Another question about this bucket truck. 98 year model 3500hd. Had decent "looking" oil on the dip stick when we purchased. We have only put about 600 road miles on it but we have had some major tree jobs and the truck has been idling for 12 hours straight on a 7 different days. (with boom operating). I checked the oil after the last day of cutting and I have never seen oil in any vehicle as black as this oil. Is there something about idling for extended periods that does this? I'm talking blacker than black here. 15-40 was in there. How many hours = oil change?

Also thought I had the stalling fixed, but she has done it some more. I think she just doesn't like getting up early... If she stalls while going down the road
all you have to do is push the pedal to the floor and poof... she is running again and may not stall for days...lol

Diesel oil turns pretty dark black. The 6.5 that always comes into my work has really black oil it is always darker them my d-max has been.

6.5s are prety "dark" as I like to call them, you can change the oil, drive into town for some milk, and your oil will be BLACK!

I'm not sure on how many hours you can run per oil change, but the oil in 6.5s can get pretty black. I have stains on a couple of my shirts to prove it.. lol.

Idling them for long periods of time can do damage. Ask WhiteK2500. His truck belonged to a welder(i believe) and it was idled to death. Get yourself a High idle setup. That'll put less stress on everything for long periods of idling.

The 98 you can install 2 high idle switches and get 3 total RPM changes. first is 1070, 2nd is 1360, and 3rd is 1600 RPM.

Ok, thanks guys... I was a little shocked, I compared it to my 07 F250, which has been neglected because we are so busy... about 3000 miles over for oil change, tows our trailers around all day and the oil is light brown. (also holds 15 quarts though)

I guess maybe?.. I should look into the high idle kit? We have one switch on the boom that when held makes all the boom movements twice as fast. when you hold that switch the truck idles up to about 1100. otherwise it is at dead idle when moving the boom around.

Would reving the truck up every 15 minutes or so be better than just straight idling? When we take a 15 min break should we shut the truck off, then restart it to get back to work? What is better for it? High Idle kit be the best thing here?

Ok, thanks guys... I was a little shocked, I compared it to my 07 F250, which has been neglected because we are so busy... about 3000 miles over for oil change, tows our trailers around all day and the oil is light brown. (also holds 15 quarts though)

I guess maybe?.. I should look into the high idle kit? We have one switch on the boom that when held makes all the boom movements twice as fast. when you hold that switch the truck idles up to about 1100. otherwise it is at dead idle when moving the boom around.

Would reving the truck up every 15 minutes or so be better than just straight idling? When we take a 15 min break should we shut the truck off, then restart it to get back to work? What is better for it? High Idle kit be the best thing here?


the high idle kit is a good idea. Send WhiteK2500 a PM. he has a write up on how to build one and what you need for parts. I have a high idle kit in my pickup and it makes winter warm ups faster. In the case of the boom, a little more engine speed can't hurt i'd say.

There is information about the OBDII High Idle (96+) in the FAQ sticky :).

general rule hours per oil change 150 maybe 200, but just stick to 150.

6.5s are prety "dark" as I like to call them, you can change the oil, drive into town for some milk, and your oil will be BLACK!

Haha yea for sure. All diesels do it but and the 6.5 is no exeption. I changed the oil, started it and it was all ready black. Tractors that run on the higher sulfur diesel are even worse if you can imagine that.

Change oil, start truck and idle for 2 minutes. Check oil and its black. Just something diesels do.:confuzeld