Changed oil and used Delvac 15w40 in my Mercedes 260E. 2,000 miles later, oil is totally black. Changed oil, and used Havoline 10w-40. 2,000 miles later clear, like new. What is the cause of this and does it mean the Delvac is better for my car?
Stupid Oil Color Question
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How old is the car and how many miles? Just experiment around a bit with it. Might want to do another run of the Delvac and see if it does the same. Also, a UOA would go a long way toward telling you what's up, if anything, with that engine.
Its a 1989 with 102,000. My take on it is either the Delvac is dissolving deposits in the engine and suspending them in the oil (a good thing) or additives in the Delvac are turning the oil black due to normal combustion, something the Havoline does not do. However, people here claim that diesel oil does not clean engines. I suppose an oil analysis for particulates would answer the question. If there are more particulates in the Delvac, wouldn't that mean the Delvac is better, if all other things are equal?
The Delvac with its high detergent properties scrubbed your engine clean; and the black is all the sludge and varnish that it removed. The Havoline stays cleaner because it's not as agressive of a scrubber like the Delvac is. Now if you went with synthetic Havoline, you might of had simular results to the Delvac.
Can't the darkening of the oil also result from chemical reactions of the additives? Different combo of additives, different color reaction when the oil gets repeatedly heated to operating temp.
Falcon:
Of course, all things are never equal... I would recommend trying Terry Dyson's service at least once (no, I'm not a shill). He can really help you get an understanding of how your chosen oil is behaving in your particular engine. Even the particulates question may not be so simple -- probably depends upon where they're coming from and so on. Any more speculation, and I'd just be playing Terry. The service is worth it -- knowing is so much better than guessing.
Polk's bedtime crystal ball prediction: GoldenRod -- watch out, there's a wrecking ball inexoribly swinging your direction -- he will be coming for you. . .
Of course, all things are never equal... I would recommend trying Terry Dyson's service at least once (no, I'm not a shill). He can really help you get an understanding of how your chosen oil is behaving in your particular engine. Even the particulates question may not be so simple -- probably depends upon where they're coming from and so on. Any more speculation, and I'd just be playing Terry. The service is worth it -- knowing is so much better than guessing.
Polk's bedtime crystal ball prediction: GoldenRod -- watch out, there's a wrecking ball inexoribly swinging your direction -- he will be coming for you. . .
I thought diesels do "clean" engines out. I thought their detergents went to town. I've heard a lot of BIG diesel mechnics say if you pour a HEDO in a car that's been neglected in the oil department you might get chunks. I've heard of one guy that put HEDO in a really nasty old 350 and the Diesel oil did it's job to well and knocked to much crap lose and the motor actually burned up. he said when he changed it there was blk chunks in the oil. so i'm guessing diesel oil probly do clean an engine out. and you experienced it.
Colonel Polk,
What did I do this time?
What did I do this time?
It takes a good deal more than high detergency heavy-duty diesel engine oil to remove baked-on sludge and varnish deposits.
Delvac-the oil with scrubbing bubbles.Your engine never looked so shiny or smelled as clean and fresh.
http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=004536;p=2#000033
Scroll to my last set of pics. Check out the main bearings and their lovely coat of sludgies. That's after two runs of Castrol Tection Extra 15W40 HDEO (analysis showed an excellant addy pack) AND 2 apps of arx.
Perhaps maybe in a big rig it does something better, I don't know. It didn't do much for me.
Now, if you ran the stuff w/ a new engine, I am sure it'd do a better job of keeping things clean vs. a regular PCMO oil, but the additives just don't seem that geared toward cleaning already coated parts.
Scroll to my last set of pics. Check out the main bearings and their lovely coat of sludgies. That's after two runs of Castrol Tection Extra 15W40 HDEO (analysis showed an excellant addy pack) AND 2 apps of arx.
Perhaps maybe in a big rig it does something better, I don't know. It didn't do much for me.
Now, if you ran the stuff w/ a new engine, I am sure it'd do a better job of keeping things clean vs. a regular PCMO oil, but the additives just don't seem that geared toward cleaning already coated parts.
Delo turns dark really fast. Period. I don't think it's a reflection (no pun intended) on the quality of the oil or it's cleaning ability.
I like what Frank says about oils for "cleaning".
I like what Frank says about oils for "cleaning".
There was a post awhile ago where someone did some home experiments on oil(Jag?). When heated to X temp Mobil 1 turned dark where GC and others did not. The thought is that some additives in Mobil turn black when heated. Not that that is necessarily a bad thing. Time and again people report that Mobil products turn black quickly and Castrol products do not. (I have found the same thing on my vehicles). I think there is more merit to the sensitivity to heat argument than the cleaning argument.
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