Oil Color Differences

[HyundaiGuy]

Hi All,

I changed oil on my car at the last change from Castrol Syntec 5W20 to Pennzoil Ultra 5W30. (5W30 is approved by Hyundai for use in the car, and I still can't find Pennzoil Ultra 5W20 anywhere.)

I'm pleased so far. The engine seems run smooth as silk (for a four banger) and is extremely quiet. i think I will be sticking with Pennzoil Ultra and switching my wife's car to Pennzoil Ultra as well when it is time to change her oil again at the end of the month.

I checked the oil in my car today, as I read here that changing brands or viscosities can cause oil consumption, until the engine gets used to the new oil. Good news- no consumption in the 1500 miles since it was last changed.

The oil however, does seem as dark now at 1500 miles as Syntec did at 3750.

A few possibilities:

1. Pennzoil Ultra is darker than Syntec when fresh. (Not sure on this- we aren't allowed to work on cars where we live, so the dealership changes the oil.)

2. The Add Pack in Pennzoil Ultra turns dark earlier than Syntec.

or...drumroll....

3. Pennzoil Ultra is actually doing a better job of keeping the engine clean than Syntec did.

What do y'all think?

 

[Johnny]

I think the answer to 1 and 3 is yes.

 

[demarpaint]

I can tell you this. I haven't tried PU, but Amsoil 0w20 ASM is the clearest cleanest looking oil I've used. It took a long time to darken in comparison to Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum, Castrol EDGE. Amsoil is supposed to be one of the best oils out there, I have no doubt it did a fine job cleaning and protecting.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Color does not matter would be my comment.

I've seen engines last many hundreds of thousands of miles with oil color coming out many different shades to black.

Bill

 

[GhostFlame]

Royal purple is ... u guessed it PURPLE. I think all oils are basicly clear then they add dye to the mix based on market research for the brand.

ATF is red I am preety sure its just dye so you don't put it in your engine

 

[lexus114]

I think it`s # 3, because mine is doing the same thing! (turning darker earlier than other oil`s I`v used)

 

[chubbs1]

Id' say it may actually be doing a little extra cleaning. I live in central FL also and they have the 5w20 PU in Jugs at Walmart all day. That is weird. The 5w30 is great though, good luck!!

 

[stenerson]

Originally Posted By: GhostFlame
Royal purple is ... u guessed it PURPLE. I think all oils are basicly clear then they add dye to the mix based on market research for the brand.

ATF is red I am preety sure its just dye so you don't put it in your engine


It rapidly turns clear, the purple goes away quick. I'm using RP and it did turn dark quicker than m1 pp has.

 

[JonnySaab]

Really, were going to throw Castrol under the bus because it didn't turn dark within 1000 miles. I have run castrol of varing kinds in my 01 since day 1 and at nearly 150k the engine is very clean. If you like dark oil you might want to try QS that is some dark oil out of the jug!

 

[Lethal1ty17]

PU is not darker than any other oil out of the bottle. i'll see if i can find my picture where i put PP and PU both in a glass test tube and took a picture, if anything the PU was actually the slightest bit lighter in color.

the dark jug makes it hard to really tell when you're pouring it out.

 

[shpankey]

PU has an insane amount of Calcium in it. Also some Moly and even Boron. I have no doubt it is cleaning your engine well. I dunno if it's doing it better than the Castrol, but I think the PU has a better cleaning additive package, so maybe so.

 

[TJPark01]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Color does not matter would be my comment.

I've seen engines last many hundreds of thousands of miles with oil color coming out many different shades to black.

Bill

Correct. What happens with oil occurs at the molecular level. You can't ascertain much from the color.

 

[lexus114]

Except when it`s Blacker than black,smells like **(#$ Then,you may have something with the color of it.

 

[NateDN10]

I think the problem with looking at oil color is that you don't know what made it that color. For example, oil will turn dark when it oxidizes, when soot gets dispersed in it, and when it dissolves existing carbon in the engine (cleaning).

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Except when it`s Blacker than black,smells like **(#$ Then,you may have something with the color of it.


Blacker than black? There is Black and nothing is "blacker".

Dark black? Okay. But STILL nothing FACTUAL on the oils condition.

Take care, bill

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: lexus114
Except when it`s Blacker than black,smells like **(#$ Then,you may have something with the color of it.


Blacker than black? There is Black and nothing is "blacker".

Dark black? Okay. But STILL nothing FACTUAL on the oils condition.

Take care, bill



Uhh....you got me! everything is getting dark now......

 

[Spyder7]

Originally Posted By: shpankey
PU has an insane amount of Calcium in it. Also some Moly and even Boron. I have no doubt it is cleaning your engine well. I dunno if it's doing it better than the Castrol, but I think the PU has a better cleaning additive package, so maybe so.


It does have an insane amount of Calcium in it. Pennzoil is using the cleaning properties of their blend to differentiate their brand from the rest. VOAs look to me like its not just marketing hype, and that they really are trying to differentiate by backing their products up with a stronger detergent package than the competing product at the same price point.

It follows that 1 & 3 are both correct. Which doesn't mean there's a thing wrong with Castrol. They are using different criteria to differentiate their products, and I think they succeed at that. I have both PP on hand and Syntec, and would use either without reservation. PU is not yet available here and Edge is priced here above what I'm willing to spend.

-Spyder

 

[HangerHarley]

Originally Posted By: JonnySaab
Really, were going to throw Castrol under the bus because it didn't turn dark within 1000 miles. I have run castrol of varing kinds in my 01 since day 1 and at nearly 150k the engine is very clean. If you like dark oil you might want to try QS that is some dark oil out of the jug!


Castrol is the most honey-looking shade of golden-brown Oil I have seen when poured new. It is truly an Artist's Oil, and could be a supermodel.

Supertech is so light it is virtually invisible, when tried to look at on the dipstick. You literally need to look under the car to see if there is a puddle, that is how light it is. It gets darker, sure.. in 1000 miles or so. MAYBE. Also seems to be on the thin side, for its grades.

IF PP Pours clear AND gets darker AND all is well, it would indicate is is "Cleaning" AND doing its job. And that can only be good, right? PP is a fine oil.

Castrol Syntec MAY be a good Oil, however it seems other Oils always come up as being better than Syntec?