just got back from a long road trip and was checking out my truck and noticed the oil filter was leaking out of the top. is this a normal problem? i will check how tight it is when it cools down. i also noticed the oil seemed VERY dark (almost black) should i be worried? next oil change is almost 1,000 miles away.

 

Has your oil filter been changed before? If not, I would guess that it was put on to loose and IS NOT NORMAL. It should not be leaking.

The oil in the 04.5 on up trucks will turn black as coal after cranking it up and going around the block. I can't really explain why, but I have been told over and over that it is normal and ok for these trucks. My oil reports from Blackstone Laboratories show it is doing great and the oil has LOTS of life left in it. I use Rotella T 15W/40 and change every 5000 miles. I could probably easily double my miles on the oil changes and be fine.

 

Leaking oil filter is not noraml.

Either defective gasket or when filter was changed last time the old gasket was accidently left on the mounting base. It could be loose also or small crack in the canister, unlikly but it did happen to a few that were built for the 12 valved trucks and then installed on the 24 valved trucks which run higher oil pressure causing the filter housing to crack.

I would just put on a new filter and top it off with oil, cheap insurance.