recent oil change dark already

[mozart]

about 1k miles on my PP oil change and it is dark and seems thick.

I couldn't take it so I let about a quart out and put some fresh in. I wonder if I didn't drain it sufficiently when I did the change the first time.

I know color isn't supposed to mean much but I've read how after the initial PP oil change subsequent ones are clear... that's NOT what I'm seeing.

Car only has 25K on it.

Thanks

 

[simple_gifts]

Dude you are panicking. Dark oil means it is doing its job.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Yeah, seriously, take a deep breath and let the oil do its job.

 

[Turk]

The oil shouldn't get that dark, that quick, with only 25k on it unless it's been terribly treated throughout it's life.

What were the OCI's?

Wht oil/filters did you use before?

 

[gathermewool]

Dark amber dark or night-time-out-at-sea-where-you-can't-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face-even-with-a-full-moon-and-a-cloudless-star-filled-sky dark?

 

[jstutz]

I had this happen on my suburban not too long ago. It has a new( 20K miles now) rebuilt 350 in it and it has about 1k on the new oil. The oil previously stays pretty clean in there. The last run before that one was Pennzoil Platinum 10w30 and i ran it about 7k miles. It had a few vacation trips on it so i was very comfortable running that long. Anyway i changed it out and put Quaker State Horsepower 10w30 in it. Well something in the drive train broke and it has had a bunch of short test drives ect. But at 1k miles the oil is very dark. Its not black but dark brown. I found it odd becuase i used that oil several times in my other chevys and it usually dont look like that until about 4k miles. In fact i just drained my blazer that gets nothing but short trips at 5.5 k miles and it looked about the same as whats in my burb right now. I know people say color dont matter and i for the most part agree, but i know what is normal for these engines and oil that dark that quick is not. Maybe the 7k run previously was too long and left some gunk in there but i really dont think so. Im sure i will panic somewhere around 3 or 4 K and change it.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Dark amber dark or night-time-out-at-sea-where-you-can't-see-your-hand-in-front-of-your-face-even-with-a-full-moon-and-a-cloudless-star-filled-sky dark?


Very funny!

 

[mozart]

Originally Posted By: tpitcher
The oil shouldn't get that dark, that quick, with only 25k on it unless it's been terribly treated throughout it's life.

What were the OCI's?

Wht oil/filters did you use before?



OCI is 5K. Fram filter (cartridge type)
I baby the car.

It is dark amber/brown not black.

and yeah, I'm prolly pannicking

 

[PT1]

PP will clean up the gunk in your engine. As you continue to use it you will notice it stays amber longer. My wifes Lexus has had PP since 5000 miles. Now at 70k you can read the dipstick through the oil at 5000. I keep with the recommended 5000 oci.

I ran Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 in a used Honda that had 50k on it when I bought it. It was jet black for 2 OCI's and then stayed amber longer and longer.

 

[gathermewool]

There may not be any gunk to clean up. It may just be the additive reacting. If you're really worried about it, send a sample out after 5k.

 

[MoparDak05]

This happened when I put AMSOIL Signature Series in my car. After 1k miles, it was a dark brown. Now that I'm about 3k into my OCI, the oil is a VERY dark brown. I mean it looks black as coal on the dipstick and extremely dark brown when I wipe it on a paper towel. I was going to run this oil for 15k and sample, but if this is a result of the SSO breaking up deposits and such, I may rethink my OCI.

 

[wavinwayne]

Originally Posted By: gathermewool
There may not be any gunk to clean up. It may just be the additive reacting. If you're really worried about it, send a sample out after 5k.


+1

 

[Mike66]

I have two identical 454cid inboards in my boat. Both run the same, have the same operating temps, compression, etc. Use HD oil, OCI every 50 hrs. One engine always dark amber oil, the other almost black. Never wanted to spend the bucks on UOA. I sleep just fine. Will let you know if it really makes a difference down the line.

 

[Robenstein]

Mobil EP did the same in my Scion when it had 30k on it. Dark as heck after 2k miles. But it was also using that oil so I changed it and just treated it as a good flush.

 

[PT1]

Originally Posted By: mozart


OCI is 5K. Fram filter (cartridge type)
I baby the car.

It is dark amber/brown not black.

and yeah, I'm prolly pannicking


PP + 5k OCI + new filter = 200,000 miles easy. Probably more.

 

[PT1]

Originally Posted By: Mike66
I have two identical 454cid inboards in my boat. Both run the same, have the same operating temps, compression, etc. Use HD oil, OCI every 50 hrs. One engine always dark amber oil, the other almost black. Never wanted to spend the bucks on UOA. I sleep just fine. Will let you know if it really makes a difference down the line.


Me too...exact same thing...one has more fuel in the oil(the darker one). That is your issue. If you have EFI clean your injectors or check the fuel pressure regulator valve. If you have carbed clean the carbs really good internal & external. If all of that is not doing it check the thermostat on the one with the black oil. If it is stuck open, the engine is noot getting hot enough to burn off the fuel.

 

[mechtech2]

PP is one of the better oils for cleaning .
And there are parts that you can't see that are being cleaned, like rings/lands.
I did try PP, and also noted a rather quick darkening.

 

[charbaby]

Although I use the same oils, or the same mix of my own blends of oils in both my wifes 01 Lexus RX-300 V6 and my 04 Altima 2.5 4cly , the Altima always looks black after about a month and has since new. The Lex always looks cleaner even when Im ready to change the oil.

 

[SteveSRT8]

The color of oil is a very unreliable way to estimate its condition.

Maybe you should also taste it?

 

[harry j]

Originally Posted By: MoparDak05
This happened when I put AMSOIL Signature Series in my car. After 1k miles, it was a dark brown. Now that I'm about 3k into my OCI, the oil is a VERY dark brown. I mean it looks black as coal on the dipstick and extremely dark brown when I wipe it on a paper towel. I was going to run this oil for 15k and sample, but if this is a result of the SSO breaking up deposits and such, I may rethink my OCI.



I agree. Change out the first couple of the SSO fills early, it is very busy purging out built up contaminents.