Color of Oil

[Archive]

I got this from the Phord site, under General Diesel, concerning the color of oil and why in some Diesels it turns black right away and in others it doesn't. Thought this response was interesting and hope that some of you guys out there could expound (love them . 25 words) upon this subject. Here goes:

Here's my experience. . only partially with diesel.
I've had three diesels and changed my oil with each. Always use detergent oil. Oil turned BLACK very rapidly. Never had Ford change the oil in the diesels.
In my gassers over the years I have used both detergent and non-detergent. . albeit, detergent most of the time. When I use detergent the oil is dark well before the 3K change time. When I use non-detergent there is little perceptable color change at that 3K mark. Where does that black color go? Plates on the engine walls. In the distant past I have been told to never go to detergent oil on an engine that has always been run on non-detergent because it breaks that crud off the engine and can plug up the oil ports.

FWIW, I have had the oil in my Exploder changed at Ford a few times because the price was too good to pass up. I asked for detergent oil... they said Ford doesn't recommend detergent oil. Go figure. I guess as long as you are diligent about changing oil regularly you are ok anyway you look at it.

As for me and my beasts. . we shall choose detergent. Especially for GreatWhite which I pick up today




------------------
1999 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 5 spd; 4:10 LSD rear; Mag-Hytec diff. cover; Speedliner spray in bed-liner; Amsoil foam air filter; Smittybuilt step rails; JVC 12 disk CD system; Windows tinted; Manual transmission filter kit; Geno's EZ Drain oil pan plug; US Gear EGT and Boost gauges on a twin A pillar mount. Towing a 31 ft. NOMAD single slideout TT.
Rammin' and Runnin' the roads

 

[Archive]

detergency is an indisputable "good thing", but what can I assume about engine condition when it still takes (45,000mi) about 1000miles to make the oil begin to turn black, and still looks more like a very dark brown at 3k?? still not "broke-in" ????

------------------
98 12-valve qc2500 4x4/kill-switch, K&N,silencer ring hanging in garage,600amp quick-connect jumper cables, 4"straight-thru w/nasty 5" chrome slant-cut outlet,PrimeLoc,Warn Front receiver, 19. 5"Ricksons w/Goodyear Unisteel "UPS Truck" tires, camper shell, Westin step-rail/nerf bars, diamond-plate rail caps, bedliner,ATF dipstick bungee(modified porky system),Tazmanian Devil mudflaps and floormats--"%$*#)%$^#"-(translation:"TAZ LIKE DIESEL")

 

[Archive]

Rich ,I would say your doing the right thing. Detergent oil helps clean the engine and carbon is whats changing the color. My second oil change is tomorrow,with only 7300mi. Its a brown color already. Just the oil doing its job.

------------------
1999 2500 Cummins w/4spd auto,Quad Cab,SWB,4x4,Flame red ,all options less leather and radio controls on steering wheel,OEM color matched runningboards,DeeZee bedrails painted black,Power Vision Mirrors,OEM ventshades,Oem sill covers,OEM underrail bedliner

 

[Archive]

John, I have read some of your posts at the "other" truck site. Thanks for sticking up for us. You do it tastefully. Keep up the good work #ad


BTW: Did you see this post "PSD has no rivals"... ... UNBELIEVABLE!!

URL: http://www.ford-diesel.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/000280.html

------------------
1994 Dodge Ram SLT Cummins 5 speed 4x4,3. 54 gears, Scotty Air System,PIAA Platnum Super Whites,Optima red top batteries, manual trans filter,Turbo&Exhaust blanket,Magnaguard rear diff cover,Edelbrock IAS shocks,muffler removed,Borgeson steering shaft,Trailmaster steering stabilizers,Rancho upper & lower links,Polyurethane sway bar bushings,Skyjacker 2" leveling springs(front),Fabritech Stage II Traction Bars,Denman Coyote A/P LT305/85R16(36" Tall) tires on Stock Dodge Chrome 16x6. 5 wheels,Bushwacker Street Flares,Back-off saftey brake light,Bugflector II bug shield, Royal Purple ,Amsoil& Red line lubes throughout.

1970 Plymouth Cuda (under construction)
1968 Hurst HEMI® Dart , Nah its just a screen name ;-)

 

[Archive]

Thanks for the kind words 68 HHD. Those guys are rough around the edges. I have my trusty Made in Japan PHORD puke bowl at my side when I venture into enemy territory.

