Here I am

CJ-4 in a non 07.5

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Gulf Coast ByPass Filter Housings

So, I'm one of the "idiots" I suppose is a good term here that decided to run the 5w-40 CJ-4 oil from amsoil in my truck. It's backwards compatible they say (for all cj-4 brands)? Sure, ok, as in it's oil.



I finally connected the dots and tomorrow's cold start will confirm my findings (I hope).



Long-ishstory: prior to winter of last year I switch to the 5w-40. It's going to be the defacto-standard one day. Might as well jump the band wagon of the 15w-40. Let me tell you, running a the 5w-40 on a cold start was night and day easy on the ole cummins (no block heater, just grids). So I stuck with it.



I noticed a puff of blue, and the smell of burning motor oil. No, not burning as in the typical exhaust fumes the motor has, The distinct smell of what a gasser smells like when it's burning oil. Same blue.



So I pulled the intake apart and check the turbo. No abnormal play in the turbo compressor wheel, no oil (or dust) in the intake side. Good, possible run-away-condition non-existent! From that point forward I check that intake side once a month, because, the exhaust still smokes blue!



As the oil got a few miles on it, the blue smoking was less and less. 5000mile oil sample good! change filter + 1 quart.



10,000 miles, soot levels high!, so I change out the oil. the next day on a cold start I get lots of blue.



Ohh Sorry folks, This blue isn't an "while idling" blue. just on throttle, or a blip.



Same story, as I get miles on the oil, the blue smoking is not there!.



Fast forward to lastnight. 85,000 miles and a long trip to make (2000 miles over all in 10 days). I changed the oil and I should of not second guessed me self, but I did another CJ-4 batch. I was pondering just getting the 15w-45 when I was ordering the oils... . This morning, it was all blue again. It clears up when the motor warms up, but all kinda of blue!



So, I tracked down some 15w-45, and a ELF7349 endurance filter and will swap out the CJ-4 for CI-4+ tonight.



Why you ask? check out the TDR main page. I wish I would of seen that a few days ago. Would of saved my self some time, and an oil change. Not to mention some cash.
 
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I have seen no abnormal "things" running CJ-4 rotella in my 2004. 5... nor has my father (his truck is a 99 with over 260k, the first 255k running CH/CI oils). Neither of us saw anything weird changing from CI-4 to CJ-4... but we both run 15w40.



In fact, I am really impressed with the new CJ-4 stuff as cold weather pump up is very fast compared to CI-4+. I also did a UOA of that initial change of Rotella CJ-4 with almost 10k on the oil (110k on the truck) and had 0. 4% soot and all the wear numbers looked good (I was running an Amsoil bypass). It was recommended (by Blackstone) to go another 10k.



Have you tried another brand of oil??? I'm running 15w40, not the 5w40... do you think that'd make a difference??



Good luck, hope you get it figured out...



steved
 
I run CI-4+ AMSOIL AME 15W40. I live in the northwest tip of Wisconsin and never had a cold weather starting problem with the AMSOIL 15W40 in over a decade of use. With a cold pour point of -46 degrees Farenheit, it performs much better than a conventional 15W40 in the cold. No blue smoke issues either. I plan on stocking up before CI-4 production ends with AMSOIL. It has a shelf life of 5 years, so that has me thinking... . :)



-Chuck
 
witching back to the 15w-40 solved my blue smoke problem.



dunno if it was the 5w-40, or CJ4 stuff, but going back was a good ideas.
 
i cleaned out sams when they were clearing out the ci4 delo 15w40 for $10 off normal price a case, i am sitting on about 30 gallons so i am cool for a while
 
i was strolling the other sams intown today and they still had a few cases of ci and they were $37 a 6 gallon case vs the cj at $56, so if you have a sams handy check them out, and if you are handy to baton rouge check out the siegan lane store, i already have plenty so i didn't clean em out

i cleaned out sams when they were clearing out the ci4 delo 15w40 for $10 off normal price a case, i am sitting on about 30 gallons so i am cool for a while
 
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CJ-4 has a lower TBN number(sulfated ash) which will allow the acid level to climb. The purpose of the Lower TBN is to reduce the sulfated ash entering the aftertreatment devices. As for the smoke, do not know, unless the lighter oil is escaping the rings and valves. Any way, go back to the original oil that you were using to see if the smoke problem goes away.
 
