Used Oil

[Caleb Thompson]

Hello Guys. I have a question for you. I have heard somewhere that you can use your used motor oil in the fuel of our trucks. Is there any truth to this, and if so how much to put in. Thanks for your help.

 

[radixr]

I've heard of some owners doing this (after filtering it) but I certainly don't think it's a good idea or practical on our engines. Cummins does have a system on their bigger engines that constantly injects a small quantity of oil from the crankcase into the fuel. Fresh oil is added to make up for this. The claim is that you never have to change oil; just the filter.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Caleb,
I wouldn't.
1. You would end up putting a cetane additive in to counteract the oil( so it is not cost saving).
2. Used oil I understand besides used to make plastic,fuel oil... is used to make diesel fuel. But it is filtered to the max.
Diesel fuel contains additives and cleaners... . Remember your injector pump cost as much as short block 350.

 

[unclebilly]

Wow...

I think using used oil in the tank instead of an injector lube should be OK (I kinda wish I never threw mine out on Saturday now) - we used to use outboard motor oil on the big diesels in our commercial fishing boats as an injector lube. This would be a convenient way to get rid of the used oil and would save a few greenbacks too.

If there are any nasties coming out of your oilpan that could/would damage your pump, you've got problems with your engine much more serious than a buggered pump...

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91. 5 CTD 4X4, 5" Stacks, Tweaked Pump, 33" Boots (in the summer), Unlimited Slip,
<P><B><A Big, Bad Dodge

 

[illflem]

Unless the used oil is highly filtered, guess what's going to filter it? Your fuel filter, probably won't take long to plug it either. The device that Cummins makes for constantly feeding waste oil to the diesel's main part is it's filters. Besides that, motor oil, even if new, isn't designed to be burned and will leave ash deposits that your engine has to deal with. Not worth it, take the waste oil to a recycling center.

 

[Sled Puller]

Check out the filter system on a used oil burner in a garage.
Pretty spiffy!

 

[JConley]

I have talked to Cummins about this, and they say you can go up to a 5% solution of used oil in with your diesel fuel. I have put used oil in the diesel, and it runs fine. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable. This wont hurt the engine.

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98 QC 2500 2WD 12 Valve Automatic, 3. 54 Mag-Hytec transmission pan. DTT Valve Body. Wrap around black Grill Guard (BIG solid steel one. AFC controller adjusted, Mopar mud flaps, Camper package, 2001 Tow mirrors, Cat ran away, No Muff
My Mustang
My Ram
The Wrecking Crew web site for Junkyard Wars
Go Aggies!!!

 

[The patriot]

When I had my big rig, guys did this all the time. (56 quarts of used oil to 200 gallons fuel) #ad

If you decide to do this, strain the oil through a cheese cloth, and dont add too much to each tank.
I myself feel that I'd rather add some 2 stroke oil (at least it's made to burn) if I need any added lubercation.
Eric

 

[jimk]

I have seen used oil that burned in a shop heater. The oil is feed to the top of a wood burning heater and is metered by a small valve. It made a big difference in the heat. If I did it I would NOT TALK about though. As for adding it to my fuel in my diesel it might be ok but what about the by products of combustion. If I needed lube for the pump I would use TC3 outboard motor oil. I would keep that to my self also.

 

[Cooker]

2 Stroke oil is not a good idea: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum5/HTML/000834.html

Used engine oil is ok: http://www.valvolinehd.com/onroad/cent.html

Even though used engine oil is ok I wouldn't do it personally: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum5/HTML/000568.html

Check out the above links it should answer a lot of questions for you. Ultimately it is your truck, your money, and your repair bill, do whatever you are comfortable with.

Ryan

 

[rhoads]

Having maintained big rigs for years i can tell you YES you can run it thru the fuel sys with no problem. With good house keeping-clean off the pan and plug area,drain into a clean container thin with diesel in an container and dupm in to fuel tank.
5 % is about right,or 1 gal per 30 gal fuel is safe. the eng fuel filter will do the rest,if you are like most your fuel filter replacement is over kill .
I chance mine twice a year and drain every fill (fuel)in cold weather and once a week in warm .

 

[redram]

Originally posted by Cooker:
2 Stroke oil is not a good idea: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum5/HTML/000834.html

Used engine oil is ok: http://www.valvolinehd.com/onroad/cent.html

Even though used engine oil is ok I wouldn't do it personally: https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum5/HTML/000568.html

Check out the above links it should answer a lot of questions for you. Ultimately it is your truck, your money, and your repair bill, do whatever you are comfortable with.

Ryan

Ryan,

Be careful about what members may say / claim to know. Mr. Chad Sheets is not a chemist nor a lubrication expert that I can tell from his link. Taking the 'sulfur' out of diesel fuel DOES affect the lubricating qualities of the fuel as sulfur is a very effective lubricant. Two cycle TCW III engine oil would be fine to mix into a diesel engine. It would be preferable to a four cycle engine oil as it burns without leaving any ash deposits as a TCW III oil is 'ashless' in composition.

My backgraound:
STLE OMA Certified (Society of Tribolgist and Lubrication Engineers - Oil Monitoring Analyst Certified plus a degree in Mechancial Engineering and an owner of a Cummins powered truck since 1989 and gainfully employed as Technical SErvices Manager for an independent lubricant manufacturer.



