Can a GDI engine blacken oil in just 25 miles? (See pics)

[Triple_Se7en]

My GDI engine oil stays clear on the dipstick reading for 1k. I've regularly done 3k OCIs since new over six years ago.

TGDI engines may produce black oil much earlier. TGDI vehicle Buyers / Owners beware.

 

[chris719]

My GDI engine oil stays clear on the dipstick reading for 1k. I've regularly done 3k OCIs since new over six years ago.

TGDI engines may produce black oil much earlier. TGDI vehicle Buyers / Owners beware.

My Castrol Edge Supercar 10W-60 turned dark within 100 miles on a port injected engine that runs clean. I don’t think it has anything to do with the factors mentioned but everything to do with the additive package of the oil.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Turbo engines can turn oil dark.

 

[cryptolyme]

this is one of the reasons i still change my own oil. its a numbers game. most folks that take it to a dealer for oil change don't look at the oil with the exceptions of bitog folks . kinda like timing belts . they charge for 10 and only really do 2 of them . they give you a 12 month 12k mile warranty . How many do you think will break in that 12k miles?

the only experience like this was when my mother took her honda to get oil changed. they charged her oil and filter. the next oil change i found the same filter from the previous oil change before that was still on there. i know because it was not a honda oem filter

for some reason, Honda tells them to change the oil filter every other oil change. my dealership doesn't do that though. they always change the filter.

 

[Tom NJ]

Finally got the oil analysis back on this 25 mile sample (took the USPS over a month to get the oil sample to Blackstone!) The analysis concurs that this is fresh oil despite the dark color. Some of the color may be from residual used oil left behind in the drain, although it appears that this engine just darkens oil quickly. The add Pack has changed a bit, perhaps because the Nissan bulk oil supplier had changed. Viscosity of 8.2 cSt is what I would expect from a fresh 0w-20 oil. I suspect the low phosphorus is due to Blackstone calibration error as the Zn/P ratio is too high (1.26 vs 1.06 theory), and I doubt any major would ship an out-of-spec oil.

 

[RDY4WAR]

That add pack looks rather skimpy. Only 496 phosphorus?

 

[iCurious]

The oil is fresh but was the oil filter new? Perhaps they did not change the oil filter?

 

[MParr]

25 miles and a 390 Flashpoint?

 

[Tom NJ]

The oil is fresh but was the oil filter new? Perhaps they did not change the oil filter?

That's possible.

 

[Tom NJ]

25 miles and a 390 Flashpoint?

A very inaccurate test, but still noteworthy.

 

[facility1]

maybe some cheap bulk 5w-30 Mobil oil is what it looks like,will work ok though providing the test is somewhat accurate or the oil was never changed?

 

[1444buicking]

Our 2013 Buick LaCrosse (2.4 LUK) oil was getting pretty black after a few days of driving. Oil consumption was getting worse too.

Turns out the PCV orifice was completely blocked with carbon. The orifice is located in the intake manifold. We cleaned the orifice and checked the intake runners for flow.

Oil consumption dropped a lot and the oil does not get black anymore, just begins browning a bit after a few months.

 

[notharry]

A very inaccurate test, but still noteworthy.

I would hope that that they would not give false results. If this is the case, I would recommend that everyone discontinues using blackstone labs for their testing. I am just a novice at this stuff mostly but why would we test a sample if its going to be wrong?

That being said. if it’s in fact correct, why? Are you able to check the PVC system and if not i would go to the dealer and ask them for a virgin oil sample. If they refuse, that tells it all. If the PVC system if faulty, leaving it the way it is is detrimental i would think. Not sure if you ran Fuel injector cleaner already but I would.

In the end it just may be the oil that they are using, or a quick spill and fill with lots of oil remaining in the crankcase or a skipped oil filter replacement. I watched Jiffy lube do a change and they dont waste anytime reinstalling the drain plug after a drain and I belive this is common practice. To be fair, they dont have the time to let it drain for 5 minutes. Its in and out and in the end it may not realy matter.

Please keep us abreast as this is interesting. Edit... is it synthetic?

 

[Tom NJ]

I would hope that that they would not give false results. If this is the case, I would recommend that everyone discontinues using blackstone labs for their testing. I am just a novice at this stuff mostly but why would we test a sample if its going to be wrong?

That being said. if it’s in fact correct, why? Are you able to check the PVC system and if not i would go to the dealer and ask them for a virgin oil sample. If they refuse, that tells it all. If the PVC system if faulty, leaving it the way it is is detrimental i would think. Not sure if you ran Fuel injector cleaner already but I would.

In the end it just may be the oil that they are using, or a quick spill and fill with lots of oil remaining in the crankcase or a skipped oil filter replacement. I watched Jiffy lube do a change and they dont waste anytime reinstalling the drain plug after a drain and I belive this is common practice. To be fair, they dont have the time to let it drain for 5 minutes. Its in and out and in the end it may not realy matter.

Please keep us abreast as this is interesting. Edit... is it synthetic?

The test method used by Blackstone and all of the other oil testing labs has a wide reproducibility range. It is not uncommon for disagreement among the labs and duplicate samples.

I have no symptoms of a bad PCV valve but will check it. The dealer did provide a photo of their bulk oil as shown earlier in this thread and it looked good, and yes it is synthetic. I have a good relationship with this dealer and I'm sure they would give me a sample if I asked, but I don't feel a need to have it analyzed. I watched this oil change and am satisfied they changed it. It drained hot for over five minutes. I do run a fuel injector cleaner (Techron) before each oil change.

 

[Tom NJ]

25 miles and a 390 Flashpoint?

The problem with the flash point test (ASTM D 92) is its reproducibility of +- 9°C (+- 16°F). To this test reproducibility you need to add batch-to-batch variability, which can give quite a range to the sample. In my day I ran thousands of flash points, and monitored lab data on thousands more. Not a very useful test for comparisons or meaningful conclusions.

 

[loneryder]

How are you liking SW Va?

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

I have never noticed my oil is darker than it should be after an oil change even when the oil filter wasn’t changed ( I used to do what Honda recommends and replace the filter every second oil change ).

I actually can’t wait until the oil darkens because I can see it easier on the dipstick but that takes at least 1500 miles.

 

[1444buicking]

I have never noticed my oil is darker than it should be after an oil change even when the oil filter wasn’t changed ( I used to do what Honda recommends and replace the filter every second oil change ).

Doesn't a used filter provide better filtration, at the expense of flow?

 

[CarLuver]

for some reason, Honda tells them to change the oil filter every other oil change. my dealership doesn't do that though. they always change the filter.

are you sure they changed it ? they charged my mom for the filter , but did not change it

 

[Tom NJ]

How are you liking SW Va?

Love it! We are in the Blue Ridge Mountains just outside a one-stoplight little mountain town noted for its music and art. Peaceful environment, friendly people, and fabulous views. Life is sweet!

From our front porch:

Our home from a drone: