2021 3500 First Oil Analysis

[CdnHO]

The truck was bought new in April of 2021. 67% of the miles have been towing a large fifth wheel. Typical amount of idling and is around 15 percent. Truck has about 26000 miles so fairly new engine as far as diesels go. I change the oil annually, around 6000 miles and the first oil change was done at 2000 miles. This oil had 6100 miles on it. Have used Rotella T6 5W40 since new and changed to Premium Blue 5W40 for my last oil change. Truck runs and sounds great. As you can see, fuel dilution is no issue and regens take place at reasonable intervals. I do run Archoil in the fuel which might account for the high potassium. Obviously the iron and aluminum numbers concern me. Truck runs and sounds great. No unusual noises. Looking for thoughts on the results. Will resample at the next oil change.

 

[Jmonty]

not an oil expert but their comment about wear materials is scary Think I might start doing samples to keep an eye on that stuff for my new truck :|

 

[regal2800]

The iron in particular seems very high obviously. I would ask Blackstone to re run the oil sample in the even there was some glitch in reporting or testing. My '19 also had higher than what I thought was normal iron even though my UOA reports always came back green.

Maybe start a discussion with the dealer? If the truck still works well im not sure they will do any preemptive repairs but still might worth talking to them.

 

[CdnHO]

The iron in particular seems very high obviously. I would ask Blackstone to re run the oil sample in the even there was some glitch in reporting or testing. My '19 also had higher than what I thought was normal iron even though my UOA reports always came back green.

Maybe start a discussion with the dealer? If the truck still works well im not sure they will do any preemptive repairs but still might worth talking to them.

Monitor labs did the analysis. I believe they are a division of Fleetguard or at least associated with them. I would like to do another analysis in the spring before making any decisions. At this point the values are not showing as "critical". If the values continue to deteriorate then I will be look at a new truck. I suspect that I may be looking into the beginnings of a lifter failure.

 

[56ram2500]

The truck was bought new in April of 2021. 67% of the miles have been towing a large fifth wheel. Typical amount of idling and is around 15 percent. Truck has about 26000 miles so fairly new engine as far as diesels go. I change the oil annually, around 6000 miles and the first oil change was done at 2000 miles. This oil had 6100 miles on it. Have used Rotella T6 5W40 since new and changed to Premium Blue 5W40 for my last oil change. Truck runs and sounds great. As you can see, fuel dilution is no issue and regens take place at reasonable intervals. I do run Archoil in the fuel which might account for the high potassium. Obviously the iron and aluminum numbers concern me. Truck runs and sounds great. No unusual noises. Looking for thoughts on the results. Will resample at the next oil change.

Being I use Archoil 6500 in every tank and the 6400d every 5K, based on my UOA report from Fleetguard your high potassium is not from using Archoil, I'm glad you switched away from Rotella T-6 I found out it does not hold up well in some engines with elevated oil contamination. I suggest that on your next UOA to ask them to do CG for Fuel Dilution instead of guessing, I request it on every one of my Fleetguard oil test, in fact I print out an 8x11 sheet of paper with all the truck & engine info they need, by sending the added sheet there is no questions or guess work if a person can read my chicken scratch's on that small piece of paper they give you to put your info on, below is what I put on my note section: After I list my account number on the top of the paper I have this: *** Please See Notes Below***

Diesel Fuel Additives Used: Archoil 6500 & Archoil 6400D

*** NOTES: Please Do not Estimate Fuel Dilution for this engines oil sample. Please perform a GC test regardless of what any other values are. This engine does not idle for long periods of time. Questions call or text me, THANK YOU…

 

[Units]

I’ve seen a few people talk about using Rotella and their UOA results / TBN # coming back terrible. Just for reference, I change my oil right at about 11k. I did one UOA @ about 21k and one @ about 42k and use 5w40 in the premium blue flavor and both of my TBN #’s are much better that what you are seeing and you’re only at half the miles.

 

[OLEJOE]

I’ve seen a few people talk about using Rotella and their UOA results / TBN # coming back terrible. Just for reference, I change my oil right at about 11k. I did one UOA @ about 21k and one @ about 42k and use 5w40 in the premium blue flavor and both of my TBN #’s are much better that what you are seeing and you’re only at half the miles.

View attachment 90404

I would like to see the rest of your UOA to compare to mine.

 

[Trash Panda]

I’ve seen a few people talk about using Rotella and their UOA results / TBN # coming back terrible. Just for reference, I change my oil right at about 11k. I did one UOA @ about 21k and one @ about 42k and use 5w40 in the premium blue flavor and both of my TBN #’s are much better that what you are seeing and you’re only at half the miles.

View attachment 90404

Rotella is indeed generic dog water as far as synthetic diesel oil goes. Only thing it has going for it, is that its cheapish.

Riding the coat tails of their conventional 15-40 that guys ran for years in the old non emissions trucks.

 

[OLEJOE]

Rotella is indeed generic dog water as far as synthetic diesel oil goes. Only thing it has going for it, is that its cheapish.

