Is HM Oil supposed to be blacker?

[Greg L]

I did a routine OCI on my '91 Jeep Cherokee last weekend. The oil miles were about 3600mi. The previous oil that I had in there was Pennzoil High Mileage 10w40.

Upon draining it, this oil seemd much blacker than other oils I have used on this 4.0 motor.


Is used HM typically much more dark vs. other used conventional oils?


GL

p.s. FWIW, I now have fresh Maxlife 10w40 that is now in there...and will do a comparison in another 3k miles.

 

[Solarent]

Color of your oil really doesn't tell you much about the condition.

It could be that a higher detergent content is cleaning your engine better.
The oil is getting hot, degrading and changing color.
Or about 10 other possibilities

There's no way to really tell without UOA. on 3600 miles I wouldn't be too worried. Pennzoil High Mileage will do a fine job protecting for a short OCI like that.

 

[4x4chevydude]

I think they are naturaly darker from what I have noticed...on top of that the engine is probbably got more deposits since its older and therefore making the oil come out darker... not saying the engine is dirty its just older

 

[Greg L]

Just to follow up: this motor did see harder working conditions this summer....2 road trips to the Sierra Nevadas and Mt Shasta for camping & fishing excursions, while pulling a pop-up camper.

Plus, driving through the central California valley at temps ranging from 85 to 95 degrees.


GL

 

[Bgallagher]

Darker in many cases is better. The oil is doing it's job cleaning. I know a lot of guys on BITOG recommend HDEO for their 4.0s. High detergency and seems to work well.

 

[TallPaul]

Comes out black, seems like it did some cleaning. Keep using the same brand HM.

 

[abycat]

It would be cool to see the same oil used next time for the same amount of time and see if it comes out a bit lighter.

 

[mrsilv04]

Take a look at the MaxLife after 700-800 miles, and see if it is yellow.

In the 2000 Grand Am 2.4 that I use MaxLife in, it turns to a bright yellow (think a highlighter) color after 700-800 miles.

 

[Greg L]

Yellow?


As in coolant leaking into the oil??

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: Greg L
Yellow?


As in coolant leaking into the oil??


Hopefully not, or else its:

 

[Greg L]

mrsilv:


You are right!

After a week of driving with this new Maxlife, I checked the dipstick yesterday after driving 300 miles & it is turning a slight yellow color....like a faded yellow highlighter mark.

Weird.


GL

 

[lexus114]

seems to be valvoline`s trademark.