Engine Health via Dipstick
- Thread starter insomniac
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I would think so. I have an old Consumer Reports used car guide and it has a list of things to check when considering a used car,and the condition/color/smell of the dipstick and oil was one of them.
Yeah...I'm on M1 5W-30EP and dipstick is quite clean. On the other hand, I have a friend who hardly changes the oil in his engine and when he does do it, uses the cheapest dino available.
The dipstick in his engine is all blackish/brownish and the markings are hardly noticeable.
He doesn't care, of course.
The dipstick in his engine is all blackish/brownish and the markings are hardly noticeable.
He doesn't care, of course.
If you go to the doc with a black crusty dipstick.....he will give you the bad news/good news treatment.
When it comes to your car...same thing. Not good, but it most certainly is reversible - and you won't have to worry about it falling off.
When it comes to your car...same thing. Not good, but it most certainly is reversible - and you won't have to worry about it falling off.
Originally Posted By: insomniac
Ouch!
Think with your dipstick!
Ouch!
Think with your dipstick!
Really looking at your dipstick is a good way to tell your engine health? Has BITOG really become this bad?
I have 2 UOA's one with really black oil showing on the dipstick and the TBN/TAN and other contaminants were all excellent and the oil was suitable for continued use.
Then I have one where the oil was still golden on the dipstick and it was spent with the TBN almost non-existent, and the TAN through the roof.
Some more proof... My friend who runs the 1 year insane mileage OCI's on his Toyota Matrix with SSO and an EAO filter, gets to the end of the year with 20K KM - 30K KM (12-18K miles) and the oil is just about spent with a TBN of 2, and the oil is still pristine looking on the dipstick.
Looking at a dipstick is no way to tell the health of your oil!
Really looking at your dipstick is a good way to tell your engine health? Has BITOG really become this bad?
I have 2 UOA's one with really black oil showing on the dipstick and the TBN/TAN and other contaminants were all excellent and the oil was suitable for continued use.
Then I have one where the oil was still golden on the dipstick and it was spent with the TBN almost non-existent, and the TAN through the roof.
Some more proof... My friend who runs the 1 year insane mileage OCI's on his Toyota Matrix with SSO and an EAO filter, gets to the end of the year with 20K KM - 30K KM (12-18K miles) and the oil is just about spent with a TBN of 2, and the oil is still pristine looking on the dipstick.
Looking at a dipstick is no way to tell the health of your oil or your engine!
If you can see Goo, Carbon, metal bits, or anything else on a dipstick that shouldn't be there, then I suggest you run from that engine as it is probably about to implode.
Originally Posted By: StevieC
Really looking at your dipstick is a good way to tell your engine health?
Who said it is???
All I am saying is: If you have black crusties on your dipstick, it can't be a good thing.
Really looking at your dipstick is a good way to tell your engine health?
Who said it is???
All I am saying is: If you have black crusties on your dipstick, it can't be a good thing.
Pablo,
Sorry my reply wasn't aimed at you... It was to the original poster.
Forgot to hit the Reply button I guess.
Sorry my reply wasn't aimed at you... It was to the original poster.
Forgot to hit the Reply button I guess.
YOu could have a clean dipstick and an puked engine.
You can have a dirty dipstick due to a crack in the tube or a faulty 'O' ring seal, and the engine is perfect.
You can have a dirty dipstick due to a crack in the tube or a faulty 'O' ring seal, and the engine is perfect.
Have a dipstick oil question, too. Am a newcomer here and hesitated opening a new topic, since many discussion boards I visited do not like when new threads are created when similar ones already there.
Yesterday, I checked oil level with a dipstick at 5k km (~3k mi).
Have Castrol Magnatec 5W-40 C3 put in my engine for the first time after break-in on whatever the manufacturer put in my engine.
Now, with the 3000 mi run, the oil on the stick got slightly dark (it is on a light brown side, not black), it is quite transparent however there are numerous black particles suspended in it. They cover the stick uniformly, and I cannot sense them rubbing the oil between fingers. And yes they are of the same size, not sticking together.
I was planning to run this oil till the manufacturer's recommended 10000 km mark but am a bit puzzled now that I've seen the miniature particles.
I am not a techie so if someone can tell if this is normal, or must be something to worry about?
No complaints about engine behaviour or oil consumption if that matters.
Yesterday, I checked oil level with a dipstick at 5k km (~3k mi).
Have Castrol Magnatec 5W-40 C3 put in my engine for the first time after break-in on whatever the manufacturer put in my engine.
Now, with the 3000 mi run, the oil on the stick got slightly dark (it is on a light brown side, not black), it is quite transparent however there are numerous black particles suspended in it. They cover the stick uniformly, and I cannot sense them rubbing the oil between fingers. And yes they are of the same size, not sticking together.
I was planning to run this oil till the manufacturer's recommended 10000 km mark but am a bit puzzled now that I've seen the miniature particles.
I am not a techie so if someone can tell if this is normal, or must be something to worry about?
No complaints about engine behaviour or oil consumption if that matters.
Originally Posted By: Jaymus
Dirty oil is a sign of cleaning. Not that it is spent/worn out.
Well but is it too dirty already? How does one tell? I wonder if I am fine to run until scheduled change or should I advance it.
Dirty oil is a sign of cleaning. Not that it is spent/worn out.
Well but is it too dirty already? How does one tell? I wonder if I am fine to run until scheduled change or should I advance it.
When the oil is hot its viscosity will be lower than when it's cold, which in turn leads to thinner film of oil on the dipstick. The thinner the film on the dipstick the clearer it will look, all else being equal. Imagine trying to look at your hand through 4 inches of murky water versus trying to see it through 2 feet of the same murky water.
It also a good way to tell if water is getting into your oil. I guess when i see oil buring thats when ill do a uoa...i figure by then something is happening.
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