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Car Forum / Dodge / Dodge Trucks / May 2006

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Diesel engine oil dirty too soon?

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croll - 15 May 2006 16:44 GMT
I have a 2006 2500 with the Cummins diesel. I have a friend with
basically the same truck, a 2003 model. My truck has 4500 miles on it.
I changed the oil at 3000 miles because it was very black. I checked
the new oil with 1500 miles on it and it is black again. My friend has
43000 miles on his and it is never dirty at 5000 mile change intervals.

I am new to diesels and have heard that fuel in the oil will cause
this. I'm having it looked at by a dealer who tells me that's just how
diesels are. Should I believe him? Any and all advice appreciated. The
truck runs great and is getting 17+ mpg mixed city and highway driving.

I have also had trouble starting it intermittently. I've noticed the
"glow pulg" light on the dash doesn't always come on when the
temperature out side is in the 50's (i think the grid or whatever is
supposed to come on somewhere below 60 deg.)  I can't say I've noticed
it relating to the hard start problem. Thanks!
GeekBoy - 15 May 2006 17:35 GMT
>I have a 2006 2500 with the Cummins diesel. I have a friend with
> basically the same truck, a 2003 model. My truck has 4500 miles on it.
> I changed the oil at 3000 miles because it was very black. I checked
> the new oil with 1500 miles on it and it is black again. My friend has
> 43000 miles on his and it is never dirty at 5000 mile change intervals.

Only 4500? It still needs to break in and the rings need to seat, I would
think.
Mine has 95k miles and the oil is not black

> I am new to diesels and have heard that fuel in the oil will cause
> this. I'm having it looked at by a dealer who tells me that's just how
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> supposed to come on somewhere below 60 deg.)  I can't say I've noticed
> it relating to the hard start problem. Thanks!
randolf_scott@hotmail.com - 15 May 2006 17:35 GMT
Your friend has one of those magical diesels.  The rest of us have the
regular diesels (you included).  Next time you change your oil check it
after only 100 miles.  If it's not black then I'd be amazed.  Don't
worry...it's normal...just soot.  Use a good oil like Delvac or
Penzoil.  Forget all the hype you've read about Rotella...it's pretty
close to the bottom of the list as for quality oil.

Randolf
Mike Simmons - 16 May 2006 00:15 GMT
> Your friend has one of those magical diesels.  The rest of us have the
> regular diesels (you included).  Next time you change your oil check it
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Randolf

Just curious, what do you base your condemnation of Rotella on?  Facts or
scuttlebutt?  If facts, please cite the source of this info.

Mike
randolf_scott@hotmail.com - 16 May 2006 14:54 GMT
Look at the numbers...do a search.  Rotella is just average at best.
Premium Blue (Valvoline), Delvac and Penzoil are much better oils.

Randolf
Mike Simmons - 17 May 2006 00:10 GMT
> Look at the numbers...do a search.  Rotella is just average at best.
> Premium Blue (Valvoline), Delvac and Penzoil are much better oils.
>
> Randolf

I know the numbers, do you?  If so post 'em, show me how and why they are
better oils.  Show me some VOA's or test data that demostrates your
contention, otherwise your post is scuttlebutt or mere opinion.

Mike
Nosey - 16 May 2006 17:36 GMT
>> Your friend has one of those magical diesels.  The rest of us have
>> the regular diesels (you included).  Next time you change your oil
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Just curious, what do you base your condemnation of Rotella on? Facts or
> scuttlebutt?  If facts, please cite the source of this info.

Hehe, he said "scuttlebutt".
Signature

Ken

Mike Simmons - 17 May 2006 00:11 GMT
>>> Your friend has one of those magical diesels.  The rest of us have
>>> the regular diesels (you included).  Next time you change your oil
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Hehe, he said "scuttlebutt".

A common term amongst Navy and Marines for idle gossip .... but it could
apply here as well.

;^)

Mike
Tom Lawrence - 17 May 2006 00:51 GMT
> A common term amongst Navy and Marines for idle gossip .... but it could
> apply here as well.

I thought more often than not, scuttlebutt turned out to be true.

I think a more appropriate term here is 'horsepuckey'  :)
Mike Simmons - 17 May 2006 01:32 GMT
>> A common term amongst Navy and Marines for idle gossip .... but it could
>> apply here as well.
>
> I thought more often than not, scuttlebutt turned out to be true.
>
> I think a more appropriate term here is 'horsepuckey'  :)

You may be right Tom, in fact in regards to the comments about Rotella, you
are indeed right.

The "scuttlebutt" aboard a ship is actually the drinking fountain however
the idle gossip that occurs around it aquired the name of the scuttlebutt
itself.  As we all know, there is "informed" gossip and "uninformed" gossip.
The comments about Rotella tend more towards the latter.

