Archived Black Oil

[HSpiering]

Only 4k on the truck but the oil is sure black. I guess this is going to be the norm now because of ULSD???

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06 4x4 std cab

 

[Grizzly]

It's normal on all 3rd gen. In fact as soon as the engine is started, the oil turns black.

 

[Buffalo]

What you're seeing is "soot" in the oil. Soot is submicronic, in size, & doesn't really do any damage. It goes right through even very fine filtration as found on most bypass filters. It's small enough to 'float' in the oil film even between close tolerances such as found in bearing surface areas.



Soot can become a problem if it agglomerates (bunches up, clusters). It can clog filters, etc. , then. But, you would have to put many miles on the oil for that to happen.



My last oil change had just under 10,000 miles, on it (Chevron Delo-400) & the oil was still in good, useable condition. This was on my '03 Dodge/Cummins.



If you are still concerned, you could take an oil sample, send it to a testing facility, & find out, for sure, that the oil is still in good condition.



I wouldn't be too concerned.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[HSpiering]

Just had this truck for 5 months. So I desided to change because of time not milage. Did put in Delo 400 with 7 micron filter. Like water, you nerver know what they put in the oil in Mexico. :-laf

 

[Buffalo]

A premature, initial, oil change is probably not a bad idea. Gets some of the wear-in debris and any sand from the casting process, out of the engine.



Regarding the 7 micron filter, is that an oil or fuel filter?



If it's an oil filter, what kind is it? It may not be such a good idea to go with a "fine" oil filter for the main filtration. It may clog up prematurely & not work properly.



It's OK to use a fine filter for a bypass filter. The bypass filter is a second, additional filter that still lets the stock, fullflow, filter operate.



Since you have such a new truck, I would only put 'approved' filters, on it. That way, you won't have any warranty problems, down the road. The Fleetguard products are such a product & they also make the Mopar filters for the Cummins engines.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[HSpiering]

Your right, I'm wrong that is the fuel filter. I have a fleetguard LF3972 oil filter. Not sure the size filtration on that.

 

[Buffalo]

In the future, you may want to consider using the LF-16035 oil filter. It uses the Stratopore filter element material, which, is supposed to filter better. The LF-3972 that you have is their standard filter. I believe it is just a cellulose filter media. It's not bad, in fact, that's all they had for years & engines lasted a long time, with them.



There is also a Microglass media, which, is in between, in quality, as I understand.



The LF-16035 is a few bucks more, in cost but, probably worth the added expense.



Go for the 7 micron fuel filters. The others are 10 microns. Bosch would like us to use 5 micron filters but, Dodge didn't see the humor in that & they settled on 7 microns. Still better than 10 mic's.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Duluth Diesel]

You are seeing soot loading. A bypass filtration system will fix that problem, and vastly extend the life of your oil. AMSOIL makes one, as does Frantz and others.



-Chuck

 

[steved]

Go for the 7 micron fuel filters. The others are 10 microns. Bosch would like us to use 5 micron filters but, Dodge didn't see the humor in that & they settled on 7 microns. Still better than 10 mic's.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

Actually, Baldwin fuel filters are 5 micron now... I believe they are the only ones...



steved