I was changing a family member's oil Saturday, and I was going about my usual routine when
WHOA! Hold up! Am I drunk or does this look red?
I was the last one to change her oil (I know because a WIX was on it and my sticker/mileage added up). Vehicle is an '04 Nissan Altima 2.5L ~84k. Oil and filter were in service approximately 3,800 miles. I used Mobil Super 5000 5W-30 and a WIX filter, and replaced with the same.
Yes, I'm positive I drained the motor not the trans.
So I grilled her on what she's done since I last changed the oil. Oddly enough, she did have a long-time trusted tech/friend at the dealer she works at do a drain and fill on her transmission one week ago. I'm 98% convinced he added trans fluid into the engine. He is an excellent mechanic (the best at that dealer for 10+ years), so I really question if he is capable of such an unfathomable mistake. The only other remotely related fact is she also developed a new, very slight power steering leak during this OCI. The only other (not so) plausible theory is that this dealer does have BG additives, and they (for some strange reason) added some to motor oil they did not service. But I am ignorant when talking about anything BG. But assuming it is ATF, how much damage would have been done in a week's time?
I've added pics below to prove whether I am crazy or not. I took pics with several different types of light, angles, and various lighting positions. I used the old filter and a blue shop towel for reference. It just seems so red to me, and it definitely shouldn't be. What do you think? Am I colorblind? Am I right?
I think I may send the quart I saved while draining off for a UOA. Would that identify ATF mixed in?
I was the last one to change her oil (I know because a WIX was on it and my sticker/mileage added up). Vehicle is an '04 Nissan Altima 2.5L ~84k. Oil and filter were in service approximately 3,800 miles. I used Mobil Super 5000 5W-30 and a WIX filter, and replaced with the same.
Yes, I'm positive I drained the motor not the trans.
So I grilled her on what she's done since I last changed the oil. Oddly enough, she did have a long-time trusted tech/friend at the dealer she works at do a drain and fill on her transmission one week ago. I'm 98% convinced he added trans fluid into the engine. He is an excellent mechanic (the best at that dealer for 10+ years), so I really question if he is capable of such an unfathomable mistake. The only other remotely related fact is she also developed a new, very slight power steering leak during this OCI. The only other (not so) plausible theory is that this dealer does have BG additives, and they (for some strange reason) added some to motor oil they did not service. But I am ignorant when talking about anything BG. But assuming it is ATF, how much damage would have been done in a week's time?
I've added pics below to prove whether I am crazy or not. I took pics with several different types of light, angles, and various lighting positions. I used the old filter and a blue shop towel for reference. It just seems so red to me, and it definitely shouldn't be. What do you think? Am I colorblind? Am I right?
I think I may send the quart I saved while draining off for a UOA. Would that identify ATF mixed in?
