my 5x12 with the 4 wheeler on it.

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2001 quadcab slt 2500 HO 6spd. LWB,2wd,dk garnett red, trailer tow package,camper special, lock-right locker, 3. 54 gears,ez edge, speed liner,oversized stainless steel chicken slide,66 gallon in bed aux. tank,K&N air filter,Reese 20k hitch, Terry 2000 EX 30ft. double slide 5er, 2000 20ft gooseneck for haulin jeep, firewood and huntin stuff. 5X12 tagalong for haulin the 4 wheeler. Okie Newton

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I have the AMSOIL dual bypass with Rotella 15W-40 and i am at 3k now and the oil is still transparent, although darker. But with a stock setup, black is normal.

 

[RonaldLarson]

I had the same concern when I first got my truck. Interesting to note: when I pulled my fairly heavy boat up our North Hill to Holter Lake, the black oil color nearly disappeared. Good, hot loaded Cummins run much cleaner. Load it up and work it hard every couple of weeks. They love it!
Ron