Mike
Nosey - 17 May 2006 04:03 GMT
>> Hehe, he said "scuttlebutt".
>> --
>> Ken
>
> A common term amongst Navy and Marines for idle gossip .... but it
> could apply here as well.

I did 20 years in the Navy. I just thought it was funny to see it here.
Signature

Ken

Mike Simmons - 17 May 2006 10:32 GMT
>>> Hehe, he said "scuttlebutt".
>>> --
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> I did 20 years in the Navy. I just thought it was funny to see it here.

Oh... well that 'splains it.  I was/am a jarhead so we speak the same
language.

Mike
John Carrington - 21 May 2006 15:28 GMT
Nosey...

You must be a B & B fan. Gotta love those fools!

John
>>> Your friend has one of those magical diesels.  The rest of us have
>>> the regular diesels (you included).  Next time you change your oil
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Hehe, he said "scuttlebutt".
Nosey - 21 May 2006 16:08 GMT
> Nosey...
>
> You must be a B & B fan. Gotta love those fools!
>
> John

When my kids were teenagers they watched it all the time so I've seen my
fair share of episodes. "King of the Hill" is more my type of Mike Judge
humor.
Signature

Ken

Steve Lusardi - 15 May 2006 18:30 GMT
The reason for black oil is fuel soot being deposited on the clyinder wall
and then being scraped by the rings into the lube oil. If in use, the engine
creates black smoke in the exhaust, it is also creating soot deposit on the
cylinder walls. This occurs when more fuel is injected than there is oxygen
to burn it completely. Typical cause is a clogged air cleaner, faulty turbo
or any air restriction as well as a fuel curve that is too rich. However, in
your case, it could be your fuel management computer's firmware. You should
make sure you have the correct firmware loaded. Check for any pertinent
bulletins. Please also note that since the 2004.5 model year, the CTDs have
been using a triple injection event per cycle solution (Pre, Main & Post) as
opposed to the double event solution (Pre, Main) per cycle, which was used
in the earlier 3rd generation engines. The change was to decrease oxides of
nitrogen at the cost of fuel economy. Now, the CTDs also require a Cat to
eliminate the increased particulate (soot) in the exhaust. Isn't progress
great!
Steve

>I have a 2006 2500 with the Cummins diesel. I have a friend with
> basically the same truck, a 2003 model. My truck has 4500 miles on it.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> supposed to come on somewhere below 60 deg.)  I can't say I've noticed
> it relating to the hard start problem. Thanks!
craig@metronet.com - 16 May 2006 00:41 GMT
I use the synthetic stuff that Cummins and Valvoline partnered on ...
Premium Blue 5w-40.  I go 10,000 miles between changes.  When I change
it, it is darker than when new but still transparent.  

Craig C.
HoDad - 16 May 2006 03:44 GMT
Is everyone basing their claims of 'clear' oil by what they see on the
dipstick, or through a gallon container?  I have never owned any vehicle,
including my '99 Honda Accord that I bought new, that didn't have very dark
oil after 500 miles if viewed through a large container.  On the dipstick
however, they would appear only slightly darkened.  Hell, I recently rebuilt
a 455 Pontiac that had fairly dark oil after just 90 miles, when I gave it
it's first change.
HD

P.S.  I change oil in all my vehicles every 3,000 miles, and have a Honda
nearing 180k and sold a Ford F250 that I had put 135k on the motor I rebuilt
for it.  I have heard that vehicles burining natural gas will have fairly
clean oil when changed, however.

> I use the synthetic stuff that Cummins and Valvoline partnered on ...
> Premium Blue 5w-40.  I go 10,000 miles between changes.  When I change
> it, it is darker than when new but still transparent.
>
> Craig C.
GeekBoy - 16 May 2006 09:34 GMT
> Is everyone basing their claims of 'clear' oil by what they see on the
> dipstick, or through a gallon container?  I have never owned any vehicle,
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> a 455 Pontiac that had fairly dark oil after just 90 miles, when I gave it
> it's first change.

Maybe because the piston rings needed more time to seal?

> HD
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>>
>> Craig C.
HoDad - 17 May 2006 00:46 GMT
> > Is everyone basing their claims of 'clear' oil by what they see on the
> > dipstick, or through a gallon container?  I have never owned any vehicle,
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Maybe because the piston rings needed more time to seal?

While the rings may not have been fully seated, (the cylinders were just
honed, not bored), my concern was getting any assembly contaminents out of
the engine.  I'm sure it will be dark when I change it at 500 miles, and
then every time after that.  My point was, the oil on the dipstick looked
pretty clean, but through a gallon jug it was fairly dark.  My question was
just how are people judging how dirty their oil looks?  I have never in my
life seen oil come out of an engine at 3,000 miles that looked only a bit
darker when changed than it did when it was added as viewed through a large
container.  Normally it is very dark brown, nearly black.
HD
 
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