Burning used motor oil in a Cummins

[dhamblet]

Last oil change I drained the used oil into a clean container and dumped the black used Rotella back into my fuel tank slowly mixing it with a tank of Diesel.  Truck seemed to run just fine.  I suppose this act may shorten the life of my fuel filter -- no big deal cause I change it regularly anyway.  The oil should have been pretty clean since I use a Franz bypass filter on the truck.  I'd avoid burning used synthetic oil but does anyone see a problem recycling used Rotella. 

Secondary benefit of this is occasionally some dyed off road diesel finds its way into the tank (by accident of course when I get my tractor fuel mixed up).  I've never been checked but I understand there are those that have.  Used black motor oil would obscure any traces of the dye

Comments

[Buford445]

I have read a article about this I will see if I can find it, but they filtered it with two filters and a magnet

[lilfroger]

I'm gonna move this thread into the Cummins section...we often talk about alt fuels there also.

[lilfroger]

As for burning motor oil...what I've read is it blows your emissions way out of the water.  I don't think I'd do it for long that's for sure.

[Batman]

Burning used oil in the 5.9s is just fine (I believe the DPF on 6.7s would have some issues).  As you said it does take a toll on the fuel filter (unless you set up a filter rig for yourself to filter it before you put it in the tank).  Just stay WAY away from tranny fluid, it has all kinds of crazy additives that will eventually gum up injectors and such.

[Scott91370]

So we can really take our used oil, filter it and dump it in the tank?  That's pretty cool.  Mines a 2001 so I don't have to worry about all the new emissions.  Does it do anything to the fuel mileage?

[Buford445]

My fear is any micron of metal getting through into the injectors

[dhamblet]

My fear is any micron of metal getting through into the injectors

Isn't that what your fuel filter is for?  I wouldn't want anything metal or non-metallic getting into the injectors unless it could pass on thru.

[Justviper1]

I would be careful on an 01.  If any metal got past the fuel filter and got into the VP44 i think it is safe to say good bye to it.  The VP is touchy since the fuel lubes it so personally i wouldn't put used oil in it.  I have put good clean oil in that has just been a real old bottle on the shelf to get rid of it before though.

[mayfair]

Anything you ever wanted or need to know about adding any kind of oil to your fuel can be found here.

http://mopar.mopar1973man.com/2002-dodge/tips-and-tricks/2-cycle-oil/2-cycle-oil.htm

[jakebrake]

Anything the fuel filter dont catch aint gonna hurt your pump or injectors none. Thats what the fuel filter is there for. If your gonna burn it, I would make sure your drain pan is clean before draining the engine oil and I wouldnt drain the oil filter out into it either. Then just pour it in the tank.

[DBLR]

I would run the oil through a no less then two 3 micron or smaller filters and over several magnets to remove any metal before you put it in your tank. The only synthetic oils you would need to worry about is Amsoil or Redline or any oil that is made from 100% man made group IV or V base stock. Most off the shelf synthetic oils like Rotella, Castrol ect are made from group III crude oil base stock.

[swany]

Interesting subject.

I am a retired truck fleet manager. About 4 years now. On my last job I operated 65 tractors. Most of them Cummins but I had Macks and Detriot Diesels too. The Cummins engine company used to sell a machine that had 3 hoses. Two of them dropped into the fuel tank and one connected to a quick coupler on  the oil pan. The machine had a pump and two spin-on filters. It would suck diesel out of the fuel tank while it sucked engine oil out of the crankcase. It would mix them, filter them, and return the diesel \ oil mixture to the fuel tank to be burned on the next trip out.

Made for a real fast oil change. The mechanic would put the machine to work and while it was doing its thing he would change the oil filter. Then disconnect the machine and fill with oil. The whole process was blessed by Cummins. Mack and Detriot Diesel said no way though. I did this for about 15 years and never had a problem with it.

There was also some hardware available that would draw a metered amount of oil from the crankcase while the truck was being operated and burn it with the fuel. It replaced it with oil from an on-board oil tank. This was a perpetual oil change. The serviceman would just have to change the oil filter and refill the oil tank every 25000 miles or so.

I considered switching to this equipment, but I retired instead.

[NickBeek]

Swany is right, I've read about the on board "perpetual oil change" stuff on the Cummins web site. A guy that drag races 12V trucks has an old 12V parts / shop truck that runs on 100% drain oil!

I don't think I would run high percentages in my CR truck. If I were going to do this it would be mixed as an additive (200:1 or so).

[mayfair]

Whoa that's pretty cool !!