Diesel Oil change ??

[MuleShack]

I change my own oil and do all the "normal" maintenance etc.

When it comes to change the oil in my 05 Ram cummins, it take 3 1/2 gallons roughly. I use AmsOil 10-30 HD and have run it for about 15K miles. When this oil (or any oil for that matter) on a diesel is very dirty and I'm sure that a lot of the dirty stuff is clinging to the motor parts or hanging around the engine yet. Cause as soon as you put the new oil in and start the truck up, the dipstick is already black again. Short of wasting oil and flushing the oil compartment out, what do others do to try to get the old dirt out before contaminating the new oil.

Is is safe to pour a bottle of sea foam in the oil reserve and run for 5-10 minutes right before you are going to change the oil? I'm sure it will help clean the motor but is it safe for the engine?

Any other "stuff" that can be use to help release some of the dirt with the drained oil?

[Scott K]

Diesels run dirty, and even if you got it clean, it would be black again in 500 miles.

[Wildabeast]

particulates get in the oil within a few miles. There's nothing wrong with your oil. If you are concerned then have an oil analysis done, it will let you know what's going on with your engine. As long as you're using a decent filter (Amsoils are pretty good BTW) along with your oil, you'll be fine.

[Valv]

As they said above, there's nothing wrong with being black. I also use Amsoil 15-40 HD around 13k/15k intervals, never had a problem. If you are concerned you can change the filter at 7500, but an oil analysis will tell a lot of things.

[BobT]

To some degree I've always felt that the oil getting dark is telling me that it is doing its job. One of the purposes of the oil is to provide lubrication of course but that's not all it does. It also has the job of holding dirt in suspension so the filter can remove it. The dark color possibly indicates there are particles in suspension and that's what it is supposed to do.

[MuleShack]

Thanks for the replies.

I was just asking if you use a can of sea foam or something else right before the oil change, will that aid in getting more of the residue out of the chamber?

I assume by the responses that it is not needed or that no one has tried it?

[Scott K]

You can use an additive, and it will help clean out the engine, if it is designed to. But it isnt needed, and will just get black again very soon. Vehicles have been running for many years without cleaning of the oil systems.

[theoilman]

With all diesel engines the oil will turn black. It comes from carbon. Carbon is a by-product of combustion (also present in a very small amount in gasoline engines). The particle size of carbon is around 1 micron - too small to be a wear particle.

In most engines particles smaller than 5 microns will not cause wear - they are too small and 'float' in the oil being much smaller than the space between the bearings and crank or pistons etc.

I don't know of any cleaner that will clean it out before an oil change. (There is always a small amount, many times 5% to 10% of the oil, that doesn't drain out when you change the oil. It hangs in the lube passages and many small pockets and won't drain completely. The carbon left in this will color new oil black almost immediately.

AMSOIL oil change interval for diesel engines prior to 2007 is up to 3 times the OEM interval. I recommend an up to 15,000 mile interval for pickups.

[MuleShack]

Ok, Thanks all.

I've got my new batch of Amsoil oil and filter and am going to change out tomorrow for the 15K oil change.

One less thing to be concerned about

[slurpie]

A few years ago I bought some stuff that amsoil makes that was used to clean the engine. You put it in and ran for a few minutes then drain. Cant remember what it was called but it was amsoil. Bought mine from a Matco tool dealer. did'nt really think it did much.

[Valv]

Ok, Thanks all.

I've got my new batch of Amsoil oil and filter and am going to change out tomorrow for the 15K oil change.

One less thing to be concerned about

And if you love your injection pump add a quart of 2 stroke TCW3 oil to every tankful of diesel, it lubricates and quietens the pump.

[Back2Dakota]

Valv I drive a Sprinter van and dont know much about diesels.Should I be adding the oil also? I dont pay for any fuel or maint since it is a company van but I like it and want it to last!

[theoilman]

I do recommend DO NOT us the AMSOIL Engine Flush in any diesel engine.

[theoilman]

BacktoDakota - I own and drive a Sprinter myself. All Sprinter Diesels the "Preferred Oil" is synthetic! The oil minder system is designed for synthetic oil only!

What year is your Sprinter? 2006 and earlier with the 5 cyliner 2.7 diesel you have several choices with AMSOIL: I use the 5W-30 prod. code HDD CJ-4 high performance diesel oil. Or you can use 15W-40 product code AME CJ-4 or 5W-40 product code AFL European spec.

2007 or newer with the 3.0L (Ultra-low emission engine) use only the 5W-40 European spec oil.

On mine the 10,000 mile oil minder system doesn't trip until over 13,000 miles. I change the filter at 12,500 and pull an oil sample. At 25,000 I change it all and test again. Every test I have run comes back "satisfactory for continued use." Mine is a 2006 and I use the 5W-30 HDD. I drive around 24,000 miles per year with over 85,000 on it now.

[Valv]

I don't have any feedback on this. I used 2 stroke oil on all my trucks ( 2 Fords, 2 Chevy, 9 Dodges) and always had good result as quieting the pump and lubricate it.

I used to buy trucks with 120k/140k and haul/tow with them until they reach 230k/240k then sell them still in excellent conditions.

I don't think it's going to hurt anything ( I don't see how), but I cannot say in regard your Sprinter (Mercedes) motor.

Try to get a cheap quart and give it a try.

[MuleShack]

Probably good advice since my pump and injection pump went out at 100k