My Amsoil is red

[tosztotomasz]

Hello
Should I be worried about red colour of Amsoil 0W20? I've done about 4k miles on it in my K24A honda engine.

 

[addyguy]

It's the moly in the new formulation - moly gives oil a slight reddish tinge. nothing to worry about!

 

[tosztotomasz]

Even if it's old ASM, not new Signature Series and has changed colour about 500 miles ago?

 

[tinmanSC]

There have been a few posts about this at the clublexus and toyatech forums. Seems it's common enough.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: tosztotomasz
Even if it's old ASM, not new Signature Series and has changed colour about 500 miles ago?


Wow I remember ASM being so clean and clear it was hard to see on the dipstick.

 

[oggb]

I'm assuming it wasn't red when you poured it in the engine, then?

 

[oilboy123]

Last red oil I remember Amsoil making was the old series 2000 20w-50 race oil.

Was not aware of any motor oil that is red now......

 

[ltslimjim]

So, after 3,500 miles into this oil change interval, the color of the oil has now a slight reddish look? Not sure what it could be, but hopefully nothing to worry about. Perhaps suspended gunk from cleaning?

 

[tosztotomasz]

Originally Posted By: JRed
I'm assuming it wasn't red when you poured it in the engine, then?

Of course, it was yellow/gold.

 

[INDYMAC]

I suspect that it's cleaning up some reddish brown varnish in the engine. The engine oil turned red when I did a couple of ARX treatments on my 2000 Tundra V-8. The color looked very similar to the varnish and slime I saw under the valve cover before doing the ARX treatments.

 

[disturban]

Does your car have an engine oil cooler running through the radiator as well as a transmission cooler? If so maybe you have a internal crack in the radiator and the oil is getting contaminated with transmission fluid.

 

[tosztotomasz]

Originally Posted By: disturban
Does your car have an engine oil cooler running through the radiator as well as a transmission cooler? If so maybe you have a internal crack in the radiator and the oil is getting contaminated with transmission fluid.


No, definitely doesn't.

 

[oggb]

Interesting...

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: INDYMAC
I suspect that it's cleaning up some reddish brown varnish in the engine. The engine oil turned red when I did a couple of ARX treatments on my 2000 Tundra V-8. The color looked very similar to the varnish and slime I saw under the valve cover before doing the ARX treatments.


Exactly. I have seen this before with ASM.

 

[tosztotomasz]

Originally Posted By: JRed
Interesting...


Hm, the engine has been flushed before drain. My friend has same problem with SSO 0w30 into K20A Honda Accord, but another with ASL 5w30 is OK - honey-gold. I don't know what to think about it.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: tosztotomasz
Originally Posted By: JRed
Interesting...


Hm, the engine has been flushed before drain. My friend has same problem with SSO 0w30 into K20A Honda Accord, but another with ASL 5w30 is OK - honey-gold. I don't know what to think about it.


Flushing really doesn't clean varnish.

 

[david_ES2]

i thought i noticed mine being a lil on the reddish side last time i checked the ASM in my 2004 civic. Guess its not just me!

 

[tosztotomasz]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Flushing really doesn't clean varnish.


Sorry, maybe I do not understand what exactly varnish is, could You explain it for me? And second question, what should I do in this situation, change oil right now or simply wait to 10k mile interval?

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: tosztotomasz
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Flushing really doesn't clean varnish.


Sorry, maybe I do not understand what exactly varnish is, could You explain it for me? And second question, what should I do in this situation, change oil right now or simply wait to 10k mile interval?


Varnish is a relatively benign coating with yellowish, brownish or reddish coloration. The coating is relatively thin and is typically made up of degraded colorants from the fuel and oil, and oxidation by-products from fuel and oil and to some extent the additives in the oil. Ester containing oils typically can slowly start removing this coating as the car heat cycles through an OCI, whereas solvent based flushes don’t seem to remove varnish.

I honestly think you are worrying way too much about the color of the oil. Go the full 10K interval. Oil color means little to nothing about the actual state of the oil.

 

[tosztotomasz]

OK, Thank You All, especially for You Pablo.