1) pulled the dip stick today (first thing this morning after sitting all night) as I do every Monday morning and noticed the oil is still nice and clear (slightly auburn in color at 1900 miles) and that at the very bottom of the dipstick the oil changed color to a darker greenish grey? Any ideas of what this is?<br><br>2) also, although the truck was overfull of oil from the factory, it has decended the dipstick about 1/4&quot; and is still slightly above full. What is considered normal oil consumption for the HO CTD?

 

I 2nd what Big Ed says. CHANGE your oil now.<br>I am doing oil analysis every 3000 miles. When I did my first at 2800 miles on the factory oil it was very high in silicon (that is dirt) or could have been residual from the gasket sealant. But I would have felt better had I changed it at 500 miles.

 

I was thinking of changing at 2500 then 5000 then the recommended 7500 intervals (keeps multiplication easy when I am on the scheduled oil change interval).<br><br>I typically run any new car 1/3 the milage, change oil; 2/3 the milage, change oil, then go on the normal maintenance schedule.<br><br>Thanks for the recommendations and one last question....<br><br>How much oil is lost through the crankcase breather through oil vaporization?

 

I have 5100 on my truck, clean on the dipstick, has not moved at all since I bought it. Changing it at 10k. Waste of $ changing it early IMO- any filings (if there really are any) should be caught by the filter, or the pickup screen. Never changed the oil early on any vehicle, never had any problems with engines. If anything I would be inclined to change the filter and leave the oil in for the rec'd time. BTW 10k for me is usually 2 months so the oil is never &quot;old&quot;

 

I'm another that is a firm believer in changing the oil very early on a new engine. On all the hot-rod type engines I've built for my play cars I've changed the oil after a 1/2 hour of break in - then again after a couple hundred miles. Better safe than sorry - oil is cheap - even the expensive stuff - compared the engine

 

[quote author=misterKTM link=board=20;threadid=11406;start=0#109174 date=1046232862]<br> Better safe than sorry - oil is cheap - even the expensive stuff - compared the engine <br>[/quote]<br><br>Sounds like oil company propaganda <br>I think at one time it was prudent to change oil at 1000k but new technology, new oils, filters etc have changed this. If DC had engine concerns they would tell you to change it early. Don't get me wrong all my equipment/cars/trucks gets top notch care. Many don't believe me when I sell a vehicle with high mileage because they are in such good shape. YMMV ;D

 

many engine lube experts and engineers strongly recommend against changing the original/break-in oil earlier than the recommended interval. Sometimes the break in oil from the factory is of a slightly lower viscosity than recommended to allow a slight bit of wear to seat the piston rings etc. Also the high level of wear metals present in the oil, which will not all be caught by the filter, aids in this ring seating process. They warn that changing your oil out too soon may prolong the break-in period and cause the engine to consume oil it's whole life. Best thing you can do is follow your owners manual, the engineers who wrote it know what they're talking about.

 

I emailed Cummins about 8 years ago asking what oil the 5.9's were shipped from the factory with. The response I got at that time was garden variety Valvoline Premium Blue 15W-40. I suspect that this is still the case. I have always done a 500 mile oil change on a new vehicle, however with my 2003 (Dodge/Cummins number seven) I waited until 3,511 and based on the oil analysis I got back I wish I would have changed at 500. High silicon. I'm with BYURAM on this one, that early of a change is obviously not necessary, but for my money it is well worth it.

 

Is silicon not a byproduct of the manufacturing process? Did the sample show any coolant or diesel in the oil?<br>

 

[quote author=spots link=board=20;threadid=11406;start=0#114123 date=1047341338]<br>Is silicon not a byproduct of the manufacturing process? Did the sample show any coolant or diesel in the oil?<br>[/quote]<br><br>That is exactly what the notes on my analysis said, and the reason that I wished that I had done the 500 mile change.<br><br>No other abnormal levels were noted.

 

[quote author=Nevada link=board=20;threadid=11406;start=0#114243 date=1047356290]<br>[quote author=spots link=board=20;threadid=11406;start=0#114123 date=1047341338]<br>Is silicon not a byproduct of the manufacturing process? Did the sample show any coolant or diesel in the oil?<br>[/quote]<br><br>That is exactly what the notes on my analysis said, and the reason that I wished that I had done the 500 mile change.<br><br>No other abnormal levels were noted.<br>[/quote]<br><br>Since the silicon IS a byproduct of manufacturing (Cummins must know this) and no abnormal levels of anything else were in the oil, then if Cummins wanted the oil dumped early they would ask for it. This is why I leave the oil in to the rec'd drain intervals. FWIW

 

Glad you slept so well I took my wife out for dinner with the money I saved from not changing my oil. I did NOT sleep that well...