so... I changed my oil (first time)

[mistergood]

Changed it yesterday and today its already grayish black! Man, I was hoping for some super clean looking oil for at least a short period of time. I changed it when the car was nice and warm, well, warm being HOT! I couldnt pick up my container I used to collect the oil for quite a while after doing the job because it was so hot. I let it drain out till it was dripping quite infrequently. Just kinda wondering, since this was my first time doing this, is this normal? Looking down into the valve cover, it doesnt look gunked up or anything. Maybe next change I should do a flush? Ya know, any info is always great.

oh, and I used delvac 1300 15w40.

[LUVMBDiesels]

Good for you! you are taking the first steps into really getting to know your car.

When you change your oil you are still leaving some in the oil cooler. black oil is OK in a diesel. Did you change the oil filter as well? If you did not, then you left an additional quart + of the old oil in the car. Either way, it will not hurt anything. I usually change the filter once a month and then do an oil/filter change every two months.

[barry123400]

Normal on most older diesels. Just change oil and filter every three thousand miles and wear protective gloves as the old oil almost stains the skin. In fact if it was not totally black after a short run your engine is probably fairly clean inside.
Look at the upside as well. You can usually identify the oil level with only one wipedown of the oil dipstick. Some of our gas cars I have to do it a few times and still not positive if it's accurate. I really find it harder with off white plastic dipsticks on some of them and clean oil.

[mistergood]

Thanks for the quick replies guys. This info is reassuring. I did change the filter. I have changed the oil in my and my mother's cars for years, but they were always gassers and, as stated, the oil remained essentially clear for at least a few hundred miles. It was just concerning when it got dark so quickly. Thanks again!

[Douglas.Sherida]

It sounds like you did it just right, don't worry about it.

Its a well know fact that a diesel engine can soot up oil before it even leaves the bottle.

[Matt L]

The last time I changed the oil in my '96 606, I sucked it out of the dipstick tube. I also raised the rear of the car a few inches to help the process.

The oil was hard to see on the dipstick 100 miles later. After about 150 miles, it was just starting to get a bit of color.

Previously, I had used the drain on the pan, and the oil was rather dark immediately upon starting the engine.

[vstech]

Originally Posted by Matt L

The last time I changed the oil in my '96 606, I sucked it out of the dipstick tube. I also raised the rear of the car a few inches to help the process.

The oil was hard to see on the dipstick 100 miles later. After about 150 miles, it was just starting to get a bit of color.

Previously, I had used the drain on the pan, and the oil was rather dark immediately upon starting the engine.

my bet is you didn't regularly change the oil before the DT method. that motor is REALLY clean compared to the old 617's either method would have resulted in the same distance of clear oil.

good point about raising the rear of the car to drain the oil. I hate that the drain plug is on the front of the pan, so if you raise the front, you are leaving over a quart in the bottom of the pan. these cars are obviously designed for factory service on a lift!

only thing I can offer to aid in getting the most out of the pan, is do the filter FIRST! and don't put the new filter in until you have the pan bolt back in.

[Matt L]

Originally Posted by vstech

my bet is you didn't regularly change the oil before the DT method. that motor is REALLY clean compared to the old 617's either method would have resulted in the same distance of clear oil.

You lose that bet in spades.

And yes, I do remove the filter while the oil is draining. I don't put the new filter back until the oil is back in the engine. The filter housing is an ideal place to add the oil.

[Stevo]

Not sure about that theory that "ALL" diesels have black oil after a hundred miles or so (my newly rebuilt 616's oil got dirty fast) due to the soot being suspended yada, yada
I was amazed to see the oil in my Dodge/Cummens stay honey colored for 3k, I mean almost what it looked like when I poured it in.

[charmalu]

I always buy the pre sooted oil, that way I don`t feel so bad when
it changes color.
any body ever add too much oil, like 16 qts? don`t ask

how about loosing a drain plug?
charlie

[AvonGil]

In older mercedes diesels, just running them for 1 minute turns the oil Jet black. You done good kid.

In the newer aluminum engines, it takes much longer as I am learning. I am quite amazed at the 606...