drained engine oil is red.

[CleanSump]

There are a few youtube videos on the same subject. It's seems to be something benign that occurs with more than just Valvoline Restore and Protect. Mobil 1 turns red in SD's Honda. It seems to be a benign nothing burger.

 

[bruce381]

if it were my formula I would probably take all additve at 1-2% in base oil and add you used oil to see exactly which one is causeing a color change i would bet on alkaline or acidic additives maybe phenolics also

 

[CleanSump]

You drop red liquid in a semi clear to honey colored liquid and it's going to turn red. This isn't any kind of test other than red spreads.
It's as valid as cherry kool-aid turns ginger ale red so there must be something strange going on. No, and diluting cold oil with old cold oil tells you nothing.

 

[bigjl]

Don’t feed the troll

 

[FlyingTexan]

Varnish in your engine. Get a cheap camera off amazon that plugs into your iPhone and take a look at the inside.

 

[Trav]

This is Mobil 1 0w40 doing some cleaning in an GM 3800 V6. The piston in the middle is partially obstructed by the pickup tube but you can see where the red coloring is coming from. After about 3 more OCI and it stopped coming out with a red hue and was just dark.

 

[tired]

This is Mobil 1 0w40 doing some cleaning in an GM 3800 V6. The piston in the middle is partially obstructed by the pickup tube but you can see where the red coloring is coming from. After about 3 more OCI and it stopped coming out with a red hue and was just dark.

View attachment 347311

This is reassuring that the Valvoline Restore and Protect I'm running that drains red is actually freeing up some deposits somewhere.

You can see in this photo it is a little red.

Engine looks clean through the fill hole. Not burning any oil, but it appears Valvoline Restore and Protect is doing something.

 

[CANADADIY]

This is reassuring that the Valvoline Restore and Protect I'm running that drains red is actually freeing up some deposits somewhere.

You can see in this photo it is a little red.

Engine looks clean through the fill hole. Not burning any oil, but it appears Valvoline Restore and Protect is doing something.

What type of vehicle?

 

[tired]

What type of vehicle?

Nissan Rogue with QR25DE engine.

 

[Trav]

This is reassuring that the Valvoline Restore and Protect I'm running that drains red is actually freeing up some deposits somewhere.

You can see in this photo it is a little red.

Engine looks clean through the fill hole. Not burning any oil, but it appears Valvoline Restore and Protect is doing something.

You cant go by much through the fill hole, this 3800 was nice and clean up top but it was the underside of the pistons and the ring area that had deposits. I see many Audi 2.0 EA888 engines with super clean top ends but the rings totally seized with carbon up causing it to burn oil like an old frying pan.
Piston soak on these is at best a very temporary band aid when they get this bad, the only real fix is to use the upgraded VW pistons and rings.
May as well throw new bearings, seals, timing chain set and a head job on it while its out.

 

[tired]

You cant go by much through the fill hole, this 3800 was nice and clean up top but it was the underside of the pistons and the ring area that had deposits. I see many Audi 2.0 EA888 engines with super clean top ends but the rings totally seized with carbon up causing it to burn oil like an old frying pan.
Piston soak on these is at best a very temporary band aid when they get this bad, the only real fix is to use the upgraded VW pistons and rings.
May as well throw new bearings, seals, timing chain set and a head job on it while its out.

Yeah it's had a lifetime of bulk oil from the dealer and other quick lube places. Mostly synthetic though. That's why I'm doing 4 OCIs with VRP to get it back to clean.