Oil discolored in 1000 miles??????

[JCook1]

Hey all.



I have had a new to me diesel for three weeks (1000 miles), and the oil was clean when I bought the truck. (New oil) My question is does this oil (Rotella) change color with use?



My gas engine's oil is the same color when I drain it as when I put it in.



The service records in the truck, along with reciepts show that the oil was changed religiously at 4000 mile intervals.



Does Rotella turn dark with use, or do I have a problem that needs to be addressed?



I am not loosing fluid anywhere else (ie; coolant) so I think that it is something else.



Stock truck with 86000 miles on it.



Please advise the new guy in the group.



Thanks



JCook1

 

[tgbol]

Welcome aboard. Its normal. The oil in diesels turns dark really quick.

 

[Dieselnerd]

Nothing to worry about. The oil turns dark because it's suspending the soot created by a diesel engine. Perfectly normal.

 

[Cooker]

I would be more concerned if it wasn't turning dark. This means the soot, and other contaminates, are being deposited somewhere, or you have one heck of an oil filter (bypass).



-Ryan

 

['956Wheel]

Henry Phord at work, that what we call him, has a Flowerpoke and he is forever complaining that the oil is black after "just a few" miles. Mine gets a black "tint" to it at 1000 miles or so. I agree that soot is the black but if your rings and valve guides are doing well it seems that the oil would stay cleaner longer.



Whats the scoop on "chockes" using oil to work the injectors? I understand if you get foamy oil the thing will run worse than normal.



Mike

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The oil in my diesel - also Rotella - gets pretty dark fairly quickly too, especially since most of my driving is short haul into town for mail and back home again... BUT, I gotta tell you, in regards to your statement about clean oil in your gas rigs - In my past 50+ years of auto ownership, with ALL brands of vehicles and engine types, *I* (NOR anyone I know!) have NEVER had one that kept the oil "clean as new" over the service life of the oil - and I'd sure like to know what YOU do or use that makes yours different from every one else I know...



Gross exaggeration perhaps?...

 

[Sled Puller]

Yup,Wheel,

If the Flowerpokes get foamy, they start to miss. GREAT fuel system!



Trouble is, silicone makes oil foam.



Guess what Navistart uses for gasket material?

You guessed it, silicone.

So, when the PSD's are new, the silicone is leaching into the oil causeing it to foam, and making guys think their truck is junk. (Well they are, but not for that reason. )



Very important to change oil frequently in them till the silicone cures.



I love my P7100!!!

 

[illflem]

The only engines I've ever seen where the oil stays clean it's entire service life is when they run on straight propane.

 

[JCook1]

Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q

The oil in my diesel - also Rotella - gets pretty dark fairly quickly too, especially since most of my driving is short haul into town for mail and back home again... BUT, I gotta tell you, in regards to your statement about clean oil in your gas rigs - In my past 50+ years of auto ownership, with ALL brands of vehicles and engine types, *I* (NOR anyone I know!) have NEVER had one that kept the oil "clean as new" over the service life of the oil - and I'd sure like to know what YOU do or use that makes yours different from every one else I know...



Gross exaggeration perhaps?...

Gary

The fact is that I change oil more frequently than most folks. It's rare that I go more than three thousand miles between oil changes. I always change the filter as well. I use Castrol exclusivily until the diesel. I also have two propane vehicals that the oil is as clean as when I put it in (no exageration). The fact is that there is a little discolorization in the oil but nothing like the diesel.

All in fun and always looking for information.

JCook1

 

[JCook1]

Thanks All

Thanks to all of the TDR people that took the time to answer this newbies question. I like the response and the no nonsense answers that I have recieved thus far. In time I hope that I can answer the questions of another newbie to the forum.



JCook1

 

[Steve Campbell]

Welcome to the "dark" side.