I've been at this oil changing thing for a long time, and my oil has never been black on the dip stick. Just dark amber after 10,000 miles. If your oil gets black in a short order, say 1000 miles, I would be very concerned that the engine has some sludging going on.
Engine Health via Dipstick
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Originally Posted By: tig1
I've been at this oil changing thing for a long time, and my oil has never been black on the dip stick. Just dark amber after 10,000 miles. If your oil gets black in a short order, say 1000 miles, I would be very concerned that the engine has some sludging going on.
+1 black oil is not a good sign in short order. Honestly I've never seen black oil come out of any vehicle I've ever owned. But then again my vehicles are "Severe Service", and I follow the schedule for that. So mile wise my OCI's are fairly short.
I've been at this oil changing thing for a long time, and my oil has never been black on the dip stick. Just dark amber after 10,000 miles. If your oil gets black in a short order, say 1000 miles, I would be very concerned that the engine has some sludging going on.
+1 black oil is not a good sign in short order. Honestly I've never seen black oil come out of any vehicle I've ever owned. But then again my vehicles are "Severe Service", and I follow the schedule for that. So mile wise my OCI's are fairly short.
Originally Posted By: StevieC
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!
Yep...I agree. When I change the M1 5w-30 on my '00 v6 Accord it is always jet black. I have changed it a 4, 5, and 7k and it always looks the same from the plug to the pan. The dipstick is however golden to a dark brown.
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!
Yep...I agree. When I change the M1 5w-30 on my '00 v6 Accord it is always jet black. I have changed it a 4, 5, and 7k and it always looks the same from the plug to the pan. The dipstick is however golden to a dark brown.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: typ901
Originally Posted By: StevieC
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!
Yep...I agree. When I change the M1 5w-30 on my '00 v6 Accord it is always jet black. I have changed it a 4, 5, and 7k and it always looks the same from the plug to the pan. The dipstick is however golden to a dark brown.
How many miles on the Honda? How long have you used M1?
Originally Posted By: StevieC
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!
Yep...I agree. When I change the M1 5w-30 on my '00 v6 Accord it is always jet black. I have changed it a 4, 5, and 7k and it always looks the same from the plug to the pan. The dipstick is however golden to a dark brown.
How many miles on the Honda? How long have you used M1?
Originally Posted By: tig1
Originally Posted By: typ901
Originally Posted By: StevieC
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!
Yep...I agree. When I change the M1 5w-30 on my '00 v6 Accord it is always jet black. I have changed it a 4, 5, and 7k and it always looks the same from the plug to the pan. The dipstick is however golden to a dark brown.
How many miles on the Honda? How long have you used M1?
I am at 132k. Used M1 since 2003, so maybe the last 70k miles. Before that was PP for around 40k, and early on was PYB.
Originally Posted By: typ901
Originally Posted By: StevieC
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!
Yep...I agree. When I change the M1 5w-30 on my '00 v6 Accord it is always jet black. I have changed it a 4, 5, and 7k and it always looks the same from the plug to the pan. The dipstick is however golden to a dark brown.
How many miles on the Honda? How long have you used M1?
I am at 132k. Used M1 since 2003, so maybe the last 70k miles. Before that was PP for around 40k, and early on was PYB.
yep. Realized OP was talking about dipstick, not plug.
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