Oil Color

[MasterChief]

Oil Color

I have a question for you guys as a first time Diesel owner. I took my truck in for its first oil change at 3k. I drove home, about 20 miles, after getting home I checked the level and noticed that the "new" oil seemed to be much darker on the stick then what I have been use to with a gas motor. After 3. 5K more miles I looked at the oil again and it is very dark, much darker than what I have seen in gas motors with the same mileage. I am starting to wonder if the dealer actually changed the oil or if I got the don't and say you did oil change. My first thought is that diesel engines will create a darker oil because of the way they operate. I know the oil change intervals are different with a diesel, but I want to make sure I keep fresh oil in the motor for 10k miles, while I am breaking it in. I am using dealer recommend 15W40 MOPAR oil.

Your thoughts?



Mike

 

[GaryCarter]

Welcome to the TDR and the world of diesels!

Dark oil is normal for these engines, even five minutes after an oil change. It sure doesn't look good, but it is typical. I guess a little residual soot goes a long way.



Gary.

 

[Nightram]

Again, welcome to the wide world of diesles. You will find lots of difference than gassers, like reliabilty, longeveity, fuel economy, all that good stuff. If you are really concerned, you can install a FASS oil filtering system, that is amazing at how the oil looks with that on there.

 

[Grizzly]

I have a question for you guys as a first time Diesel owner. I took my truck in for its first oil change at 3k. I drove home, about 20 miles, after getting home I checked the level and noticed that the "new" oil seemed to be much darker on the stick then what I have been use to with a gas motor. After 3. 5K more miles I looked at the oil again and it is very dark, much darker than what I have seen in gas motors with the same mileage. I am starting to wonder if the dealer actually changed the oil or if I got the don't and say you did oil change. My first thought is that diesel engines will create a darker oil because of the way they operate. I know the oil change intervals are different with a diesel, but I want to make sure I keep fresh oil in the motor for 10k miles, while I am breaking it in. I am using dealer recommend 15W40 MOPAR oil.

Your thoughts?



Mike

That is very normal on these new engines. I read a post as to why it gets dart so quick, but I can't remember what the answer was. Maybe someone can enlighten us. Welcome to TDR Mike.

 

[DavidBurt]

Welcome! There are a few threads out there on this if you do a search. But just like was said previously the oil looks dirty almost instantly, nature of the beast.

Dave

 

[amsoilman]

I have a question for you guys as a first time Diesel owner. I took my truck in for its first oil change at 3k. I drove home, about 20 miles, after getting home I checked the level and noticed that the "new" oil seemed to be much darker on the stick then what I have been use to with a gas motor. After 3. 5K more miles I looked at the oil again and it is very dark, much darker than what I have seen in gas motors with the same mileage. I am starting to wonder if the dealer actually changed the oil or if I got the don't and say you did oil change. My first thought is that diesel engines will create a darker oil because of the way they operate. I know the oil change intervals are different with a diesel, but I want to make sure I keep fresh oil in the motor for 10k miles, while I am breaking it in. I am using dealer recommend 15W40 MOPAR oil.

Your thoughts?



Mike

Color of oil is not a significant way to tell if the oil is good, especialy in a Diesel engine. The last few years have made the oil in Diesel engines actually look cleaner than in the past, simply due to the fact of EPA requirements. Ten years ago, you could change oil in a typicle Diesel engine, and after running for ten minutes, it would be BLACK!





Wayne

amsoilman

 

[Buffalo]

The "Black Oil" question is a good one.



My first diesel was a non-turbocharged '80 Merc. /Benz 300-D, back in the early '80's. The oil turned black immediately after an oil change. Looked like flat-black paint.



My '91. 5 W-250 got black but, not as black as the 300-D. Always thought it was because of the turbo providing enough air so the combustion event did not have as much smoke in it.



The oil in my '03 stays clean much longer than the other diesels, i've owned. Never gets anywhere near as black as the others.



Lately, i've heard that the newer 3rd Gen. engines are making the oil black much sooner than the earlier ones. I would have expected that if they had an EGR valve that pumped exhaust back into the engine, like the powerstrokes & Duramaxes. But, the Cummins does not have an EGR valve. So, I wonder what is causing this to happen? Anyone know?



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

My oil stays clean for at least 1k miles, after 3-4k it turns green, but not black anymore. I also run a stratopore filter, which may make a difference. Supposed to filter twice as well at 10 micron. (75%+ at 10um vs about 35% for the stocker). Just a guess, But I sure can't complain.

 

[cerberusiam]

Color of oil is not a significant way to tell if the oil is good, especialy in a Diesel engine. The last few years have made the oil in Diesel engines actually look cleaner than in the past, simply due to the fact of EPA requirements. Ten years ago, you could change oil in a typicle Diesel engine, and after running for ten minutes, it would be BLACK!





Wayne

amsoilman

I'll agree with the first sentence. Not sure if you just misworded it but the rest is exactly opposite of what really happens, at least as far as the CTD is concerned. My kids and I have 4 trucks ranging from 92 to 05 and the 05 gets darker faster by far than the rest. Why? Its pretty simple, 92 = 160 hp and 05 = 325 HP. In additon the 05 has 3 injection events that never let combustion pressures and temps reach the levels of the 92, for the most part. The 92 in stock form would go 3k to 4k before it got as dark as the 05 does just driving it home from the dealer. Each newer truck with higher power got progressively worse with the darkening of the oil sooner. We pushed the power up on the 92 to where it is comparable to the 05 and the first thing we noticed is the oil got darker faster but still not as fast as the 05. Its a combination of more power and combustion properties that darkens the oil faster. Keeps the EPA happy as those particulates are not being vented to the atmosphere.



Turbocharging helps also. The non-turboed engines always got sooted up faster than the turboed ones and it didn't matter if it was an engine that ran constant speeds most of the time or a truck engine that was up down. The higher temps and pressures kept the oil cleaner but vented more pollutants.

 

[SThorud]

Keep in mind that the Cummins 600/610 motors will darken the oil faster than the previous generations. The 555 Cummins and the 460 before it will keep the oil clean (amber) for thousands of miles before showing any darkening.



Regardless, the only way to check oil is to have an oil analysis done.