John

------------------
1999 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 5 spd; 4:10 LSD rear; Mag-Hytec diff. cover; Speedliner spray in bed-liner; Amsoil foam air filter; Smittybuilt step rails; JVC 12 disk CD system; Windows tinted; Manual transmission filter kit; Geno's EZ Drain oil pan plug; US Gear EGT and Boost gauges on a twin A pillar mount. Towing a 31 ft. NOMAD single slideout TT.
Rammin' and Runnin' the roads

 

[Archive]

An observation, I find it hard to believe that Feeord or any other Co. recommends NON detergent oil. All 15w40 oils are high det. My last truck was a 93 Cheebe 6. 5 turbo Diesel. I change my oil at 5000 mi. the oil was always BLACK!! On my Ram, the oil at 5 grand is clean enough to read the stamped letters on the dipstick, or see my finger prints through the oil. Alot of what causes the oil to turn black is the tolerances to which the engine is assembled. The Cheebe obviously was getting carbon past the rings and contaminating the oil. The Ram, well you be the judge. I only use Valvolene Premium Blue and use the micro glass Fleetguard filter. The micro glass filters dirt down to 5 microns, this is the same standard we use on Coast Guard Cutters. Happy Rammin & oil changin, Dave

------------------
Dave Hauser, 96 3500 4x4 extended, auto 4:10 LSD, K&N, tow hooks, fog lights, custom front reciever hitch and mount for 8000 Ramsey winch, alum diamond plate box and running boards, Dodge dually mudflaps, tow 18' flatbed, 69 Vette, 89 HD FLHS

 

[Archive]

Black oil is part of owning a diesel. In over the road trucks or our trucks the oil will turn black after awhile from soot. The new CH-4 standard is designed to meet 1998 exaust standards so I think the oil will get black in newer engines quicker than older engines. That is what I think anyhow.

Don #ad



------------------
"The Shadow" 1999 Dodge Ram SLT 2500 QC 5spd 3. 55lsd, Short Bed, Sport, Black, Camel/Tan Interior, Trailer tow package, Camper package, Infinity sound.

Keep the rubber side down and the shiney side up and RAM on!!

Elba Twp, Michigan

 

[Archive]

Hey guys,my 93 is at the 100k mark, I change oil at 3500 to 4500 miles and I have yet to get black oil. It does get a little darker but you can still see through it.

 

[Archive]

Can't pass this up..... Dave, is that why you go by the last name of HAUSER?

(shallow water sailors know knot to wade into these teasers - or so I thought) USNRET

\\BF//

------------------
y2k SLT (L. E. ) = Superior; Like Truck! (Limited Edition) 2500QC/SWB/5sp/3. 54LSD/SLT/Driftwood/Ultimate bed spray/camper @ tow pkgs/fogs as DRL's/truck trunk bx/3rd Brake flasher/hr mtr/alternator isolator (150w diode)/storage/tinting/CB/fuzzbustr/brake ctrl/25. 5k hitch/etc.

Not Stroking, BUT, RAMming it Home! \\BF//

 

[Archive]

Ben, I wondered how long it would take before a "squid" would come up with the "shallow water" gig. Just lucky with the name, but the nautical spelling is hawser. 17 months and I will have ret. behind USCG also. I also have deep water time, icebreaker to Greenland and Antarctica. Well back on topic, sounds like firstgens engine is just getting loosend up a bit. I have a friend who works for a trucking co in OR and he says they don't take anything apart before 400000 mi unless something inside comes un-glued. (not often) They also do the extended oil change trick, I won't. Keep that oil clean, Dave

------------------
Dave Hauser, 96 3500 4x4 extended, auto 4:10 LSD, K&N, tow hooks, fog lights, custom front reciever hitch and mount for 8000 Ramsey winch, alum diamond plate box and running boards, Dodge dually mudflaps, tow 18' flatbed, 69 Vette, 89 HD FLHS

 

[Archive]

Dave, 1) its a "SWAB JOCKEY" 2) I know spelling but couldn't resist the pronunciation gig 3) CONGRATS 3digit

Back to subj:
My oil is still amber @4k, just changed filter an added the eqd qt. Had to use the ballpeen and chisel to get the original filter off - went thru 3 filter wrenches and couldn't unscrew it. The gasket was bone dry - no oil found outside the filter. Musta been one big mexican that might have screwed it on or was it shipped to mexico that way????

Anyhows-------

\\BF//

 

[Archive]

At a recent Cummins Diesel Rally, the Cummins Rep. said that manufacturers have to keep retarding timing to meet emissions. He said the retarded timing increases the soot in the oil, which makes it turn black sooner. Long periods of idling will also increase soot and blacken it sooner. Note: I haven't really noticed my oil getting that dark. I have been running Rotella T for 4,000 miles/change.

------------------
99 2500 QC, LWB, 5spd, 3. 54 limited slip, Intense Blue, 275HP Injectors
Tow Lite trailer
96 KTM 360 EXC
99 Durango 4x4 360cid