So, I changed my oil today and two things happened. Before I go into that...I bought some oil from a local ranch store that was being discontinued. It's called "Lube King" and its a farm fleet 15w-40 HD oil. It was $13 for a 2 gallon jug that was being discontinued. I figured since it's CJ-4, how could I go wrong? So that part is out of the way....

I decided to pull my fuse panel while the oil drained so I could finally install my TS **** in an exsiting hole where the EB switch was placed. In the process, I managed to pull the chip out on accident. I am not even sure what it hung up on, but there it was hanging down. I kinda panciked, disconnected my batteries, and installed the ****, as well as the chip, back into the PCM.

Fast forward to starting the truck...everything seemed normal, got the WTS light, etc...and truck fired right up. I immediately noticed a slightly different cadence or sound to the idle. It's slightly missing...and I am just floored and pissed. I definitely noticed it when I stopped to get fuel and thought it was because I ran the fuel too low. Nope, problem still persists. It's idling like it did with the GH issue. I pulled the chip...same thing...running kinda crappy. has plenty of power and boost, but idling weird and shaky.

The only other time this happened is with my '97 OBS when I veered from its steady diet of Rotella. It idled rough and weird form the start. I changed back to Rotella and problem solved. It was back to sounding like it should. I am REALLY wondering if that is the issue here. Maybe it's just a matter of sub par oil. It's happened before and our HEUI systems are finicky at times.

I guess my three questions are....

1) Change back to Rotella?
2) Could the chip having been pulled harmed the PCM?
3) Has this happened to anyone else after switching to a cheaper oil?

I know, kind of all over the place. Thanks for any input!

 

All I have to add is that my truck ran crappy on the 10-30w gasser oil the chebby dealer I bought the truck from has put in. Response from their "mechanic" was, "oil is oil." Switching it soon after to the 5w-40 I've been running for the last 25,000 miles made a fair bit of difference.

Other than that I have no idea. But I'm subscribing!

 

These engines seem to be as finicky as cats when it comes to the oil. Mine sounds and starts better on Rotella T than it did on the Mobil 1 that the PO had in it.

 

Oops. Disregard the PM as I assumed the pickup was running when the chip was disconnected.

I install and remove chips more than any person alive (presumably). There is no danger at all of installing/removing the chip with the batteries disconnected or even with the keys in the ignition lock cylinder. However, if the key is in the run position with the engine running or not, you just bought a PCM and a chip (unless you are extremely lucky).

The tuning on the chip is not going to change from a disconnect/removal/install.

 

Thanks guys. Crisis averted. I just bought an expensive oil change. I dumped that oil and put Rotella back in with a new filter. I know the oil doesn't make a difference in most vehicles, but I swear the truck is back to normal and idling smooth as silk. I even did a hard run to make sure there wasn't a hot idle issue. Nope, all seems to be good. Ah well....engine flush I guess. Sorry for taking everybody for a ride.

 

Not a ride at all... we all learned not to overlook the oil, even if the label says CJ-4.

 

Thanks Rich. I know most would say it's in my head and that oil is oil, but this has happened to me two times now in two different 7.3s. Another thing to note is that the oil smelled like PCMO and not HD oil. You know how diesel oil has a very slight gear oil smell? It does to me anyway. This oil had no HD smell at all and was very light colored coming out of the bottle. The Rotella, though clean and clear, has a slightly darker tinge to it. So, all that to say who knows about this cheap discontinued oil I bought? I don't usually change oils, but it was a CJ-4 farm fleet oil for $13/gallon, so I thought "score!"....not so much.

It may have been alright had I used it all along or if it was going in another diesel application (think Cummins or Duramax or Farmall) but not us. Dance with the one who bring ya Lesson learned....again

 

Good read. I've always been rather finicky on my oil selection, if only because you never really know what kind of additive package a low-priced oil may be using. Sort of the same thing with cheap gas.

But for $26, your engine flush is probably worth it. There are probably far too many threads on here discussing the pros and cons of draining the HPOP reservoir during oils changes, well you just accomplished that, including the HPOP, all oil lines & galleries, injectors, everything.

 

New rotella have the ck-4 label?

 

It does, but that doesn't bother me any more than the CJ-4 did when it hit the shelves. Everyone thought that was a bad oil, but it proved to be nothing to worry about. I don't think any of the big oils have CJ-4 any longer. I am only seeing it in these rural farm fleet oils (JD, Travelers, Rural King). I am sure they are good oils IF I had been using it from the beginning. Who knows? I am just WAGing at this point.

 

Did a little research on Lube King 15w-40 Diesel oil. Could not find the HD designation though. Anyway it is specified for 2007 diesel engines or later, due to the newer emission standards and advanced sensors.

From the spec sheet ...

"Lube King's SAE 15W-40 all fleet diesel engine oil is designed for engines built in 2007 or later that require an oil rated API CJ-4 or CI-4 Plus. It has exceptional resistance to thermal degradation, and it keeps soot suspended in the oil instead of in your engine components."

Probably not a good thing when using a high pressure oil pump, doesn't play nice.

 

wouldn't this then allow the oil to carry the soot to the oil filter, where it goes away forever, and never reach the HPOP and injectors?

 

part of the push behind CJ-4 oils was too increase the oils ability to hold onto soot, without harmful viscosity thickening. Something that was needed with the increased use of EGR based emissions controls at the time of implementation (2006). You'll find that line on most CJ-4 bottles from most brands.