Basic 'test' of engine oil

[Volvoman]

Saw 'somewhere ' that a good indicator if your engine oil is shot is to put a drop on top water & if it tends to bead it is okay, if it dispearses ( spreads out) without any beading you should be looking to change it. Did this test on some new oil, so this checks out, then checked my wifes saab 95 eninge oil & it spread straight away , no beading at all . What concerns me is the car has only done 1k miles on this oil ( car is only doing approx 80-100 miles a week on very short trips) ; oil is also very dark.Not burning any oil, no smoke from exhaust etc & engine sounds okay
Any views on this one?
Thanks in advance

 

[simple_gifts]

This might be a good technique around the time of the Magna Carta.

I'm sure there is a scientific reason for the mentioned behavior, to base an oil change on this is hardly scientific; doing a used oil analysis should give you an indication of the suitability of the oil. Run 2K miles and send in a sample, if it comes back ok, you can rest nights.

edit:corrected my poor Latin.

 

[jorton]

I watched my FIL clean battery terminals with water and a paint brush. Water probably attacks corrosion and contamination in used oil.

 

[oilyriser]

Fresh oil didn't bead up for me, until I tried non-detergent.