Im a freshmen to the (Cummins) Dodge...I have 5.9L 2005 Ram HD. 95K miles. Bought used, excellent condition.

I changed the fuel filter (black!), oil (used what Ive been told is the "standard" Rotella T 15W-40) & oil filter, put on a K & N air intake.

Q: the engine oil turned black w/in one day of driving, is this the norm on these engines? Is there a fix, an additive, somthing I can do?
Thanks, Tyler.

 

Sounds to me there is a lot of soot in the engine. Not a major issue, a lot of them do it. My oil did the same thing for the first few changes after switching to Delvac. Changed it every 3k for 3 times and now it comes out fairly clean each time at 5k. I could drain the Rotella at 5k and it looked as clean as when I put it in. I don't think Rotella does a good job of catching the soot like the Delvac does. JMO

 

normal for a diesel... If you are concerned about it, you can always pull an oil sample and have it tested. That will let you know the overall condition of the engine. Congrats on the new truck.

 

where would I have it tested? Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it.

 

Delvac is ____? Is that synthetic oil for a diesel? Thanks for your help, Tyler.

 

No, its just Mobil Delvac regular 15w40. Lot of my inlaws have been in the trucking business for years and thats what they use. I noticed an immediate difference in the oil color after changing the first time, and it's been getting cleaner each time I change it, so I know it is cleaning the engine soot . You can have yours tested at
Blackstone Laboratories
416 East Pettit Avenue
Fort Wayne IN 46806
260.744.2380

 

IF you have a local heavy equipment dealer or OTR truck dealer (Caterpillar, Kenworth, International...etc.) anywhere that does service on large trucks and engine. You can purchase an oil sample bottle from them. Just fill it to the line with engine oil, drop it off, and they will send you a complete oil analysis in about 5-10 days.
There is a place that a bunch of guys on this forum are using for sampling.. but I'm not sure who it is or how to get in contact with them.
Somebody chime in with an address!!!

 

You can send it here. Contact them & they will send a test kit to ya.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

Dude...look up!

Blackstone is awesome. They send you free sampling containers and their turn around time is 1 day. The reports go into much more detail than I expected with comments on how your specific engine is wearing.

 

the oil is black because soot particles are in suspension. the reason that the 3rd gens are dirtier than the earlier models is the soot particles are smaller in size, and not getting trapped in the filter. It is normal, and perfectly fine. It means the oil is doing its job and not letting it stick all over the inside of the engine.

 

x2

I`m new the diesels too, but I know that lubricity is only one of the main functions of oil/grease. It also carries suspended particules, which explains the 3 gallon of oil

 

Could also consider some sort of by-pass filter too. Sorry guys and gals for opening this can of worms.

 

what are you sorry for? you had a question, you asked, we answered it the best we could. that is what this forum is about.

 

jr.... seems that these posts were all made about the same time... Look up!, and to the left!... hahaha...

 

Yea, don`t be sorry. Forums are great cuz the solve problems & give insight. Amsoil has a very nice bypass filter set-up, you send oil samples in for analysis-they tell you when to change the oil....

I think it filters down to ~3 microns too.