Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Questions about first Oil Change

[dalexander]

Well I did my first oil change yesterday at 1500 miles wanted to do it at 1000 but could not get the time. First off, what a pain getting that factory installed filter off. I tore the strap on the original strap wrench, (not big enough for the job). I spent 2 hours driving around trying to find a strap wrench with a larger strap and never did. Not wanting to give up I started to think of alternatives. I decided to look around the garage for a larger strap that I could slide into the slot on the wrench. I thought of cutting one of the rear seat belts out of my wife's beater but decided it would be hard to replace. Then I found it, The strap on my wife's fanny pack. Of course it will now have to mysteriously disappear. Wife's never understand the necessity of vehicle maintance. Well it worked. Long story over now the question. At 1500 miles the oil seemed a bit dark when I drained it being my first diesel not sure if this is normal. I heard that diesel produce more soot but have also read posts from others that say that after 3000 miles their oil is still clean. Sorry for the long post.



Thanks Dennis

 

[24V-DSL]

Dark/black oil is normal. Change mine every 5K, and after about 1500 miles it's dark.

 

[Bigsaint]

Dennis, don't worry about the color, most have very dark oil after only a few 100 miles, common with diesels. If you want to really know what's going on with the motor, next time you change the oil, pull a sample midstream and send it out for analysis. I followed the advice given here and used a quality strap wrench for my first oil change. You are beyond that now and shouldn't have anymore problems removing the filter the next time, providing that you lubed the rubber gasket and didn't place it back on with a wrench.



Also, remember to add only 11 qts. ( one in the filter before you install and 10 in the motor). After the truck has sat overnight, pull the dipstick and note where the level is. That is your full mark. Many have had so called mechanics put in 12 + Qts because they were using the dipstick as a gauge, this is the wrong way.



Hope you enjoy your new truck as much as I enjoy mine.



Scott W.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I have owned two diesels now, an old 12 valve and the new 24 valve, the 24 valve seems to dirty the oil quicker, but both have always looked clean on the dipstick up to changeout at 5000 miles. Both looked black as crude in the drain pan, it's normal. As for a filter wrench, I have one that I have no idea where it came from but it looks like an off-set claw and really grips the filter and works great. On my 12 valve I never used a filter wrench always put the filter on by hand and took it off by hand. Have heard from others here that the filter on the 24 valve should be tighter because of higher pressures but the pressures don't seem any higher than my old truck, the last oil change I put the filter on like I used to and we'll see if it comes off next time a little easier. But definantly the filters seem alot harder to get off the new truck

 

[MPBerk]

Dennis,



Long post, no apologies... If you need answers, you got to ask. Your good to go. Your oil will be darker. Being a diesel mech of 17+ yrs with the military we see it all the time. 4 strokers are always darker compared to 2 strokers or gassers. Oil cools, cleans, lubricates, and seals. The darkness is the dirt/debris (soot) suspended in the oil, the oil is doing its job. Unless you dump J/W or F/O into the pan or overheat it, oil is still good. The own/op man says your good to go for 7500 miles, as you can see others have different change points, mine: 4500 (max, no exceptions)

We in the search and rescue field look at oil changes and new filters as "cheap insurance"..... as I do with the CTD.



Bigsaint has a great point. Oil analysis is a great PM tool, but get the background on reading reports, without it, all that info will be greek to you.



Enjoy your new ride.



MP

 

[Texasdeere]

The factory installed oil filter on the new trucks is a "mother"

to get off the first time. You won't have that much difficulty next

time around.

Also from what I have read, the timming on the 24V engines

is retarded for emissions and causes the oil to dirty up faster than the 12V engines. The detergent in the oil suspends the dirt

which in turn blackens it. After your engine breaks in the oil will look a little better.

I usually change mine at 5000 miles with Delo 15w 40.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

GOD, *I* wouldn't wanna tangle with the guy Cummins (or Dodge!) hires to install that original oil filter - he must be a REAL brute!



I had to put a pipe extension on the strap filter wrench I use - and had to use it for a full rotation of the filter before I could even THINK about using only the wrench itself...



As for the used oil color, mine is MUCH cleaner than what my '91 was at the same mileage - I changed the original oil at 1000 miles, and will use Delo 400 for next changes, and usually at the 5000 mile interval. Will be installing a Frantz bypass oil filter as soon as I have sufficient confidence there's no engine warranty issues needing attention...



I'll probably also have the oil analyzed at the next change as a comparison tool against the bypass filter to be installed about that time...



Anyone know what brand/type oil Cummins installs in these engines from the factory? Mine had a real "greenish" look to it...

 

[RACE427]

oil color

Oil is suppose to darken up as it is in use. The detergents are doing their job of cleaning up your crankcase. I am running a by-pass filtration system with the largest filter they offer and my oil color stays clean, amber color, for a very long time, sometimes as long as 5,000 miles. The by-pass filter has a much finer rate of filtration than the full flow oil filter which is stock on all engines. I like the idea of scrubbing the oil clean and taking out any and all impurities for a long and healthy life of the engine. This is basic mechanics 101. Plus, two oil filters are better than one, don't you agree? It works for me!