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[DocStressor]

redram -- You are missinformed. Everything Chad Sheets said in his post is correct. Sulphur is not a lubricant. The reduction process used to convert sulfur to hydrogen sulfide gas also removes aromatic compounds, which will decrease lubricity. Low sulfer fuels contain appropriate supliments to restore lubricity.

Back on the topic, sure you can burn diluted used oil in a truck diesel as long as it is filtered and run throught the engine over a short period of time as in a commercial trucking operation. However, depleted oil is often contaminated with organic acids which will could cause corrosion in the pumps and fuel injectors if the truck sits around. Used oil also contains soot and wear metal particles that are too small to be removed by conventional fuel filtration and will accelerate erosive wear of engine components to some extent. Burning used oil will increase particulate emission and the metals in the oil (even fresh oil) will destroy a catalytic converter in very little time. Ashless 2 cycle oil would probably not harm the engine. But since it is not designed for deisel applications, how whould you know how much to add? When you consider the many other benefits of after market deisel addites (Powerservice, LE, Amsoil, etc. ), they would be more cost effective in the long run.

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1999 Quad cab 2500, SB, SLT, 4X4, 5-speed, 3. 54, tow and camper package, Lance 820 camper, Lance cabover stabilizers, Rancho 9000s, Airlift airbags,Reese Titan V hitch, Mag-Hytec differential cover with Amsoil 2000 75W-90 lube, Amsoil air filter

 

[Cooker]

Redram,
I agree with Lee on the comments on sulfur. It is not actually the sulfur that lubricates. The lack of lubricity in low sulfur fuels is from the process the refinery uses to remove the sulfur from the fuel, not the sulfur itself.

I'd have to agree with Lee on everything else he said except, that there is enough additive that is put back into the fuel to increase the lubricity. IMO the lubricity of the fuel is very important, and I'm not going to trust the refinery to put enough of this additive in, especially at their cost.


[This message has been edited by Cooker (edited 03-25-2001). ]

 

[illflem]

Ryan, I have to disagree about not trusting the lubricity of most diesel fuel. I think it's safe to say that the vast majority of diesel engine owners in the US use no additives. I don't see diesel trucks broken down all over the place. Seems like it's in the oil companies better interest to keep the diesels running and coming back for more wouldn't you think? This doesn't apply to the 24 valve since it fuel pumps are marginal to begin with.

 

[Cooker]

You are correct Bill.

I guess what I'm really trying to say, is I won't trust the fuel company to take care of my pump any more than I have to. I'd much rather pay for piece of mind.

There, that sounds better.

 

[RKohn]

Caleb,

Just like every other topic on this board. Some love it, some hate it, but everybodys got an opinion.

I take empty plastic jugs to the recycling center.

Just don't dump it all in at once.

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Y2K Red Stealth Sport 2500 4X4 QC SLT+, 5-spd, 3. 54 LotsaSpinDiff, 265-75-16 LTX's (Don't Michelins ever wear out?), DC's dead cow/vinyl interior and 4-wheel don't stop anti-lock brakes, Roll-N-Lock bedcover. What silencer ring? (More fun than my 98 SST)

 

[redram]

Originally posted by Lee Weber:
redram -- You are missinformed. Everything Chad Sheets said in his post is correct. Sulphur is not a lubricant. The reduction process used to convert sulfur to hydrogen sulfide gas also removes aromatic compounds, which will decrease lubricity. Low sulfer fuels contain appropriate supliments to restore lubricity.

Back on the topic, sure you can burn diluted used oil in a truck diesel as long as it is filtered and run throught the engine over a short period of time as in a commercial trucking operation. However, depleted oil is often contaminated with organic acids which will could cause corrosion in the pumps and fuel injectors if the truck sits around. Used oil also contains soot and wear metal particles that are too small to be removed by conventional fuel filtration and will accelerate erosive wear of engine components to some extent. Burning used oil will increase particulate emission and the metals in the oil (even fresh oil) will destroy a catalytic converter in very little time. Ashless 2 cycle oil would probably not harm the engine. But since it is not designed for deisel applications, how whould you know how much to add? When you consider the many other benefits of after market deisel addites (Powerservice, LE, Amsoil, etc. ), they would be more cost effective in the long run.

Do you guys have any references that can back up the fact that 'sulfur' is not a good lubricity additive?

Anyways, even though we have differing opinions on the sulfur, I agree with you about the aromatics. Back in 94, when the refineries were forced by the government to reduce sulfur content of diesel fuel from 0. 5% to <0. 05%, the problems that cropped up in the injectors pumps were more likely to be due to the reduction in aromatic content than the reduction in sulfur content. The aromatic content of the old 0. 5 fuel had caused rubber orings in direct contact with the fuel to swell slightly. When the new 0. 05 fuel (with 10% less aromatic) was now exposed to these older seals, the seal equalized to the new fluid, leeching some of the aromatic out of the seal resulting in the orings to shrink slightly resulting in fuel leaks.
Solution was to replace with new orings, these then took a 'set' to the 0. 05% fuel and everything is fine.

Sulfur is a great lubricant guys. I guess you never studied ancient history - or how about cutting fluids that used to be used on machining centers, many were sulfurized oils due to the natural lubricating qualities of the sulfur.

oh well, if you have some references supporting your views, my email is nitz@wt.net


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