I decided to change my oil before the upcoming winter, and instead of using the oil that was used in this truck for the last 15 years (Rotella 15 w 40), I spent the extra $$ and changed it with a synthetic Rotella 5w40 and a new filter.


This morning, I started up the truck, as it was colder (35degrees F) and let it warm up.

When I went back out to my truck, the neighborhood was a cloud of blue smoke. I revved up the truck and it looked like a blue smoke burnout was going on in my yard.

Could I have done something wrong to my truck by just putting in a lower weight oil ?

Anyone experience this ?

Do I need to dump the $95 worth of synthetic, and go back to the 15w40 ?


Feeling really bummed right now.

 

Hence is why I always KEEP, STRAIN, and LABEL drained oil.

 

Run it for a few days see if it gets any better.

 

Should I do anything special, besides just drive it ?



Fuel additive, Oil additive ?


Oil stabilizer ?


Really at a loss here, as this never happened with any of my other vehicles, including my other cummins.

 

Did the smoke have a diesel exhaust odor or a burning oil odor? I would not add any additives to it right now. I would run it but gently.

 

That older engine probably wont like synthetic. It will likely burn alot more oil til you go back to yhe dino stuff 15/40.

 

I switched mine to synth 5W50 at around 350,000mi when I bought the truck. I remember expecting some increased oil consumption, but found none. I still add a liter or two a year, and change oil in the fall, oh and which reminds me. ....

 

Diesels are/can be notoriously cranky if you switch their oil up on them. They likes what they likes. And what they likes is the same oil they have been running for as long as they can remember.

Lot's of stories on the net about diesel trucks revolting when they get their oil switched out from under them. Rough idles, tough starts, peeing on the driveway, etc. Weird how that works.

 

I use 0/40 synthetic in my 1990 with no issues.

 

I run 15-50 mobile one in my 90, and various other weights of mobile one in all of my vehicles. If you really want to see why, take some dino oil and put it in a pan on the stove and see what happens and then do the same with mobile one. You will not see ANY smoke burning off the mobile one. It's heat protection is unsurpassed by any other oil. My 90 has no oil leaks with 300+K miles...Mark

 

Its because it was colder outside. I had a truck that did that too.

 

x2!

 

I'll run it for a few days. Seems really strange that an engine could be altered or affected by an oil "weight" change. Really weird, although I'm sure you guys are right.... as my knowledge of these engines is miniscule compared to most of you..

If the smoke thing doesn't go away, I'm switching back to the rotella diesel oil that this thing has had in it from day one.


T.

 

The oil will not cause drivability problems, nor will an engine leak or burn more oil by switching to synthetic in my experience, I have switched two diesels over of my own as well as numerous gassers with no issues. For those of us in cold climates leave a jug of each out in the cold and try pouring them! No doubt in my mind which is better for cold starts!