Green Rotella?
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Green Rotella?
I have seen a few others here that have noticed a green tint to Rotella T when checking their oil and wiping the dipstick off, acording to an e-mail response from Shell this is not normal, do I have a problem and if so where should I start looking?
Thanks
John
Thanks
John
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Jefferson, Iowa
Sounds like anti-freeze is getting in your oil. The most common problem i have seen is the injector seals, little o-rings. I would check those and post back. Send in an oil analysis and see if it is anti-freeze, only 20 dollar from blackstone labs. Alot cheaper than a new motor. Have you noticed decreasing coolant levels or anything? Have you added the anti-cavative additive ( say that 10 times fast ) into the coolant?
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tjc1989 and 78fordman
Thanks for the responses, I have not noticed any decrease in the coolant level and have checked the coolant with the napa test strips and no prob there, the injectors are original and have probably never been serviced, I bought the truck with 78k miles on it and now have 98k on it, the po changed the oil every 3k and did standard maintance but not much else. I'll get a test kit from blackstone and see what they say. How difficult is it to replace injector seals?
Thanks again
John
Thanks for the responses, I have not noticed any decrease in the coolant level and have checked the coolant with the napa test strips and no prob there, the injectors are original and have probably never been serviced, I bought the truck with 78k miles on it and now have 98k on it, the po changed the oil every 3k and did standard maintance but not much else. I'll get a test kit from blackstone and see what they say. How difficult is it to replace injector seals?
Thanks again
John
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lockport, Il
I wouldnt lose sleep just yet My truck only has 13,000 miles i also noticed in very direct sunlight a slight tinge of green and my truck has yellow collant if you compare it side by side with a little bit of gear oil right out of the bottle in the same direct sunlight it appears the same i worried about it till i compared them diesel dummy
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From: Bonney Lake, WA
Sending off a sample for analysis is a good idea, but you can probably find a place in Atlanta to do it quicker, and get your results back sooner. I'd check with your local International dealer, and see who they recommend.
When all is said and done, if you've got 98K on the original O-rings, my money is on you needing to replace them.
Call me if you run into any problems, John.
Scott.
When all is said and done, if you've got 98K on the original O-rings, my money is on you needing to replace them.
Call me if you run into any problems, John.
Scott.
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diesel dummy
Thanks for the reply...I'm not too worried yet but I want to catch a small problem before it turns into a 5 or 6 thousand dollar problem. It's probably time for o-rings anyway and I can take this opputunity to change glowplugs whilst im in there. Wish I had the coins for a infusion of swamps. The po took pretty good care of the truck as I said earlier but I'm finding small things like this, can you believe he bought a Do#&ge to replace this awesome truck with? No acounting for taste LOL
Thanks again
John
Thanks for the reply...I'm not too worried yet but I want to catch a small problem before it turns into a 5 or 6 thousand dollar problem. It's probably time for o-rings anyway and I can take this opputunity to change glowplugs whilst im in there. Wish I had the coins for a infusion of swamps. The po took pretty good care of the truck as I said earlier but I'm finding small things like this, can you believe he bought a Do#&ge to replace this awesome truck with? No acounting for taste LOL
Thanks again
John
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Quad
Thanks for the help and phone time, gonna get some things together and tackle this on Saturday, supposed to be in the 60's here so good truck working weather.
John
Thanks for the help and phone time, gonna get some things together and tackle this on Saturday, supposed to be in the 60's here so good truck working weather.
John
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2002
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Sorry but I seriously doubt you have a problem with coolant in the oil. I have noticed the green tint of the Rotella also, even after the first oil change I did on my brand new 02 model.
Are you replacing the orings yourself. To be honest I wouldn't fool with it if you don't have symptoms. I did my own, its not a fun job and takes a while. Are you using more then 2 quarts of oil every 2000 miles or so? Does your fuel filter have oil on it after changing it and leaving the old one out in the air to evaporate the diesel fuel? Is the oil filter black?
These are some of the signs of bad orings.
Having the shop replace them is $1200 or more.
Good luck if you do it yourself. Incidentally, to take off the right side cover, you prob'ly have to remove the plastic housing covering the evap coil. On my '98 there was a bolt coming thru the firewall near the floor board under the glove box that took me a while to find.
Shell never replied to me about the green tint either. I went back to Motorcraft oil.
Are you replacing the orings yourself. To be honest I wouldn't fool with it if you don't have symptoms. I did my own, its not a fun job and takes a while. Are you using more then 2 quarts of oil every 2000 miles or so? Does your fuel filter have oil on it after changing it and leaving the old one out in the air to evaporate the diesel fuel? Is the oil filter black?
