Cummins Oil Change??

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I recently changed the oil and filter on my 1997 Ram Quad Cab with 81,000 miles. I used a Mopar oil filter and Retella T 15w40 oil. I have driven it about 400 miles since then and I have a bad oil smell coming from my breather. I have never had this problem in the past. Does anyone have some ideas on what might be causing this?

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'97 2500 4x4 Quadcab- mostly stock but in the planning stages.

 

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Maybe someone else knows the real reason for the smell but it is typical after a oil change and will go away. Some folks have routed the breather hose to the rear of the truck,eliminates the smell as well as prevents the underside of your truck getting "painted" with blow off oil.

 

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I think the smell is normal. I read something about it but I can't remember where. My truck does the same thing every time I change the oil

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1994 4X4 2500 Auto.
1998 Harley FXDS
1998 Harley Sportster 1200

 

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I use the Valvoline Premium Blue and, like clockwork, it smells for a while after every oil change. It must be some additive.

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'93 W350 Club Cab, Bright White, 5 sp. , 130K, Factory Options: Bucket seats replaced with factory split bench, LE, 4. 10, Limited Slip, 7600 lb. rear springs, tachometer, front stabilizer bar. Mods: Banks stinger plus, Linex bedliner, 25,000 lb gooseneck ball, 10,000 lb receiver, Tekonsha brake controller, POWER WAGON injectors-WAY faster than stock!.

 

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I use Shell rotella T and do get the vapor from it for a few hundred miles post each oil change. I have never had this happen before with other oils that I have run in the past and will probably change to Cheveron Delo 400 when my current drum is emty. I believe both oils are good quality and are fine for our trucks when changed at 'sane' intervals.

Are you buying oil off the shelf in gallons or do you have a drum? I heard Shell changed some of it's detergents or soot grabbing chemicals of late and I 'think' the older vintage gives the vapor only. At least, this has been my experience. I changed the oil with rottela T (in gallon containers) right after I picked up my truck and didn't get too much vapor. Now, just after another change with rotella T (drum) more vapor after each stop is noticed. Not critical, just noticable. The drum I have is over a year old and might contain some moisture which when heated give off the vapor. Who knows??

Steve.

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98 qc, 4x4, slt laramie, 3:54 ls diff, 2YG pkg, Kelsey trailer brake control, dodge running boards, diamond plate bed rails, silencer ring wind chime on porch, Raven cab-hi camper shell, psychotty air system, T/C lock-up switch, guages next

 

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I use Rotella T 15-40w by the gallon and have the smell as well. When I first bought my truck, I had used Pennsoil 15-40 and had the smell with that oil also.

 

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Steve,I have used Delo 400 since day one in both my Dodges,it smells for a while also. With my farm equipment and other rigs I'll go though three 55 gallon drums a year,so it's always fresh. Been useing Delo for over 20 years,no problems. This is just a guess so someone please correct me-I'm thinking that what we all smell is some sort of storage stabilizer to keep the additives evenly suspended that burns off when heated. The smell seems to be more noticeable on the Cummins for some reason. When I started paying closer attention I found that all my tractors smell also,so it must be normal. All along I'd been thinking the smell came from spilled oil,especially from the filters, on the block burning off,but thats not the case. Anybody know if the synthetics do it also?

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,driftwood,Banks&phscotty,34,000 GVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

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Thanks everyone for your responses. I guess I must not have noticed the smell before now .
It good to know that I don't need to be concerned about this.

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'97 2500 4x4 Quadcab- mostly stock but in the planning stages.

 

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I use Rotella 10W-30 and have just recently experienced the same thing. I feel really stupid now cause I kept opening the hood expecting to find my oil filter gasket leaking or something worse. Good Post!

 

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I believe heatseeker is right. I saw somewhere (TDR?) that the most recent oils have been re formulated, and it's characteristic for them to give off this smell for a few hunderd miles.
I didn't notice it until this last change, but mine stinks too!!

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98 Quad cab 4X4 2500 12 valve,5 speed,3. 54 rears, 8' bed. Boost and egt gauges but basicly stock.

 

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The same thing happened to me. I was using Valvoline All Fleet, change to Shell Rotella last change and noticed the smell as I was getting out of the truck. Now Two weeks latter I do not have the smell. Maybe my nose got used to it. ??

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1997 2500 Laramie SLT, Ext Cab, Metalic Red, 2wd, Automatic, 3:54, No spin rear, Westin step bars, K&N, BD E-Brake, Auto-Lock, Pressure Lock, ISPRO gauges, 27' Sunnkbrook 5th wheel, RBW hitch.

 

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Originally posted by illflem:
Anybody know if the synthetics do it also?

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I've been running Amsoil 15W-40 for over two years and never noticed a smell.

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Bill Lins Wharton, TX 98 2500 QC SLT,12 (the CORRECT # of)valves,NV4500,3. 54 LSD,Manik grille guard,Psychotty Air,Amsoil everywhere, Reading aluminum utility body and bumper,Optima yellow tops- silencer ring, cat,& muffler all stolen.