Oil color changes depending on checking technique

[dsmith41]

I know oil color doesn't mean much...blah blah, I know and I agree. But I noticed something tonight that has me perplexed. I have an old 14 hp Kolher (K321) with Pennzoil Conventional in the sump. I usually check the oil really quick on a cold engine just by pulling out the dipstick before starting it and seeing where the level is on the stick. It's quick and easy and I don't need a rag or anything. I did this tonight and the oil was dark, almost black.

Then, just for fun, I checked it again by wiping off the dipstick and inserting the dipstick again to check. The oil on the dipstick was now yellow-amber and looked like I believe it should having only less than 10 hrs on it. All of this was before starting the engine and the oil had sat in the sump undisturbed for almost 2 weeks. Why the color difference?

 

[Errtt]

Wild guess - when 1t check it looked darker because insolubles on the stick. Then when you wiped & rechecked the insolubles were wiped off the stick. Then re-insert and the oil doesn't have the darker insolubles layer on the stick (background) and the oil on a cleaner stick appears to look cleaner now.
I think I'm just spitt'n out my arse... scratch that

 

[Dean85]

After the last time you used it, the contaminated oil remained on the stick until you wiped it off. The contaminants settled to the bottom of the sump after sitting for a few weeks, leaving cleaner oil on top where the stick would show a cleaner looking oil.

 

[TFB1]

MOSTLY it's because there is at least 2x amount of oil clinging to the stick when cold vs hot... Unless the oil is almost fresh, you'll see same on any engine whether OPE or automotive...