CJ-4 has a lower TBN number(sulfated ash) which will allow the acid level to climb. The purpose of the Lower TBN is to reduce the sulfated ash entering the aftertreatment devices. As for the smoke, do not know, unless the lighter oil is escaping the rings and valves. Any way, go back to the original oil that you were using to see if the smoke problem goes away.





I didn't think the TBN was as crucial with the new ULSD???



I think because there is so much unknown between the change from LSD to ULSD and the change from CI to CJ and the interaction between the two... remember, the CJ-4 oil and ULSD were intended to be used together.



Some of us might be using CI-4 with LSD, some might be using CI-4 with ULSD, some might be using CJ-4 with LSD, and still yet, some might actually be using CJ-4 with ULSD...



steved
 
Some have already used/suggested the mixing of the CI oil with the CJ stuff - getting possibly the best of both in older engines. I know I'd hate to totally lose the benefits of Moly and the other additives supplied by the Delo CI4-Plus I use - so perhaps using 1 quart Delo CI per gallon of CJ lube would do the trick, while extending the remaining CI stuff for quite a while longer for those who care... :confused:
 
Some have already used/suggested the mixing of the CI oil with the CJ stuff - getting possibly the best of both in older engines. I know I'd hate to totally lose the benefits of Moly and the other additives supplied by the Delo CI4-Plus I use - so perhaps using 1 quart Delo CI per gallon of CJ lube would do the trick, while extending the remaining CI stuff for quite a while longer for those who care... :confused:





I know Rotella states NOT to mix CI-4 with CJ-4, but that might be for emissions?? Although it is stated, I have ran upwards of 0. 5 gallons of CI-4 in 3 gallons of CJ-4 and vice versa... my UOA of CJ-4 had a 0. 5 gallon mix of CI-4 in it... what was hung in the bypass.



Are the bases the same between CI and CJ Delo???



steved
 
I know Rotella states NOT to mix CI-4 with CJ-4, but that might be for emissions?? Although it is stated, I have ran upwards of 0. 5 gallons of CI-4 in 3 gallons of CJ-4 and vice versa... my UOA of CJ-4 had a 0. 5 gallon mix of CI-4 in it... what was hung in the bypass.



Are the bases the same between CI and CJ Delo???



steved





From the Rotella monthly newsletter...



Are API CI-4 PLUS and API CJ-4 oils compatible?



Are API CI-4 PLUS and API CJ-4 oils compatible? Yes. API CI-4 PLUS and API CJ-4 oils are compatible and can be mixed without fear of adverse chemical reactions causing deposits or additive fallout. However, mixing in API CI-4 PLUS oils for top-off can result in a reduction of performance of API CJ-4 oil, which offers higher levels of protection than API CI-4 PLUS oils.
 
From the Rotella monthly newsletter...



Are API CI-4 PLUS and API CJ-4 oils compatible?



Are API CI-4 PLUS and API CJ-4 oils compatible? Yes. API CI-4 PLUS and API CJ-4 oils are compatible and can be mixed without fear of adverse chemical reactions causing deposits or additive fallout. However, mixing in API CI-4 PLUS oils for top-off can result in a reduction of performance of API CJ-4 oil, which offers higher levels of protection than API CI-4 PLUS oils.





They've changed their tune... they stated not to mix the two not even 6 months ago... I know it concerned me because of what was in the filter...



steved
 
I am just getting ready to put an oil change on the truck, and have been waffling between Amsoil AME versus DEO. Amsoil recommended DEO. It would appear by Chuck's information here that I will stick with AME.



Any additional thoughts please? :confused:



I ran AME in my 1999, and had no issues with it. I will say that I am just getting to the point where I am going to analyze the oil, so I have no hard data with which to critically judge the performance one way or the other.



Also trying to figure out how to install a bypass oil filtration unit with compound turbos, but that's fodder for a new thread. :)
 
If you don't have a particulate exhaust filter, then stick with AME or a CI-4+ oil. It has nothing to do with what fuel you are running. You don't need to run a CJ-4 oil if you are burning ULSD. I have been seeing some misinformation around about this on various sites and threads. This is all about if you have a particulate exhaust filter or not. 6. 7 Cummins has it, 5. 9 does not. 6. 7 engines require ULSD and CJ-4 oils. 5. 9 engines can run CH-4, CI-4, CI-4+, and CJ-4 oils, and burn whatever fuel they want.



gsdog1, you are right IMO. Stick with the AME.



-Chuck
 
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