I bought the truck Saturday, and today I went ahead and changed the oil. The exiting oil was black as tar so I figured it was due. After changing the oil, I noticed that it was still black on the dipstick.

I used Rotella, just like in my old truck, but it was always clear on the dipstick after an oil change. I'm not used to seeing black oil on a dipstick immediately after an oil change. Any explanations for this?

I also noticed that it was impossible to get the oil level within the marked range on the dipstick. After I added what I thought was enough, I checked and the level was higher than the marked range. I put a drain valve on so I drained a small amount out (4-5 oz.) and rechecked. It then showed I was below the marked range. I added a little (couple spashes) and it showed above the marked range. Is this normal? My oil pressure is within normal limits, so I'm not really worried, just curious if this has happened to anyone else.

 

.......You need to run the truck for about 10 minutes down the road. Come home and let her sit for 20 minutes to let ALL the oil get back into the pan. Pull the stick out and whipe it clean, then re-install all the way to the bottom and check her out. If you need to add some at that time put a little in and wait for another 20 min..........If you need to drain then let a little out and clean the stick again.......blah blah blah....... You must have inserted the dip stick a little less one time

 

I just put in three gallons with a filter change and go with it. And when I check the oil after letting the motor run long enough to check for leaks around the filter the oil is black as tar. LOL. It's just the nature of these things.

 

Hmmm...it's just weird that I never had either of these problems with the old truck. I wonder what causes the oil to blacken so quickly.

I just checked the oil level this morning and the same thing happened. Just couldn't get it right.

I also noticed that the oil I drained had a solvent kind of smell to it. Does this mean that it was synthetic? I have never smelled any dino similar. If that's the case, I'm assuming I could go back to synthetic next oil change right?

 

The oil is black due to the 3 injection event or egr valve that is built into the cam...

Search "egr" in the 3rd gen forum and you will get some very specific answers as to why and how it happens.

 

i always put 11.5 qts in it and it hits the mark in the middle

 

So they put egr in the 04.5 engine huh. When did they add that?

Rich: I'm gonna try your method next time and see what happens. At least I know that it will have the right amount regardless of what the dipstick says.

 

Starting in 04.5 is the begining of the 3rd injection events. They add more power but started the emission crap with cat converters and egr.

It is perfectly normal for the engine oil to be black. They all do it and you can't stop it, no matter how good you filter the oil. You can put a remote bypass oil filter on it, and it will still turn it black. It is the soot suspended in the oil. But thankfully it doesn't hurt anything. Many of us get our oil tested through laboratories and it's fine.

I know it is kinda worrisome the first time you see it or deal with it. But relax, it's ok and normal for 04.5 on up trucks.

..

 

I bought my '06 new and the oil is always black. That is even after the installation of an FS-2500 oil filteration by-pass system and synthetic oil. From day 1, it's black within 15 minutes of an oil cange. Just normal for these trucks. pcm

 

Another thing to get used to...just like the power.

So would it be ok to go synthetic at 100K miles? I never did on my old truck because I thought it was too late by the time I bought it.

 

With to days oil yes you can.The Early synthetic oil you could not.So do what ever you want.

 

Excellent. Thank you sir.