Riding the coat tails of their conventional 15-40 that guys ran for years in the old non emissions trucks.

Rotella T was the man.

 

[Units]

I would like to see the rest of your UOA to compare to mine.

There you are good sir. The 2nd sample took several weeks to get to its destination, gotta love snail mail.
Edit: I did mention that I used archoil additives on the 2nd UOA and they took that comment into consideration. I figured it may skew the analysis.

 

[OLEJOE]

View attachment 90405

There you are good sir. The 2nd sample took several weeks to get to its destination, gotta love snail mail.
Edit: I did mention that I used archoil additives on the 2nd UOA and they took that comment into consideration. I figured it may skew the analysis.

Thank you sir. Yeah I know what you mean about the snail mail. I ordered a filter coming from 200 miles away and it took a week to get here.

 

[Jnrcarson]

Here’s a loaded question. My 2022 only has 15,000 miles on it. Not my daily. Dealer did the first oil change for free. I did the second one and am about to so the third. Dealer uses Rotella and I did also. Have not done an oil analysis. So…….whats the best oil to use ???

 

[CdnHO]

Here’s a loaded question. My 2022 only has 15,000 miles on it. Not my daily. Dealer did the first oil change for free. I did the second one and am about to so the third. Dealer uses Rotella and I did also. Have not done an oil analysis. So…….whats the best oil to use ???

I don't have any hard data but I just switched to Valvoline Premium Blue 10W40 from Rotella T6. I have always used Rotella until now but with all the engine issues (even if relatively rare) I don't have the warm fuzzy feeling about Rotella. Besides, with the Cummins on the Valvoline label, I figured maybe they know something I don't. Of course it could just be marketing hype. I am not sold on the designer motor oils although I do use their gear oils. I change oil annually at 6000 miles.

 

[OLEJOE]

Here’s a loaded question. My 2022 only has 15,000 miles on it. Not my daily. Dealer did the first oil change for free. I did the second one and am about to so the third. Dealer uses Rotella and I did also. Have not done an oil analysis. So…….whats the best oil to use ???

I’ll give you my opinion and that’s all it is. If you’re going to run the changes out until the OLM says to change it, then I would suggest one of the boutique oils, Amsoil, HPL, Redline etc. If you’re going to change it at 5-6-7k miles then one of the off the shelf oils will suffice, Valvoline, Mobil Delvac, Chevron etc

 

[Jnrcarson]

I’ll give you my opinion and that’s all it is. If you’re going to run the changes out until the OLM says to change it, then I would suggest one of the boutique oils, Amsoil, HPL, Redline etc. If you’re going to change it at 5-6-7k miles then one of the off the shelf oils will suffice, Valvoline, Mobil Delvac, Chevron etc

Doing yearly oil changes now. Less than 5000 miles driven per year.

 

[OLEJOE]

Doing yearly oil changes now. Less than 5000 miles driven per year.

I’m running Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme 5-40. I don’t think brand makes a difference as long as it carries the specifications, CES 20086, CK4. Some list ms-10902 some don’t. The Valvoline is easy for me to get and actually cheaper than Rotella T6 at Walmart getting it on sale at NAPA.

 

[regal2800]

View attachment 90405

There you are good sir. The 2nd sample took several weeks to get to its destination, gotta love snail mail.
Edit: I did mention that I used archoil additives on the 2nd UOA and they took that comment into consideration. I figured it may skew the analysis.

I know it came back green, but I really hate how high the iron PPM is on the '19-24. So far my '25 iron is much lower but it still has the same valve train design....

 

[Units]

I know it came back green, but I really hate how high the iron PPM is on the '19-24. So far my '25 iron is much lower but it still has the same valve train design....

The one that is green is the first one at 20k. The second one at 40k, right below that one is about half that. I just attributed that to the motor still being new, but we shall see if the downward trend is consistent at 60k.

 

[OLEJOE]

I know it came back green, but I really hate how high the iron PPM is on the '19-24. So far my '25 iron is much lower but it still has the same valve train design....

Then the iron may not be from the valve train ? Ram 2500 is ranked #9 on the top 10 lists of non selling vehicles. Ram/Stelantis has shot themselves in the foot with their not solving these and other issues on these vehicles. Lots of people are changing brands. Yes the other brands have troubles too but they are taking care of them. I don’t want or can afford another truck but I don’t want to spend what retirement savings I have to keep this one running. If I do have to get another truck it will not be a Ram of any shape, form or fashion.

 

[Units]

Then the iron may not be from the valve train ? Ram 2500 is ranked #9 on the top 10 lists of non selling vehicles. Ram/Stelantis has shot themselves in the foot with their not solving these and other issues on these vehicles. Lots of people are changing brands. Yes the other brands have troubles too but they are taking care of them. I don’t want or can afford another truck but I don’t want to spend what retirement savings I have to keep this one running. If I do have to get another truck it will not be a Ram of any shape, form or fashion.

Yup, I had my old truck for damn near 20yrs (should’ve kept it) saved and put a large chunk of money down for this one, so at least until the power train warranty is over it ride or die.