Hi everybody. I just did the second oil change on my Civic. When the oil drained out it was pretty dark so I was wondering if that is abnormal? Like the title says it was only in the engine from 4k to right now 5k. I had a supertech 7317 filter on it and it was Havoline 5w-20. While I'm asking, I have another question. Right after I changed my oil with Mobil 1 0w-20 and a Pure 1 oil filter I went to start the car. But for a couple of seconds it sounded like it wasn't going to start. Is this normal and did it do any damage to the engine? I know that description was vague but I'm mechanically illiterate.
Should motor oil look brow just after 1k miles worth of service?
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I have an '03 Civic with 1.7L VTEC that I bought new. I have 9K miles on it now. My first oil change was 3900 miles (M1 5w30) and the second was at 7500 miles, also with M1. The oil has stayed pretty clean for me since new, an in-town driver. I live in TN, so we get a range of temps here.
I do track changes in oil color and I think that color change is significant to note, though not necessarily bad, and I recognize that it is unscientific.
I really don't know how to advise you since the amount of color change of oil is a very subjective thing, and may depend on the oil itself. However, I think that Hondas make pretty tight engines so I am surprised that you are observing this after 1K miles. For whatever reason, the oil on the dipstick always seems much darker when it is cold than when warm, and I think that this is due to more than simply cold oil being thicker on the dipstick.
Check for air leaks, missing air hoses, air filter seal.
Look in the oil filler and see if you see any varnish or crud building up on the valve train. If so, maybe you are running too fuel-rich.
Finally, have you added any fuel cleaners recently? Historically, I notice the oil changes color a little when I use fuel cleaner. Given this, I try to use fuel cleaner right before an oil change.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your Civic!
I do track changes in oil color and I think that color change is significant to note, though not necessarily bad, and I recognize that it is unscientific.
I really don't know how to advise you since the amount of color change of oil is a very subjective thing, and may depend on the oil itself. However, I think that Hondas make pretty tight engines so I am surprised that you are observing this after 1K miles. For whatever reason, the oil on the dipstick always seems much darker when it is cold than when warm, and I think that this is due to more than simply cold oil being thicker on the dipstick.
Check for air leaks, missing air hoses, air filter seal.
Look in the oil filler and see if you see any varnish or crud building up on the valve train. If so, maybe you are running too fuel-rich.
Finally, have you added any fuel cleaners recently? Historically, I notice the oil changes color a little when I use fuel cleaner. Given this, I try to use fuel cleaner right before an oil change.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your Civic!
When I used the dino 5W-20 in my low mileage Honda Accord V-6 I also noticed it got dirty very fast, so it is not unusual.
Although I watch oil color I don't think it matters. To many variables for it to be scientificly meaningfull.
Some would say that an oil that stays too clean is notsuspending contaminants properly while others would say that a dirty oil is wearing fast or dirtying the engine.
I am up in the air on this until I get a few analysis done noting the color. Although failry clean and doing well on the blotter test method on the dipstick when I drained my last fill and took a sample the oil was very dark.
No biggie.
Some would say that an oil that stays too clean is notsuspending contaminants properly while others would say that a dirty oil is wearing fast or dirtying the engine.
I am up in the air on this until I get a few analysis done noting the color. Although failry clean and doing well on the blotter test method on the dipstick when I drained my last fill and took a sample the oil was very dark.
No biggie.
If I'm not mistaken, oil color isn't an indicator of how dirty the oil is. Oil can be dark but still relatively clean.
I have no specific knowledge of Hondas, but..."If the oil is doing its job of cleaning the engine, then it should be dirty when it is drained. Quaker State® motor oil will start looking dirty a short time after it is put to use."
http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/carcare/whattoknow.asp
"I changed my oil...and went to start the car. But for a couple of seconds it sounded like it wasn't going to start. Is this normal?"
