[Oil] Engine Oil Colour

[subha071171]

Dear All

After having the 22500 mile service, i have now covered 30,000 miles and noticed on my dip stick that the oil has gone very black.... Has anyone found this?

Thanks

Subha

[TTDegs]

mine was black within a month of the service...
(may have been black within 5 mins, but I don't check it quite as often as I perhaps should!)

Although to be honest, I only assumed that was ok!

[cb550]

Originally Posted by subha071171

Dear All

After having the 22500 mile service, i have now covered 30,000 miles and noticed on my dip stick that the oil has gone very black.... Has anyone found this?

Thanks

Subha

Assuming the car to be a diesel,traditionally diesel engines are 'dirtier' than petrols.For this reason diesel engine oils normally have more detergent in them to gather that 'dirt'(the bye-products of combustion).This results in the oil getting black more quickly and also why oil change intervals used to be shorter than petrols.

Modern diesel engines run relatively cleanly,although I would think the above principal still has some relevance.

[GHGH]

Done about 1000 miles since last oil change, and it's darkening seriously now. (Petrol).

[Jeroen1000]

Originally Posted by GHGH

Done about 1000 miles since last oil change, and it's darkening seriously now. (Petrol).

Mine has 1200km now and the oil has graduately darkened. I checked (still do btw) my oil about every 200-250 km. First few time I checked it was almost transparent. It's probably normal in my opinion. Our previous car had this too, and because of this effect we found our our mechanic did not always change the oil (but did charge it!).

Having enough oil is more important Mine hasn't used a drop so far.

I'm still puzzled why UK owers are allowed (by Honda) to drive so many miles between services. Most cars here must be serviced at 10 000 km. Perhaps this is not really needed but will prolong engine life...

[GHGH]

Mine is serviced every 20000 km - 12500 miles - isn't that normal for this car?

[Jeroen1000]

Originally Posted by GHGH

Mine is serviced every 20000 km - 12500 miles - isn't that normal for this car?

Maybe Belgian servicing is abnormal. Depending on how much I would drive, the dealer suggested either 7500 km (> 15000 km/year) or 10000km intervals.

We have had a Renault Laguna, every 10000 km servicing. Same story for our Mondeo and Focus. It's the same car...why do we have to go so often

I drive a type R btw.

[GHGH]

I've also got an 11 years old Citroen ZX - it's serviced every 15000 km.

[civicfan]

Originally Posted by GHGH

Done about 1000 miles since last oil change, and it's darkening seriously now. (Petrol).

As soon as you drive a long route with relatively constant speed your oil should "get better" again, fast darkening of oil is typical for short routes

[GHGH]

No problem . The oil is there to be used.
And in fact I'm looking forward to a 500 miles round trip this weekend!

[jj69]

It seems the most modern engine are serviced every 20000km regardless they are petrol or diesel:
That is the case for my petrol Picasso (2001), a friend's Tdi A3 (2003), my brother's Tdi Passat (2005) my step father petrol Clio (1998 ), a diesel 307SW I know, etc.
The only exception I know of is a Mistubishi Pajero Sport which is to be serviced every 15000km (even 7500km if on heavy duty !)
It's long gone the time I had to change the oil of my "2 Chevaux" every 5000km and change the "vis platinées" by the way (dont know the word in english and Google wasn't any help)
Actually, I have little nostalgy of those "blessed times"

[cb550]

Originally Posted by jj69

It seems the most modern engine are serviced every 20000km regardless they are petrol or diesel:
That is the case for my petrol Picasso (2001), a friend's Tdi A3 (2003), my brother's Tdi Passat (2005) my step father petrol Clio (1998 ), a diesel 307SW I know, etc.
The only exception I know of is a Mistubishi Pajero Sport which is to be serviced every 15000km (even 7500km if on heavy duty !)
It's long gone the time I had to change the oil of my "2 Chevaux" every 5000km and change the "vis platinées" by the way (dont know the word in english and Google wasn't any help)
Actually, I have little nostalgy of those "blessed times"

'Ignition points' or 'contact breakers' Yes ,that was a long time ago-worked well enough though.

[cityhunter]

Originally Posted by jj69

It seems the most modern engine are serviced every 20000km regardless they are petrol or diesel:
That is the case for my petrol Picasso (2001), a friend's Tdi A3 (2003), my brother's Tdi Passat (2005) my step father petrol Clio (1998 ), a diesel 307SW I know, etc.
The only exception I know of is a Mistubishi Pajero Sport which is to be serviced every 15000km (even 7500km if on heavy duty !)
It's long gone the time I had to change the oil of my "2 Chevaux" every 5000km and change the "vis platinées" by the way (dont know the word in english and Google wasn't any help)
Actually, I have little nostalgy of those "blessed times"

My old (53 plate, registered 04) Clio DCi100 had a service interval of 18,000 miles!

[FWH]

Originally Posted by cb550

'Ignition points' or 'contact breakers' Yes ,that was a long time ago

You just made me feel very old...

[cb550]

Originally Posted by FWH

You just made me feel very old...

Well,forget all that FWH,personally,I'm out tonight on the town and should you ever be visiting the midlands UK,I'd be pleased to show you some of Nottingham's 'drinking establishments' (and some of them go back 35 years or more for me)

[jj69]

Originally Posted by FWH

You just made me feel very old...

Sorry for the bad feelings
Stop me if I start to play old Grumpy
[old Grumpy mode]
We were using good thick oil in those days (20W40 at least), not those runny stuff they put in engines nowadays.
[/old Grumpy mode]


Arghhhh I did it again !
Gona take my pill & have a nap...