These are some of the signs of bad orings.
Having the shop replace them is $1200 or more.
Good luck if you do it yourself. Incidentally, to take off the right side cover, you prob'ly have to remove the plastic housing covering the evap coil. On my '98 there was a bolt coming thru the firewall near the floor board under the glove box that took me a while to find.
Shell never replied to me about the green tint either. I went back to Motorcraft oil.
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greg_23805
Yes I'm going to do them myself, don't have 1200 smackers for a stealership
No oil on fuel filter and not low on oil either. Another symptom which I didn't realize was a symptom is when I start it up theres a small amount of vapor (like a gasser warming up) coming from the exhaust. I'm pretty sure the previous owner never had anything done to the injectors so it's probably time, and while the weather is almost nice here in Atlanta gonna go ahead, also have a couple of glow plugs to replace. Shell got back to me in 2 days but only with a "not normal" answer so that's what got me thinking I may have a problem.
Thanks
John
Yes I'm going to do them myself, don't have 1200 smackers for a stealership
No oil on fuel filter and not low on oil either. Another symptom which I didn't realize was a symptom is when I start it up theres a small amount of vapor (like a gasser warming up) coming from the exhaust. I'm pretty sure the previous owner never had anything done to the injectors so it's probably time, and while the weather is almost nice here in Atlanta gonna go ahead, also have a couple of glow plugs to replace. Shell got back to me in 2 days but only with a "not normal" answer so that's what got me thinking I may have a problem.Thanks
John
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From: Bonney Lake, WA
When I pulled the valve covers to do my O-rings, I didn't have to remove any of the A/C stuff, but it was tight. The bolts in back of each valve cover are hard to get to, and some find it easier to get the one on the passenger's side from underneath, but I managed from the top. Once the rear bolts are out, getting the valve cover off takes a little doing, but it can be done. The #8 injector is a little tough to get to, but it only took me a day to replace all the O-rings and glow plugs.
I didn't know about Rotella's tendency to show a green tinge. I'm thinking that an oil analysis is more in order than before. You can always do the O-rings as preventive maintenance later, but I'd get the results back on the analysis first. Waiting a little while isn't going to hurt your truck.
I didn't know about Rotella's tendency to show a green tinge. I'm thinking that an oil analysis is more in order than before. You can always do the O-rings as preventive maintenance later, but I'd get the results back on the analysis first. Waiting a little while isn't going to hurt your truck.
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Thanks for all the replies! I just went and compared a dipstick sample (I know real acurate LOL) with a friend who has Rotella in his 03 Duramax, the coloring was pretty much the same except mine was a little dirtier, going to wait for the oil analysis to come back before I do anything else.
Thanks to everyone, you folks help keep my panic-meter on the low end of the scale.
Happy Dieseling
John
Thanks to everyone, you folks help keep my panic-meter on the low end of the scale.
Happy Dieseling
John
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 727
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From: Seaside NJ
If this helps, I've been using Rotella and nothing but since my truck was new, The very first oil change I did at 3000 miles had that green tinge that you are questioning. I would guess that it is normal, but I will watch this thread closely to see what developes. And From what you guys are saying about the glow plugs and o-rings, I would think that I am do as well at 115000 miles.
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The saga continues.......
After being reminded by my grandfather that oil and water don't mix, he took a sample of my oil and put it into a jar of water and pronounced it coolant free. Oil stays at the top and the coolant doesn't so if there had been any there the water would have been greenish. Simple test for a little peace of mind. This is by no means a substitute for a true oil analysis but a way to keep from losing sleep or going crazy until you get your analysis back.
Thanks for all the responses. Happy Dieseling
John
After being reminded by my grandfather that oil and water don't mix, he took a sample of my oil and put it into a jar of water and pronounced it coolant free. Oil stays at the top and the coolant doesn't so if there had been any there the water would have been greenish. Simple test for a little peace of mind. This is by no means a substitute for a true oil analysis but a way to keep from losing sleep or going crazy until you get your analysis back.
Thanks for all the responses. Happy Dieseling
John
Last edited by jharvey3; Feb 22, 2004 at 03:47 PM.
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: MN
Did you get your sample back and did you get some results that account for the greenish tint? I have the same thing, I went to ford and the diesel mech says "no problem looks like good clean oil" " Dont worry about it, enjoy your psd" I called Rotella and they are supose to send me a sample bottle and want me to take a sample and send it to them. On the phone the best idea was Maybe a green leak detector had been added to the oil at some time and this was maybe some residual left over. (however there was no green tint with Motor Craft oil) I was assured by the Diesel Mech and the Rotella rep that it was not coolant, and there is not odor of fuel in the oil.