Sometimes right after changing both oil and filter on my 2002 Mitsu-Chrysler, it will initially start with stumbles and shakes like a p*ssed-off grizzly bear. The only practical thing to do is prefill the oil filter, assuming it mates in a holes-up position. Otherwise, nothing to concern yourself with.
http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/carcare/whattoknow.asp
"I changed my oil...and went to start the car. But for a couple of seconds it sounded like it wasn't going to start. Is this normal?"
Sometimes right after changing both oil and filter on my 2002 Mitsu-Chrysler, it will initially start with stumbles and shakes like a p*ssed-off grizzly bear. The only practical thing to do is prefill the oil filter, assuming it mates in a holes-up position. Otherwise, nothing to concern yourself with.
I have long been a rabid fan of oil filter prefill. In previous cars with horizontally mounted oil filters (Chrysler 2.5L SOHC, Ford 2.3L SOHC), I simply filled the filter completely and then let it sit while I drained the oil and removed the old filter. By the time I was ready to install the new filter, the filter paper had absorbed enough oil to minimize spillage. I figure half-full is better than empty. (On my current cars, with holes-up mounting, I add more oil after the initial charge gets absorbed.)
Did it look dirty/brown in the drain-out pan or on the dipstick. Even new oil "looks" dirty draining out but at 1000 miles the oil should still look pretty good on the dipstick.
when i drained it, it looked dark. if i find my digi cam before i recycle the oil then i'll take a pic.i was just a little worried since i know zilch about oil new or used. thanks for your replys
The color of the oil won't tell you much of anything. If you're concerned, do a UOA to find out what's in there.
Triple_Se7en
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If you are not flush-rinsing your crankcase & changing dinos at the usual 3-5K, then oil coloring should occur. If the oil stays clear on the dipstick without rinses or real frequent oil changes, then change oil manufacturers cuz' it's not working correctly. No oil manufacturer broacasts using a oil-coloring repellent.
[ February 27, 2005, 11:12 AM: Message edited by: Triple_Se7en ]
[ February 27, 2005, 11:12 AM: Message edited by: Triple_Se7en ]
What i just recently learned is on most FI cars you can floor it while cranking which will not allow the car to turn over as it thinks the motor is flooded. it does not work on all cars though. But combine that with pre-filling the oil filter, and that should really cut down on the wear at drain intervals.
Joe
Joe
If color to the human eye were meaningful, then the labs would have a cheap and easy test. SJ GTX turned dark once around the block. M1 doesn't stay golden for long either, but some do.
It's basically irrelevant. Dark oil can show great lab results and while I smell gas in it, lab says no fuel contamination.
Color, doesn't tell you spit, imho. People say that they know their oil is great because it stays "honey" colored.
It may or may not be good. Meaningless. Only lab and practical results will tell for sure.
It's basically irrelevant. Dark oil can show great lab results and while I smell gas in it, lab says no fuel contamination.
Color, doesn't tell you spit, imho. People say that they know their oil is great because it stays "honey" colored.
Triple_Se7en
$50 Site Donor 2024
For a car to have normal 4000 dino OCIs & have 50-75,000 miles on it & does not get dark after even 2000 miles... well there's none or very-very little detergent in the oil you're using. Those $12 super Mobil-1 or Pure 1 filters don't change it back to clear on the dipstick either -- when you put a new one on in-between oil changes.... been there & done that.
"What I just recently learned is on most FI cars you can floor it while cranking which will not allow the car to turn over as it thinks the motor is flooded. It does not work on all cars though."
Not sure I'd recommend that. Might have unintended consequences. In my '82 Alfa Romeo, for example, doing that was known to cause an intake backfire sufficient to blow the duct off the intake plenum. Personally, I'd stick with the manual's recommendation in regards to throttle position while starting.
Not sure I'd recommend that. Might have unintended consequences. In my '82 Alfa Romeo, for example, doing that was known to cause an intake backfire sufficient to blow the duct off the intake plenum. Personally, I'd stick with the manual's recommendation in regards to throttle position while starting.
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