Oil dirty

[tomahs]

I Have had my truck for three weeks and have 3500 miles on it. Had the oil changed at wall mart today and watched them put the new oil in, but checked the new oil and it was already dirrty. anybody know why? thanks

 

[RankRam]

Did they change the filter?



Also be careful about the quality or lack of quality of filter they use.



Fram is a big no no.

 

[RankRam]

The more I think about it, the original oil shouldn't look dirty at 3500 miles being a new truck and all.

 

[Bertram65]

Mine has been solid black every time, 1k, 5k, 10k, and 15k. Black like black paint. I have been using the Fleetguard filters.

 

[tomahs]

They did change the filter, don't know the filter but will check next time.

 

[MKinner]

check and make sure that it is not a Fram filter. A sales rep at a local parts store showed me the service bulletin stating there is a chance that the filtering element inside could come apart and go through the CTD. Big price to pay for using a $4 filter.

 

[rbattelle]

Tom,



I notice you've only got a few posts, which suggests you're new to this stuff. Do you normally have your oil changes performed at Wal-Mart? Are you opposed to doing them yourself? I ask because you will always - and I do mean always - get a higher-quality oil change if you do it yourself. Have you considered what type of oil to use? Did Wal-Mart install a CI-4 rated oil (yes, they probably did... are there even any more CH-4 rated diesel oils available?). Then, as others pointed out, what type of filter did they use? It's generally agreed that the finest oil filters you can use are Fleetguard Stratopore. I think you'd agree that your new $5800 engine deserves only the best.



Don't mean to worry you or scare you into anything... just trying to help out.

 

[Dean Upson]

I have never seen a Mopar or FleetGuard filter at Sam's or Wally-World (I buy my Rotella there). I would check the filter out very soon and replace it if necessary. I agree that the best oil change is done yourself.



Dean

 

[KKlepfer]

Your oil is not dirty after 3500mi. In order to determine if your oil is dirty you need to get it analyzed. It can't be determined by the human eye. I've used Oil Analyzers, Black Mountain, and Monitor. They are all good companies that will analyze your oil to determine whether it is dirty. Typically your silicone levels will be high if you have dirty oil. My last oil change was at 15k and I now have 22k on it. I had my oil analyzed at 20k and only had 6ppm of silicone in it. The average level of silicon is around 10ppm and I would say anything above 20ppm is considered dirty. Soot is also a contaminant that would make oil dirty. I've never had a higher reading than . 1 for soot. Our Cummins burn relatively clean for a diesel.

 

[nwjetboat]

If you do not want to change your own oil, at least take the oil and filter in with you. Order a 4/2 kit from Geno's.

GENO'S 4/2 Kit They are great to deal with. .

Do a search here, Delo 400, DelVac 1300 and Rotella are some of popular oil brands, and you can usually get them at wally world. Don't let them install a questionable filter/oil in your engine. .

Oh BTW, congrats on the CTD. .

 

[tomahs]

I plan on doing my own oil change. I took it in because I wanted to see if the oil would clean up' They used Rotella oil. I thought for $35 I would be worth it.

 

[tomahs]

Have ordered the filter kit from Geno's

 

[HOCummins04]

rbattle, you raise an interesting question. What is the cost of a Cummins ISB 5. 9 engine? The UPGRADE price is $5300-$5400 over the HEMI. If you just wanted to buy one, I bet it is closer to $7,000 or $8,000 - maybe more.



Anyone know?

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by HOCummins04

rbattle, you raise an interesting question. What is the cost of a Cummins ISB 5. 9 engine? The UPGRADE price is $5300-$5400 over the HEMI. If you just wanted to buy one, I bet it is closer to $7,000 or $8,000 - maybe more.



Anyone know?

I think it's closer to $10000. I'd bet you have to buy it from Dodge... they probably have an agreement that Cummins isn't allowed to sell them directly to you.

 

[Bertram65]

The marine version is close to $20K, without a gear. This is the first year for the HPCR for the marine version so it should be interesting to see how it does.

 

[Tony T.]

Oil Color

Thomas, I have a friend that bought a 04. 5 CTD here a little over a month ago. He had a 03 with the 305/555. When I first seen it he had already put 1850+ miles on the clock, so I pulled the stick to check the oil for the heck of it, an it was as black as coal. Now mine an his 03 would stay clear looking, or clean looking, what ever you want to call it until around 4K miles then turn slightly brownish color. I agree I think the only way for sure to judge it being dirty is through oil analyze, being dark or black is not always a bad thing. Geno's an Fleetguards for me also. Oo.

 

[04 Diesel Power]

I have an 04, and the oil has never been black. 15,000 miles on her. What a great truck.

 

[Po' Riggity]

Originally posted by 04 Diesel Power

I have an 04, and the oil has never been black. 15,000 miles on her. What a great truck.

That doesnt sound right to me. . Diesels generally turn oil black. . Mines been black sine it had 50 miles on it. Its got just over 2k miles now, and yup, you guessed it. . its still black.

Scott

 

[MCornwell]

My truck has 27,500 on her... . the oil has never been black on the



stick and I do all my own oil changes. My dads truck a 2001. 5



has 79,000 on it, the oil stays clear for the first 2thou after a oil



change.



-Mitch

 

[t6_man]

When I first purchased my 03. 5, the oil stayed 'brown' for quite a while. After the first oil change, it turned black in a very short time, AND my fuel mileage towing went south by about 1. 5 mpg. I wonder if there is a connection...