I personally DO think that rapidly darkening oil is potentially (not necessarily!) significant. Either your car has some amount of sludge, heavy varnish, etc. that is being cleaned, OR the rings are allowing large amounts of blow-by in to the oil.
Assuming proper oil change intervals in the past, mucked up rings seem unlikely.
Is this the first run of PP? I suspect the oil is simply cleaning some small amounts of 'gunk' from the engine. Often people will notice, after switching to a strongly cleaning oil, that with each OC the oil will stay lightly colored for an increasingly long time.
If you need help sleeping, pull the valve cover and have a look at the cams, rockers, etc. Light varnish is harmless, as are thin deposits of goo, AKA sludge. If present, this glop will soon dissolve into the oil, darkening it quickly. If you find light sludge, you might want to run a somewhat shorter OCI.
If you find substantial smears of goo, you've got a potentially serious sludge issue. Then things around here will really get interesting, as everyone suggests their most-bestest-favorite sludge-slaying additive or oil recipe.
Assuming proper oil change intervals in the past, mucked up rings seem unlikely.
Is this the first run of PP? I suspect the oil is simply cleaning some small amounts of 'gunk' from the engine. Often people will notice, after switching to a strongly cleaning oil, that with each OC the oil will stay lightly colored for an increasingly long time.
If you need help sleeping, pull the valve cover and have a look at the cams, rockers, etc. Light varnish is harmless, as are thin deposits of goo, AKA sludge. If present, this glop will soon dissolve into the oil, darkening it quickly. If you find light sludge, you might want to run a somewhat shorter OCI.
If you find substantial smears of goo, you've got a potentially serious sludge issue. Then things around here will really get interesting, as everyone suggests their most-bestest-favorite sludge-slaying additive or oil recipe.
Last edited: