Drain oil color

[Jeepster94]

Sorry if all my questions lately are dumb.
But next one. Does the look of the oil draining indicate anything? Or is a used oil analysis the only way to know.
Just changed the oil on out 2019 caravan. Engine had about 70,000 miles on it. All 0w20 syn oil changes at 5000 mile intervals.
Also just changed the oil in our church caravan. 2015 with 130k on it. 3k intervals conventional 5w20 oil.
Same brand oil used. Both 5w20 motors both napa gold filters.
When i drain the church van oil, Its very opaque and clear looking. Stick my finger in the stream and i can Easily see my finger with just a tint change.
When i change ours, Its dark and no opaqueness whatsoever. Finger in the stream it just Disappears into the oil.

Is that just the difference of 3k vs 5k interval?
Should i drop ours down to dino blend 3k as well?

Just put a new mopar transmission in our’s so were keeping the thing for the long haul now at this point. Want to do whats best for it.

 

[Urshurak776]

If it looks like this, yes:

 

[JavierH19]

Church van might be cleaner inside. For the most part no as some oils start out darker than others and some darken quicker even if everything else like engine cleanliness, noack, fire point, fuel used, and others are almost the same. I know that some oils can turn a reddish color and look like dark atf. You could try if you want. conventional/syn blend every 3k isn't bad. I'd still expect the engine to last a long time with frequent changes.

 

[JohnnyG]

The short answer is, it doesn't mean a thing.
Now, If you see clumps, chunks, water drops, mayonnaise under the fill cap, that's another story.

 

[Jeepster94]

Church van might be cleaner inside. For the most part no as some oils start out darker than others and some darken quicker even if everything else like engine cleanliness, noack, fire point, fuel used, and others are almost the same. I know that some oils can turn a reddish color and look like dark atf. You could try if you want. conventional/syn blend every 3k isn't bad. I'd still expect the engine to last a long time with frequent changes.

We bought it cheap used and the motor failed shortly after. So i replaced that.
Now 70k later transmission went out. So i replaced that too lol. Still only into this thing for 1/4 what a new van costs so not complaining. Just want to make sure im doing the right thing for it going forward.

 

[Jeepster94]

this service fill i used valvoline advanced. 50/50 mix of 0w20 and 5w30. And the new carquest “ep” filter.
Engine runs way quieter with this combo.
We’ll see how it does.

 

[ATex7239]

this service fill i used valvoline advanced. 50/50 mix of 0w20 and 5w30. And the new carquest “ep” filter.
Engine runs way quieter with this combo.
We’ll see how it does.

What’s the reason for not just going with straight up 5w-30? Using up some old oil?

 

[Jeepster94]

What’s the reason for not just going with straight up 5w-30? Using up some old oil?

Using up the left overs from my truck. And we live in a northern cold climate. Dont really want to do straight 5w30 since it does a lot of short trips.

 

[ATex7239]

Using up the left overs from my truck.

Understandable.

And we live in a northern cold climate. Dont really want to do straight 5w30 since it does a lot of short trips.

How do you reckon mixing 5w-30 and 0w-20 achieves better cold weather and short trip protection?

 

[JavierH19]

Using up the left overs from my truck. And we live in a northern cold climate. Dont really want to do straight 5w30 since it does a lot of short trips.

It would actually be better to use slightly thicker. In short trips it heats up a bit faster. You could use Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 year round no matter the cold. Costs about the same as Valvoline advanced.

 

[Jeepster94]

It would actually be better to use slightly thicker. In short trips it heats up a bit faster. You could use Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 year round no matter the cold. Costs about the same as Valvoline advanced.

The valvoline syn cost me $3 a quart

 

[Jeepster94]

Understandable.


How do you reckon mixing 5w-30 and 0w-20 achieves better cold weather and short trip protection?

Thinner for better cold start up then straight 5w30. Thicker hot for better hot protection then straight 0w20

 

[CleanSump]

How cold is your "cold" that a 5W won't serve the purpose just fine?

 

[JavierH19]

The valvoline syn cost me $3 a quart

Nice score. I'd buy it too if it was $15 for 5 quarts. Regular price is $25+ a jug.

 

[ATex7239]

Thinner for better cold start up then straight 5w30. Thicker hot for better hot protection then straight 0w20

It doesn’t really work like that. In fact the concoction you’re creating is likely worse than the individual products by themselves.

 

[Jeepster94]

How cold is your "cold" that a 5W won't serve the purpose just fine?

Most of the winter is below freezing. Into the negatives off and on for a month.

 

[Jeepster94]

Nice score. I'd buy it too if it was $15 for 5 quarts. Regular price is $25+ a jug.

Yea. I normally use penz platinum. but for that price i bought a few years worth of jugs.

 

[kschachn]

Most of the winter is below freezing. Into the negatives off and on for a month.

5W down to about -30 or so, 0W below that.

 

[johnachak]

I live in South Carolina so next (Summer) change in my Silverado 1500 5.3L I'm going to use 5qts. of 0w20 (OEM Spec.) and 3 qts. of 5w30 hoping to keep the 20wt from thinning out in the heat. Hopefully if the engine has a problem a used oil analysis will still show a 20wt. I have a 5qt jug of 0w20 and 2, 5 qt jugs of Pennzoil Platinum 5w30. I can then do a change on the truck (8 qts,) and a change on my Traverse (6qts.) and have ~1 qt. leftover for my mower.

 

[The_Jeff]

OP, I'm not sure "opaque" means what you think it does. Opaque means "blocks light."